Before his kidnap, Stephen was able to tame and train his new dog, Jack, into a friendly and helpful companion. After Stephen was kidnap and held, his friend took the dog to a new environment where there were other dogs. Stephen’s dog, Jack, was afraid and uncomfortable in the new environment, as it had to fight other dogs for everything. In this new environment of uncertainty, the once lovely and helpful dog became aggressive and difficult. The effect of unfavourable environment on human behaviour necessitates an evaluation of whether Nigerians are truly difficult, greedy and wicked?”
The former British Prime Minister, David Cameron, described Nigerians as fantastically corrupt. Unlike some others, whose hushed aspersions remain secret, his aspersion on Nigeria became an internet sensation. Afterwards, other people, even Nigerians, believed and joined in his label on Nigerians. The different cases of poverty and criminality in Nigeria are quickly displayed as evidence that Nigerians are difficult, greedy and wicked.
Without proper social education and security of livelihood, humans become beasts to one another,1 fighting over everything instead of collaborating. But when humans have been educated and assured of a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness, they collaborate. Hence, progressive societies are distinguished by their ability to collaborate and utilize their resources for producing what they need. Such societies require not only capable and willing humans,2 but also resources for the work.
Before the arrival of colonial masters, African kingdoms and societies managed their communities’ resources. Towards the 19th century, European industrialists came in search of raw materials and new territories. They shared Africa, conveniently breaking and joining several kingdoms and communities to exploit mineral resources. The violent mergers of unconsented kingdoms and communities became the new African countries that continue to experience ethnic crisis. And the policies in these African countries are still influenced by the exploitative colonial schemes.
The various ethnic groups and communities in Nigeria have lots of human and mineral resources for producing most of what Nigerians need. Unfortunately, Nigerians hardly produce anything, instead, they depend on importing everything. Instead, the colonially imposed government that continues to recycle its players has maintained a stranglehold on the mineral resources in Nigeria.345 Hence, there is a high level of poverty, hunger, diseases and crime in different parts of Nigeria.
In this situation of social ignorance and lack of assurance for livelihood, many Nigerians have become desperate. And since humans are beings of habit, the government-engineered desperation among citizens spread in Nigerians. The greater the emphasis on hard-work in Nigeria, the lesser the effect of productivity from Nigerians. They are willing and bustling in different economic activities, but there are no real made-in-Nigeria products to show for them. It may thus, appear that Nigerians are truly difficult, greedy and wicked.
But despite the highly publicized cases of Nigerians as difficult, greedy and wicked, there are countless unreported cases of greatness. Despite the seizure of their mineral resources, Nigerians remain very hardworking and courageous. They are creative, deep, generous and human. Despite the international schemes at increasing dependency through loans and withdrawal of educational subsidies, Nigerians remain strong and hopeful.
Nigerians are not difficult, greedy and wicked by default, the socio-economic condition imposed and sustained by foreign conspiracy makes it appear so. The fear of former colonial masters, which is masked as loyalty, by Nigerians who take over the colonially-made government sustains the effect. Yet, the goodness and brilliance, generosity and tolerance of the Nigerian will manifest in this 21st century, to show the new light to the world around.