NIGERIANS IN UK - 1

DIsclaimer:

These are only my thoughts borne out of my many interactions with different Nigerian folks since i came into this country.

I am not refferring to any particular person(s) in this write up neither have i deliberately set out to rubbish the Nigerian community of which i belong, but to shed some light on the different mentalities we exhibit which i find to be the major reason behind our different levels of achievement in this country.

Please read this piece with an open mind.

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When you come into this country, the category of Nigerian you mix up with will determine how you live your life and ultimately what you achieve.
Category you ask?
Yes, we have different types of Nigerians in this side of the world. From now on i'll be specific with my location, which is London.

I'll try as much as possible to state the different characteristics exhibited by each category but will deliberately omit some sensitive ones or not dwell extensively on them.

1. THE ONISE (Workaholics)

I am beginning with this category because they are the largest and  the people here were my first contacts in my early days in this country.

People in this group are extreme workaholics. Their only belief is that 'awa f'ase n'ilu yi ni o'. You see them living the house as early as 4am with their backpacks and not returning until late in the night. Nothingelse. Many of them have a closed mind towards other things like broadening their horizon or improving on themselves.
They are experts in working menial jobs and they quickly suggest this to you as soon as you arrive. 'O je lo wa ise cleaning, security or care ko de ma fa lo ni ti e'. This is their beginning and the end. They don't see themsleves or any black folk doing anythingelse.

They do not enjoy the money they earn as they believe in sending everything home- 'Ile l'abo isinmi oko'. Their usual line of prayer is 'Ki Oluwa sa saanu fun wa ninu ilu yi ni, ko de je ka ko're oko d'ele'.
There are several sad tales of many of them loosing all their hard-earned money to relatives or friends at home who they trusted to help them invest, save or complete whatever project thet had in mind. Owo w'ogbo! Wahala won ja s'asan. Bee won o ri aye to da gbe n'ilu oyinbo.

People here are extremely cautious in spending 'Pans' as they call it. Everything is first converted to Naira equivalent forgetting that is not the legal currency here.
When you roll with this people, you will believe that shopping in west-end is a taboo. 'ehn ki lo wa de'be?'
Why do you have to drive when there are buses? If you must own a car get a banger (cheap not new or fairly new).
Around 2005, the popular mobile contract they sign up for is the 6pm-6am and weekend calls because it was cheap and they can gossip for as long as they want. Hardly do anyone call during the day. I found this foolish. Why would i be carrying a phone about and I can't make a call lataro titi di ale? When i signed up my 1st contract i took the latest D600 phone and anytime call. Though expensive with small amount of call mins but that is me- i am driven by PURPOSE AND QUALITY. Little did i know that i have sinned. I heard all manners of preaching and how foolish i was from my flatmates and people around (lori owo mi o).

Most of the people here will rather spend money to appear rich rather than live a good quality life. They buy gold, several 'aso-ebi' for parties and spray musicians dollars but live in a room for several years. ' Landlord ko ni mo wa sin n'ilu yi...kini mo fe ma san aduru owo yen fun?'
If they hear that someone has rented a 1-bed flat, they quickly advise the person to rent out the room to generate extra income and be managing the livingroom. The point is comfort is the least in their priorities.

The people here are religious as well as fetish. They follow every pastor, wooli, alfa....won de ma ngbe ebo.

Some people in this group have upgraded themselves as soon as their stay in the country was normalised so you can say thier choice of living was 'conditioned' as in e get as e be, while the majority are still living this way despite having no reasons to. The only upgrade they have done to themselves since dem don gba'we was to apply for council residences and find further avenues to be fleecing the government.

In summary, everyting here is about menial work, money, saving, irresponsible show-off spendings and poor quality of life and low mentality.

I don taya jare.

....to be continued.