By Lawrence Egede
To belong here and there, being not sure or unaware, is like belonging to nowhere.
These hectic days, things that happen economically to Nigerians have, in a way, almost forced everybody to get involved in llittle-by-littleprice hike criminalities, going against each other deliberately and unawares.
As the constant increase in inflationary force comes on board daily, people tend to keep visiting the price hike criminalities on each other.
People are probably sure or intentionally think it is normal to do so, believing that it will enable them to gain back their assumed losses.
Whether we belong to inflationary appetite or belong to the believing spirit, based on gainful assumption is a battle between money and unutilized patriotism.
The explanations will appear hereunder to still prove that whether we belong here and there or not, whatever we do must reflect on us.
This long Epistle is open and exactly the analysis of what Nigerians have been going through over the past years, with the above fact-seeking question mark as to where Nigeria belong now.
In the Nigerian economic field, there is a confusing battle going on between Patriotism and Money.
Many Nigerians chose money more than patriotism, but can't afford to lose touch with patriotism yet belong to nowhere in the secure world.
We trot the entire globe to acquire knowledge, experiences, exposures, citizenship, culture and to do business, end up as a jack of all trades but master of none and belong nowhere.
By the grace of God, we point out the truth about people who do well in any field of industry or profession and their political performances.
We must know where we belong humanly and spiritually, professionally and occupationally. We all must know where we belong practically and proficiently.
We should know where we belong sacrificially with serviceable hearts. We must all know where we belong industrially and doctrinally, patriotically and devotedly, confidently and courageously in all our abilities to exhibit beautiful qualities of the right living.
Qualities of life abound in the promotion of our integrity and principles of living, as they affect who we are and what we are really.
That's how we are created to promote the good image, works, and attitudes of the people around the world we know are doing fine for humanity, not for self alone.
We are equally created, to tell the truth straight to the face of anybody, without fear or favour, but we must not injure any fellow human being.
We pray that God protects the interests and pleads the course of people in the world. We do pray that people's crooked ways be made straight harmlessly.
But the biblical book of the Ecclesiastes chapter 1 verse 15 said: "That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered."
Does Nigeria belong where things have been made so crooked and cannot be made straight? Or belong in that which is wanting and cannot be numbered or vice versa?
It seems Nigeria has come to a climax of inflationary hollow appetite, wherefore nothing can be changed to become normal again. Everyone visits another with the same level of inflationary tendency, making endless merchandise of the other.
That's what the final removal of oil subsidy brought to bear upon everyone, like a hollow space that cannot be filled up to the brim any longer no matter the pluses.
The Arithmetic there is that the pluses have continued to return with additional zeros in the front of cash figures, making the cost of living rise very oftentimes higher than anybody can anticipate.
The biblical book of Ecclesiastes indicates it in chapter 1, verse 7 and says: "All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full: unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return."
That's how the high cost of living circulates for those whose purses cannot be full, yet they cannot help themselves to stop further inflation.
Further inflation and high cost of living can never stop unless we stop patronizing the costly shop that drains the purse with patriotic faith.
The rich and the poor whose purses cannot be filled with money up to the brim, for lack of patriotism all things return to everyone.
Assuming that both the poor and the rich are patriotic enough and say no to the bitting high cost of living, inflation cannot turn around for everyone again.
It is said that wherever we belong, we must fence around, just as the rest of the advanced worlds do with full energy and true patriotism.
Mark the word Patriotism and think about Nigeria, where there is a scarcity of it, except where selfish politics is highly involved more than anybody can anticipate.
In Nigeria, we celebrate politics more than anybody can anticipate. We celebrate power more than anybody can think of it. We celebrate overall big authority like no man's business. We enjoy celebrating being in total control of resources. We celebrate the worshipping of our fat positions in any environment of monopoly.
It is good to celebrate all the above because it is naturally given for the purpose, where the people can afford to do it because of top advantages.
But the losses in them are many if people are not in any way patriotic, just as it takes place in Nigeria where we all belong. The truth is bitter.
Let us take an example of the Patriotism of Israel around their walls of nationhood either by Air, by land or by sea from any angle or part of the world.
The level of the defensive and offensive sophistry in the use of technologies and sciences for human safety and also for national security, which is paramount, has been a miraculous wonder and, or even a mystery to many with the way Israel performs it.
