One of the most annoying sites I see littered around Nigeria or even diaspora these days, is two Nigerians or more, gathering together to complain about Nigeria. It’s so easy to make friends these days, just talking rubbish about our country.
Nigerians are so intelligent, we know how to conjure words together to aptly describe the failings of our leaders, the uselessness of government and the insecurity of our environment. None of us alludes to being corrupt, but our leaders are suddenly all corrupt. We complain and talk like people whose leaders were forced on them rather than through a process. If it is indeed true that people get the type of leaders that symbolize their constitution, does it not say something about us? Rather than focus on the issues we all have as individuals however, we are taken over by finger pointing, complaining, bitterness, and gossiping. We badmouth the government, crucify our leaders, defame our business men. And don’t look far away to cast this blame… you have been a part of the complaining culture as well, but tell me today, has complaining ever created anything good?
Complaining is a chronic attitude that brings us no good. We have to take ourselves out of it, and others will follow. On my recent trip back from the UK, I was privileged to sit down side by side an older man. He was certainly in his 60’s. We sat down together without saying anything for quite a while – he watched as meal after meal came through and I kept passing them on. After a while, he looked at me and asked me if I was fasting. I chuckled and didn’t answer – Apparently he got the impression that I was a muslim fasting because of the Ramadan. Haven broken the ice, I proceeded to have a conversation with this man. In the next few minuites in our conversation, the man intelligently captured the malaise in our system, the problem of our country, the lameness of our government. In the little opportunity I had to air my views, I shared my thoughts with him. I told him that I believed that the Government was not without fault, that things were not so great, neither was it anything to be proud of to be a country that lives in darkness. I told him however, that we will stay in that state until people like himself and myself take responsibility. I told him, that what I ask myself regularly is that what am I doing? If indeed many nationals wonder if we are truly Nigerians based on our great behavior outside the country, why should our nation be seen any less? Why are we pointing fingers and not taking responsibility.
It shocked me, when the man stopped short, and reversed his statements. He said, “young man, I love and agree with your point of view, and I love your thought line!” He went on to tell me how wrong he was, and how in reality while many people are complaining, some people are actually benefiting from the current system. In one minute, this man switched positions, and started explaining to me a lot of things about his relationships with MKO Abiola, with Wole Soyinka, with Tinubu e.t.c… and about how in reality we all need to take responsibility. I was pleasantly surprised and happy! I figured, people really don’t also benefit anything from talking down Nigeria, they just want to make conversation.
So back to you, I ask you sincerely, when was the last time you complained about Nigeria? Today? When was the last time you took responsibility for anything about Nigeria? When was the last time you said, that road ought to be done by the government, but let me do it. When was the last time you said national reorientation ought to be done by a ministry, let me do it. When was the last time you said, that charity ought to be taken care of by governmednt let me do it. When did you say Nigeria’s image abroad is the government’s problem, but let me help. No government in the world is responsible for change, individuals are. It is because we as are a people are not taking responsibility that we are getting irresponsible leaders. Where are you taking responsibility, and what are you taking responsibility for?
When life becomes history and all is summed up. You will be remembered for what you took responsibility for. What will you be remembered for? What? Complaining doesn’t create solutions, complaining doesn’t add a strand of hair to anybodies head. Complainers didn’t build the Ark, Noah did. We can choose to complain or to shut up and take responsibility. Imagine you were given the position, what would you do… sincerely? What would you expect from the people around you? Is what you would expect what you are doing? No matter how good things get, there will still be complainers. The children of Israel complained that there was no food, no water, and when there was food, they complained about lack of variety. Human nature will always see reasons why things are not the way they should be. We also have the choice however of taking responsibility and reducing the number of things there are to complain about. It’s a big divide, and you need to stay on one side of it!
The funny thing about complaints is that it’s contagious… If I’m not careful, my cry against a complaining can be termed a complain 🙂 Let’s quit complaining and start getting involved in solutions.
17 thoughts on “Complainers didn’t build the Ark”
This reminds me of a get-together my friends and I organised for Nigerians working in the same company with us here in the UK late last year. We came together and what seemd to be the only common interest was complaining about the ills of Nigeria.
The irony of the whole night was when I ventured to say something in the likeness of ‘we will get there one day.’ I was shouted down and told in intelligent words how our leaders will not allow it to ever be. I kept quiet that day because I was not in a mood to take on a whole crowd trying to convince them to tone the condemnation down. Since then I have spoken with a good number of the attendees of that event and I’m convinced we all just try to find conversation with the complaining and finger pointing that has been going on both home and abroad.
Thank you chairman for putting this to a very big audience. Let us all stop the pulling down with our mouths and start to build up instead. NIGERIA SHALL BE GREAT!!!
‘Deolu,
Once again you have demostrated your great resolve to take us out of our dark world (way of thinking and acting) into a more constructive one.
There is a great lesson to be learned and I must confess I am as guilty as everyone else in this nation.
Thanks for waking me up again. Right now, I promise myself and this nation that I will not complain again but rather, I will seek out what I can do to better Nigeria.
