By Rabi Ummi Umar
A reality check is not a punishment but a reminder to refocus. – Unknown.
Monday is the day of the week that people generally dislike. It is usually laden with the stress of getting to work early and getting the job done. I contend I have grown past the assertion that all days of the week are the same to me. Some think Mondays set the tone for the week.
As I finished up my work for the day, feeling a sense of reprieve, I began browsing through various travel apps in search of a ride home. It is always like this when I finish my 9-to-5 weekday. Only this time, it was different. Rides were scarce, and frustration started to creep in as it also started to rain cat and dog.
The driver arrived, and I hastily exited the building to meet him outside. Upon reaching the vehicle, we exchanged pleasantries as I promptly fastened my seatbelt and leaned against the window, savouring the decidedly cold air while simultaneously trying to make sense of the chaos surrounding me.
My frustration mounted as we remained stuck around the office vicinity, surrounded by a series of sounds. Cars honked incessantly, drivers venting their frustration at the gridlocked roads, and some bumped into each other. It was not difficult to guess that their anger was from waiting in long queues at the filling stations and the urge to make some money before the end. Should this be our reality?
Meanwhile, commuters on the road struggled to secure a ride home because some who own vehicles have abandoned them. Hawkers shouted and called out to prospective customers to patronise them. The standard of living is expressly high; they are fighting tooth and nail to feed their families. Should this be our reality?
Nigerians have gone from one issue to the other, but the most recent and important is the fuel hike, which most Nigerians rely on. This has affected so many lives, from pedestrians and drivers to heads of households and children. Should this be our reality?
Many people are suffering, even dying. You can hardly make ends meet even with your money; imagine not having any for basic necessities. The question of “Renewed Hope” still lingers in the hearts of Nigerians as we are forced to adapt to every unfavourable situation. Should this be our reality?
Citizens have gone from hoping for renewed hope to just wanting to be alive. Things have taken extreme turns, and no one even knows where we are heading. Talk more about the final destination. Should this be our reality?
As I watched these events unfold in just minutes, road traffic getting worse and rain still drizzling, my mind jolted back to Maiduguri. The people are still struggling with the damage to so many lives and properties. How pathetic, I thought. Should this be their reality?
How are they coping? How are they coming to terms with this loss? Do they have shelter to take refuge under when it pours like this? I tried to put myself in their shoes, and this exercise only made me even more appreciate all I have now.
Earlier, I was scrolling through my TikTok app and stumbled upon a shocking sight: suspected bandits doing a ‘giveaway’ on TikTok. My jaw dropped. We have all been forced to familiarise ourselves with the unsettling reality that terrorists have a presence on social media. Still, the audacity of openly carrying out such an act is genuinely alarming. It seems they no longer have any regard for authority. Should this be our reality?
I went onto ‘X’ to clear my head after what I had just witnessed, and lo and behold, someone had already tweeted about it. They wrote, “Bandits dey do giveaway for TikTok, God which kind country you put me so.” I could not resist tapping into the replies, and while some were humorous, they only pointed out that we were doomed. Should this be our reality?
Many people find it funny; some even want to participate because the country is tough. But this is highly concerning. Our reality is so concerning. Are we really succumbing to these? Should this be our reality?
This is the state of the nation—Nigeria. As the quote above suggests, a reality check is not a reprimand but a chance to recalibrate. Therefore, it is time for the government and citizens to work together for a better reality!
Rabi Ummi Umar is an intern at PRNigeria and a student at Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin. She can be reached at rabiumar058@gmail.com.