Whether in Lagos, Abuja, Calabar, London, Canada, New York and other cities across Nigeria and the world, many Nigerians have jettisoned the idea of leaving their comfort zones in the cities to travel to their respective villages as a result of marriage, poverty, fear of being killed, loss of parents and relatives, among other factors; PAUL OKAH reports.
If you’re resident in Lagos, Abuja, Calabar, London, Canada, New York and other cities across Nigeria and the world, you might come across a Nigerian who has not visited his or her village for decades and has no intention of visiting his or her village in the nearest future as a result of many factors you will learn if you’re patient or curious enough to ask them.
Inquiries by Blueprint Weekend revealed that, while leaving the village for greener pastures in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Abuja and other cities, many Nigerians had hopes of making it big in a matter of years, hence are ashamed of returning to their respective villages with notable achievements; since they’re still struggling to make ends meet in the city they travelled to, with relatives having high expectations of them.
On the other hand, while many Nigerians have made it big and established themselves in America, Canada, London, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Abuja and other cities of the world, they see nothing to return to in the village and prefer life in the city, especially if they lost parents or relatives in the village and hence feel they have no ties back home.
Intertribal marriages
Speaking with this reporter, a business woman in Kugbo, a suburb area in the FCT, Mrs. Blessing Mudiaga, said she has not set foot in her village for over 20 years and prefers spending yuletides in her husband’s village whenever there is need.
She said, “I am from Ebonyi state, but my husband is from Delta state. I’ve been in Abuja for over 30 years. I used to visit the village every now and then, but I no longer see the need because my parents are long dead. In fact, for over 20 years, I’ve not set foot in the village. We have five children, so we used to go to my husband’s village during Christmas. However, we haven’t gone there for the past five years.
“My husband often visits his village whenever there’s a big occasion or celebration within his extended family. However, we’re comfortable with life in Abuja. Even though I often get the urge to visit my village, I don’t see the need anymore because my parents are dead, including some of my relatives, but I do speak on phone with some of my relatives. It’s my husband’s village that’s the destination point if we need to travel to the village as his mother is still alive and often wants to see him and the grandchildren.”
Poverty
In a phone conversation with Blueprint Weekend, a printer in Lagos, Nathaniel Eze, who hails from Anambra, said he has not visited his hometown for over 20 years as he is still trying to make ends meet in his chosen profession.
“Travelling to the village is for those who have made money. I do have thoughts of going home every year, but I am still trying to establish myself. I left the village for Lagos in 1999 for an apprenticeship in printing and have since finished the apprenticeship, but my Oga refused to settle me before he died. It has not been easy as I have been doing my best to survive.
“My case is not different as there are many others who haven’t been to their villages for years. Again, the issue of insecurity is something else. The roads are not safe as we hear cases of kidnapping every day, whether you’re rich or poor. You hear cases of killing everyday without justification, so it’s better to stay where you feel safe. We have left the village for good, so we have to make it in the city before thinking of going home. You can’t go to the village poorer than you left it, when everyone is looking up to you,” she said.
On his part, a taxi driver in Abuja, Mathew Aderogba, said he has not been to his village for over 10 years, but will visit home in a matter of months.
He said, “I come from Osun state and I have regrettably not travelled home for over 10 years as a result of economic factors. When I came to Abuja, I had visions of a quick break as I am among those who have visions of a land flowing with milk and honey. However, after my NYSC, realities set in. For years, I couldn’t secure any meaningful job and had to survive by doing menial jobs until I was able to get a vehicle I am driving on higher purchase.
“The truth is that no parent will be happy to see his or her child coming back empty handed after years in the city. My situation has started improving so I plan to visit home within this year. It has been years of struggle for me in the FCT, so I will be glad to be home to see my people once again. At least, I can now afford what I couldn’t afford few years back.
“Nevertheless, I have a friend who is also in the same shoes, but his is a bit hopeless as he is already feeling depressed. He has been living a reckless lifestyle, gambling, sports betting, alcohol, smoking and other vices. He hasn’t been home in over 15 years and isn’t even interested. A look at him and you won’t be told he’s depressed as a result of economic factors and he’s not alone. There are other people like him in this Abuja hoping to make it big before traveling home.”
No place like home
A public affairs analyst, Stephen Idam, in his response, said the issue of poverty and affluence intermingle when it comes to people overlooking returning home to their respective villages for decades, advising people to travel home as there’s no place like home.
He said, “The issue of people not returning home to their respective villages for decades is both concerning and perplexing because it’s either because of poverty, affluence, mixed marriage, insecurity or shame. It is said that there’s no place like home, so when people decide to spend the rest of their lives in the city, abandoning or overlooking their respective villages, there’s always a reason for the decision.
“For instance, I know a case of someone in Cross River state, who was a petty thief in the village and was nearly beaten to death for stealing a fowl, after being paraded naked with his partner in crime in 1985. In fact, few days after the public humiliation, his partner in crime had to commit suicide by hanging himself because of the disgrace. The other guy went to Port Harcourt and has been living there since 1985, without setting a foot home because of the shame. He’s still alive and engaged in petty trades, but has removed coming back to the village in his calendar for 40 years now.
“Again, I know of many people who travelled to different countries of the world without any intention of coming back home. In fact, one of my friends recently became an American citizen, after migrating there few years back and has no intention of visiting or coming back to the village. When his mother died, what he did was to send money for the burial without bothering himself regarding saying a final goodbye to the woman who gave birth to him.”
He continued, “In our frequent conversation, he makes it clear he has no interest whatever to visit the village and even refers to Nigeria as ‘that country’. Even the house he inherited from his father as the first son of the family was handed over to his sister who’s collecting the rent and enjoying the benefits therefrom. He has already bought a house and established himself and his family in America, so nothing interests him in Nigeria or his village anymore, especially as he married someone from another tribe.
“What I am saying in essence is that, whether in poverty or affluence, many people simply make the decision not to return to their villages and hence get lost in the city. On the other hand, I know people who frequent their villages every yuletide and have even given instructions they must be buried in their respective villages whenever they die. Others, no matter how long they have lived in the city, prefer to retire in the village. So, it’s a matter of outlook. I also agree with those who coined the adage that there’s no place like home as, east or west, home is the best.”