On thankfulness and other civic duties

“In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:18 

Brethren, as the saying goes, gratitude is the most fleeting of emotions. Anyone who knows the people of Nigeria will understand how fitting this statement is. Despite living in a society where gratitude is emphasised culturally and religiously, we are the most ungrateful bunch in the world. 

Recently, when our number one citizen, the one ordained by the heavens, President Tinooboo, magnanimously pointed out that we must learn to appreciate the little we have, many second-class citizens started complaining. This is not particularly surprising given the fact that these same people, just a week ago, expected their ruler to abandon the affairs of the whole nation to risk his life visiting an active conflict area, somewhere even they would hesitate to go. 

Yes, things are hard; that’s undeniable. But if we ignore our empty stomachs and empty pockets, we can see that our country is actually better off, as our beloved Tinooboo said. I mean, the numbers and statistics are there. I know the numbers can be too blurry for some of us who have been drinking garri for two weeks straight and those of us who haven’t eaten anything today, but the numbers actually reflect an upward trajectory. You only need to read them correctly. You also need to know where to read them. 

You see, external voices such as the United Nations and similar institutions often lack the spiritual context required to accurately interpret our progress. They don’t understand what we’re trying to build, so they cause unnecessary panic. The only ones we can trust are our duly elected rulers because they see the big picture. They are, after all, the ones making the decisions; there is no reason for them to lie. So when they say all is well, all is well. 

My brothers and sisters, I don’t want to spend too much time defending the government, not like I’ve been paid or anything. But then I see people complain about our politicians and their ostentatious lifestyle, ignoring the fact that we are at least being represented in government. We have a democracy. Many African countries don’t practise democracy, and we don’t hear them complaining. Or have you heard someone from Burkina Faso or Guinea-Bissau complain to you today? 

For sure, South Africans have enviable living conditions, and Ghanaians may have stable electricity, but we have something they don’t have — our fighting spirit. Yes, our hospitals are not in the state they should be, and our ambulances are highly selective, ensuring that only the most qualified emergencies receive attention, but at least we still have these things. Some people in other places don’t. Yes, we have a security problem, but it’s not as bad as what’s going on in Somalia, South Sudan and Mali. We still suffer, but suffering builds character. 

I know some people have unrealistic expectations, but the journey to progress is not always easy. Let’s not forget the unscrupulous elements in and outside this country, trying to pull apart the good work that the government of the day is building. Some of the complaints, while legitimate, are just exaggerated. I mean, think about it: we complain about rising prices of foodstuffs but throw parties every weekend. We complain about the exorbitant price of internet subscriptions, but we come online to vent and oppress each other. We complain about how much cheaper it is elsewhere, but we are still here, a true indication of how manageable it is. 

I will round off by saying that as citizens, we must be careful not to confuse discomfort with injustice. Not every hardship is a problem. Some are simply features of national development. Worrying and complaining won’t solve anything; even God advises us to cheer up when life knocks us down. So get up, smile and be of good courage.

Oluwagbenga Kolawole loves reading, writing and satirising political and social issues. When he’s not doing that, he’s blowing bubbles and fighting crime. He writes from Abeokuta, Nigeria.