The ₦100 Note: A Reflection of the True Nature of Many Nigerians
And Five Things Peculiar to Them As Evidenced by Their Treatment of the Naira
So, I like that part of the Bible in James that tells us not to be partial and treat every one equally. Essentially, do not be nasty to someone you think has no value because of the way he looks. Y’all can read up on that.
In Nigeria, that’s definitely a tall order. For those who know, the whole idea of being Nigerian is to aim to be better than the next person.
Why?
Because that’s how you get better treatment. Nigeria feeds on class, or the appearance of it. I mean, why pursue value when you can get class.
So, our lives are filled with chasing and chasing, chasing stuff, and more stuff, so that we can become valued. Isn’t that even ironical? We pursue class in order to be valued, rather than give value to attain class. 😕
Oh well…
Damn value, actually, is the voice of many people in the country. If you don’t look the part, then your value belongs in the trash can.
Of course, I saw this many times before. But it became glaring with the very shameful debacle of the recent scarcity(?) of ₦100 notes.
I will not be sharing pictures with you. The notes in circulation today are a true disaster. I think Awolowo must be shedding tears even in death.
Anyway I saw a few new dimensions to things, to wit:
- You may be valuable but Nigerians only want desirable. Desirable here is synonym for Fine. Fine. Sexy. Attractive. Beautiful. Conforming. You’re good to go. Somehow, in a weird way I don’t understand, a very dirty ₦100 note becomes ₦50. Somehow. So, a bad note has lost its monetary value.
- You’re valuable only to the extent of your acceptability. It really isn’t about your brain, or what you bring to the table. It’s about if you’ll look good on the table. That’s how we run our businesses here o. Even this post will not be read because it does not look good to somebody somewhere.
- You’re wrong, if he thinks you’re wrong. He’s wrong only if he has no explanation. Originally, what I meant to write was that Nigerians have a way of judging others by their actions while judging themselves by their intentions. Even someone who has never kept money in good conditions ever in his life, will never accept a dirty note. He’ll rather look at you and sneer like you’re the cause of recession.
- We hoard rubbish. Our lives are so empty, we attach importance to the most ridiculous things. So now that you have that new shiny note, keep it. Frame it. Don’t spend it again, you hear?
- You’re a good person if you accept a dirty note. In fact, you’re a martyr seeing as you have helped a stranger carry the burden of having to find a proper place to spend such a worthless piece of trash. Ed Sheeran must dedicate his next song to you. The whole bus must congratulate you, while they tell you how they couldn’t have dared to accept such a note. You’re so kind.
What more can I say? Because I must not finish like this…
Let me give this bonus:
Generalisation is our forte as Nigerians. This post is a generalisation. But that is what we do all day, every day. All Yorùbá people eat a lot of pepper, and are chronic backstabbers. The Igbo are bloodthirsty, disrespectful, and are always chasing money. Hausa people are zombies, utterly stupid and gullible, and must always lead.
This is Nigeria.
