I have never been able to answer this question. Well I guess am just lost in thought trying to figure out what the dream is. At a point I considered the question rhetorical like the answer was obvious but still I couldn’t make meaning of it. What is the Nigerian dream? What is the singular philosophy that drives the Nigerian man to act? What gives him hope, what assures him of tomorrow and what gives meaning to his pursuit?
What drives the Nigerian man? Is it the feeling of hope or the certainty of success or the predominance of belief or just pointless expectation and the quest for survival? I am a Nigerian and I am stuck with the question, what is the Nigerian dream? Is it the idea that life will get better or that progress is inevitable if only we work hard enough or that prosperity is assured in good time? Well, surely I have my doubts but I also have hope.
If I were to stand on the shoulders of our heroes past and gaze into the opportunities of tomorrow what will I see. Will it be green fields of opportunity or the valleys of emptiness and broken dreams trailing men? If I were to set sail into the deep and pursue tirelessly to the very ends of the earth will I find meaning or be judged by the colour of my skin and the colour of my passport; the perceived inglorious Nigerian passport. If there be any dream, I am constantly searching for it.
What is the ideal by which equality of opportunity is available to every Nigerian, allowing the lowest in society to aspire to great heights? If I am constantly tormented by the lootings of my fellow black men. What hope is there? If tribal sentiments trail opportunities? What equality is there? If I were caught up in the incessant strikes of my educational system where would my dreams even begin?
Each day as the sun rises, I rise to the hassle, to till the land in search of my daily bread. Run! Run! Run! In the hash lands of hope and in the vain fields of expectation there I take pursuit in survival and in search of bread I go. As I hurry I am greeted by the vast crowds of men in the same pursuit everyone impatiently starring at time who seems thrilled by our obsession. The hassle starts not pleasantly but off the verge of the craziest traffic you have ever seen. And there we hopeless stare into the vast emptiness of the skies as though we are expecting wings to appear to fly us to our destination, the land of our daily bread.
Hardworking and nothing short of that! That is the Nigerian man, tilling the soil like he owns it. His life nurtured by the diligent observance and obsession of culture and tradition. The Nigerian life bound by the dogma; get a degree, then a job and then get married, the rest is history. The great triad of expectation and the designed path laid for all to tread. Every parents dream as they cast their support in solidarity. So faithfully we tread and hopefully we find meaning and fulfilment our thoughts.
In the end as the lights go out on the day and as we head back through the heated traffic to the promise land called home. We sit in silence and ponder how long our struggles would continue and to what end do we push the bounds of hope in pursuit of meaning and a better life. We all just want to live the Nigerian dream, live meaningful lives, touch the world, enjoy its pleasures and leave life with memories and be thankful we lived. This is our hope and our burden.
If there be any dream I am in search of it.
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