Nice one brother. We will get there!
Well said. Everybody ought to be involved in nation building. Alas, people complain instead of taking charge. This is a wake up call for all and sundry. As Mahatma Ghandi rightly said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”
http://ibukunoluishola.blogspot.com
It is a good observation. If we stop complaining and instead look for what we can do to change things in our immediate environment and in Nigeria as a whole. The country will change for better within the shortest period. I hope people will imbibe the new idea and continue to spread the gospel. God will help us in this country (Amen)
I have always said it that we talk too much in this country. As a matter of fact i believe that the issue is not in our not having plans, but in implementation. In short we talk more than we DO!
We will wait for Government to clean our gutters, some people will even blame Fashola for the endless traffic in Lagos, when it is very obvious that if people can adhere to simple laws and regulations, and pause not to think only of themselves but how their actions/inactions is going to affect others then we could have flee flow of traffic. Or how else do you want to explain the role of these yellow buses in traffic congestion in Lagos.
A people deserve the leader they get, because that leader is a product of that society. To change a nation we must begin to change individually, then as a family unit, as a community. We need to be change agents.
@ Deolu, i bought “The Tippiing Point” after you mentioned it on this site and I must say you are one great human being. Nigeria needs more of you to cause the social revolution we so badly need.
You are blessed my brother.
this is touching…i am much more guilty of this .Thank you brother deolu .
Thanks for these…Indeed things may look slow but in it greater things are been worked out…Noah kept doin what he was asked to do and at the end he built a structure that no wind, rain or storms of life can overcome. I believe in your thought line too.
I just built a social networking site for Nigeria Patriots. My reasons if for us to have a place we can constructively build our nation. It’s on http://www.naijapatriots.ning.com
— Rotarian Richard Wheeler once said “The person who would like to make his dreams come true MUST STAY AWAKE.” How true as it relates to our dear country Naija. we must wake up to taking responsibility and stop passing the ball, hey something just came up, can you die for Naija? Food 4 thought abi?.
As we approach another independence day celebration, watch your tv screen and your mind will be poison by the noisy negatives we call Political analyst, but the question again is what do u see? a nigeria u will be leaving or one u believe in.
Deolu great thought, and again a great piece!
http://www.naijamarketsquare.com
Spot on Deolu,
We all have been caught in the act at one time or the other.
In a prayer meeting recently, i lead the brethren into prayers of thanksgivings for Nigeria pointing out numerous reasons to be greatful to God for Nigeria. I mean reasons i won’t exchange for anything else in the world.
The ante-dote to complaining is an atitude of Gratitude. That was where the Isrealites failed.
“If you want to see great things, be grateful”
Luv U!
Adeolu, once again and as always, thank you.
I have always believed in the principle “…it takes only one man!” Nigeria is Blessed!
PAPA D, i just appreciate your effort towards creating a changed thot patterns in Nigerians. You are not alone, we will surely get there. THANKYOU SIR!
Funny enough, we just had a session about this situation just a minute ago before i came online and read this post….it’s killing the level of complaint, it is only Osimiri that will save us from the claw of this complaint palava…
i have learnt a lesson and i am ready to do more to learn more and give myself rather than complain about every situation. My school is on strike, Nigeria is Bad, this that….blabla bla it won’t change a thing until you and I change something…
i have resolved to be a changer rather than complain about it..
Your article is spot on. I observe that people who find it easy to complain are also quick to point fingers when they experience a setback in business / career / exams / relationships………..But what I notice with this category of individuals is they all do not give up on themselves mayb a few do. They decide to try something else fuelling their ego and refusing to be tagged a failure. Let us all with this attitude towards ourselves do something for the little community we live in, building our communities to be a place to be envied. We have got all it takes to make Nigeria what we want it to be, let me also point out that the journey is not void of sacrifice, courage and discipline.
Deolu thanks for the article.
Bro Deolu,
You are definitely rght with this article. THe time that is meant to build the ark was used in complaining & making jest of Noah.
I use to complain as well. Now i know better
Thanks for this insight.
Complaining! Complaining! Complaining! I think complaining is the attitude of a slave, the opposite which is proacitvity. We have a part to play in evrything that happens in our surroundings – even to us. Instead of complaining, let us stand up to action. Until we decide to move, nothing moves. Let’s stand up and take our place in the affairs of this country. God bless Nigeria!
when people complain, they only succeed in making others pity them and forget about lookinmg for solutions to their problems. when a man complain he makes his challenge bigger than the original size intende for him. action is vital after thing magnificiently about a problem
sir, i believe the reason why people are comlaining is because of frustration.yes. there is no way we will look at the situation today without putting blame on somebody and in our own case- the government. i am not writting to antagonise you but i am saying sometimes people just get tired and they fell the only way to speak uyp is to complain.
Abraham Lincoln said” i do not know who my grandfather was but i am more concerned about who his grandson will be” i know our fathers have failed us but if we must succeed as a nation, we must stand up and decide the kind ogf future we want to build for our children bearing in mind that comnplaining wouldnt get the job done but action will.May God bless Naija.