The patriotic strength of their citizens and military personnel is not in doubt. Their total love for their nation is not in doubt. Their honesty is not in doubt and their truth is not in doubt.
But in Nigeria, we only know how to thwart the truth to the detriment of Patriotism. We only know how to sabotage and frustrate safety and security in every corner.
Therefore, people whose bellies are full of bitterness for selfish purposes keep putting our forces of national defence in total jeopardy.
The worst of all is that the love of money is the Patriotism we adore more than anybody can anticipate. But the evil thereof is the poison that kills instantly, without considering whose Ox is gored in the process.
We know that the bible says in the book of Ecclesiastes chap, chapter 7, verse 12, "For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the Excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it."
How many Nigerians are wise enough and knowledgeable to the core, as to defend the nation with love and give their personal lives as patriotic citizens for ransom in lieu of festivities?
The same book of Ecclesiastes chapter 10, verse 19 said, "A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things."
This area of the Ecclesiastes is where Nigeria seems to belong, feasting and making merry with wine because money answereth all things.
Then, in the New Testament books, the bible says in the first Epistle of Saint Timothy chapter 6 verse 10, "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."
This passage of the scripture is not tolerated in Nigeria with the rich who are not interested in listening, hearing, or understanding the loud gist.
Money has damaged Nigeria beyond repair and removed its value from the markets, turned everything upside down and all that are caught in the web are made corrupt and fortunately sorrowful.
How many rich ones are happy today? How many of us are rich and confident publicly today? How many of us are rich and strong enough to boast a clear conscience? How many of us are rich without cordoning ourselves off with security forces today? How many of us are rich without fear of the unknown adversaries?
How many of us are poor, wretched and bankrupt with a clear conscience in Nigeria? How many of us who are poor can say no to riches coming from angles full of ugly spots and wrinkles?
We think that what we can grab or get is our right and we hardly know the evil thereof in the hell of the corrupt glory of riches, popularity and false fame.
Corruption kept Nigeria bare, backward, bizarre, blocked and blacked out more than anybody could anticipate.
Upon all the developments can Nigeria boast of any steady power supply? Can we boast of any sustainable home product that can sell abroad more than Oil?
The economy can't bite harder on citizens who are full of potential if there is a steady electricity power supply in Nigeria.
A steady power supply would have helped people to do genuine jobs in their areas of work inside and outside places of versatile industry.
Half of the population of Nigeria wouldn't have turned into potential criminals had there been enough care taken earlier on not to be ignorant of the responsibilities we owe ourselves all along.
Even in the Communication sector the so-called service providers have ignorantly and negligently fucked up Nigerians badly, to a wicked and very embarrassing level.
They have no single respect, no remorse and no apologies for the citizens, not even for the government of the day.
They silently disregard the norms of duty and destroy the valid essence of their lawful services. It may be for the removal of oil subsidies.
If Oil has not been the only source of everything called the life wire of business lines in Nigeria, how can the economy threaten the livelihood of the citizens?
People who enjoy the Oil wealth are not the masses but just a few opportunists, who found themselves in power, authority, control and advantage over everyone.
They build edifices here and there, even across the territories of Nigeria. They enjoy a tremendous spread of investments for themselves and their cronies across the board.
The Edifices they built or built have no faces of national value, value and the beauty of them all cannot defend our territories from any angle of invasion. The only joy we have is selfish politics at home and abroad.
The other day, I watched with amazement that the only fast-selling products in Nigeria are coffins adorned with different colours, decors and beautiful spray paints.
The other products, of course, are unavoidable foods, provided that people can afford the price.
I also noticed that the only high-profile adverts we always display on the billboards are congratulatory notifications at birthdays and political grants of golden opportunities and privileges.
Other things we celebrate are giving of Titles, Political appointments, Dedication of newborn babies, Buying of posh cars, Envying those doing well and also Sideling those who faultlessly lag behind the tree of harvest.
Now for clarity, upon all those who boast of billions, trillions and untold riches in Nigeria, how many of them can simply surrender their wealth for the defence of the nation against the ugly state of security challenges?
Two questions are:- when will we know that Nigeria is in the dark both day and night? In which part of the world does Nigeria belong?
