The average Nigerian is known to be strong, resilient and highly optimistic. Phrases like “e go better” “my time go soon come” “as long as my God dey for hin throne, e go do my own” are common affirmations of optimism which can be found on the lips of the average Nigerian on the street. Even if you are not a Nigerian, as long as you have Nigerian friends, you will agree with me that a Nigerian would rather live as a pauper than die. It is just in the DNA of the Nigerian to believe that as long as there is life, there is hope. Despite the poor state of her economy, Nigerian people are known all over the world as one of the happiest people on the earth. In fact, some have tagged Nigerians as the people who are “suffering and smiling”.
Sadly, these facts are being put to the test by the recent rise in suicide cases and attempts in the country. Suddenly, Nigerians now feel like dying. I remember when Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, a Nigerian, attempted to blow up a plane en route Detroit, USA from Amsterdam, Netherlands on Christmas day, 25th December 2009. Many Nigerian comedians jokingly said Al-Qaeda should have known better than to put a Nigerian on such a mission. I believe we all agreed and laughed even though we were all embarrassed to be painted in such a bad light on the international scene. Fast forward to August 2016, a 44-year old bank manager, Olisa Nwokobi, shot himself in Lagos due to pressure from his bank over loan repayment. In January this year, Verishima Unokyur, a student of Babcock University in Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State killed himself in his parents’ home in Lagos. On the 18th March 2017, another student, this time, of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, Adesoji Adeniran, hanged himself in his room while his roommates were away for the night to study. The very next day, 19th March 2017, Nigerians were shocked once again at the news of a medical doctor, Allwell Orji, jumping off the Third Mainland Bridge to his death.
All these reveal one fact, a once happy people now feel like dying. What could be the cause of this? How does one go from being happy to feeling like dying? We need answers and really quick.
If you have any idea as touching the answers to the questions asked, kindly share with us in the comment section below
Well, I’d say that if there’s one thing we are dealing with at such a time as this, it is depression. Its that suppressing force that pulls till one breaks, and caves in completely. Honestly, i would argue that half the people who say they are thinking about the way forward, or trying to eke out some solution to their situations are actually sitting around being depressed, and worn about it. It’s sick enough that people are going through a chunk of personal issues. How much worse is it now that there is a bizarre economic down turn? Its almost impossible not to take a pause and think about it for once, or may be twice. With people snapping loose all over the place, jumping into lagoons, and rivers pulling the triggers on themselves, stabbing themselves with sharp objects, its indicative of the fact that there’s indeed a struggle; one that most of us go through unassisted.
I don’t assume to have all of the answers to this fix, but I believe strongly that somehow in the fix, there’ll shine a light, and I sure hope we are able to recognize it when a ray of hope shows up! We’ll get through this.
Wow… Amazing comment. Thanks Olulade Daniel for sharing.
Fantastic blog article.Really thank you! Really Cool.