Starting with Yoruba adage that says “E je k’alakata lo na k’ato f’abo f’adiye” which literarily means that it’s pertinent for us to solve the most challenging issue first and tackle the less attractive one later”. What Mr Ewohime Apkovweta did is totally condemnable and unacceptable to have smashed 5 cars at the Nigeria High Commission in London for being denied entrance into the office. Whatever the case may be, he should have made his case less emotional rather than committing a crime that did not solve his problem a bit.
Though, it could be frustrating considering his side of the story but not to the extent of taking
law into his hand.
That goes to describe what are Nigerians go through to get a new passport, renew old one or even get a visa either here in Nigeria or abroad which is quite unfortunate and disheartening. The wasted days off work, come today, come tomorrow and no passports booklets which many of them are experiencing is agonising and confusing. Why does it have come to this level?
Before now, I have heard many of my friends and relatives who stay abroad complain of spending a fortune to secure either visa or passport to travel for an important occasion which had never come as easier as expected.
A man was said to have experienced similar incident few months ago when he approached Nigeria High Commission in London to renew his passport only to become a regular visitor in the process having to visit the commission 8 times in 2 months, each time spending 3-4 hours and still did not get his passport as expected but rather, he was accused of being a criminal despite being known as a show host and compere at the highest level while some of the staff have even seen and heard him speak at the commission.
He was insulted, ridiculed and dismissed while being tossed from pillar to post only for his him to discover that his passport was deliberately delayed for not putting on a suit most of the time he visited. What a world!
At another time, a young lady with 2 young kids less than 4 years were reported to have travelled from Birmingham as early as 4:30 in the morning with the hope of getting her passport issue but was disappointed as the commission staff abandoned her to her fate.
There’s no doubt about the fact that countless of frustrated and angry Nigerians have travelled far, left work, stayed in hotels or with relatives only to be told to come back the following week which most times not visible.
As if that is not enough, paying to fast track ones passport is another syndrome and not only peculiar to Nigerians back home, it also happens in almost all the Nigeria embassies abroad. These are our brothers and sisters who oftentimes share their gory experiences whenever our paths meet. Some even said when you refuse to go for “fast track thing”, you’ll be asked to take a seat for hours which doesn’t translate to being attended to and when you dare remind them that you’re still waiting, they’ll snap back at you. If you refuse to listen to them, then, you’ll be told that Oga has either gone for lunch or gone for a meeting which means you have to back another day.
There are many Nigerians who need their passport for one reason or the other but could not get it because the High Commission did not issue their passport as scheduled and they lost out for no just cause and many become frustrated.
But all well said, my people of Yoruba extract would say “Ohun t’o n s’ogoji lo n s’oodunrun, gbogbo ohun t’o ns’aboyade, gbogbo oloya l’o n se” meaning whatever affect to one affect others. What happened to Mr Ewohime may happen to anyone as it happened to many but many of us have the gut of smashing cars as he did. But we all know the situation would not have gotten to the level
of smashing cars if the issue has been tackled headlong but because some people are feeding fat on every loophole in every situation by the same Nigerians either rich or poor in as much they are comfortable.
The issue of scarcity of passport booklets did not just arise yesterday. It’s been on for years but nothing has been done by the federal government to find a lasting solution to it and so, the party goes on.
Akpovweta’s action if we must say the truth is not different from what we’ve been experiencing in the hands of the Omo Oniles, our Niger Delta Militants, cultism, kidnappers and Boko Haram terrorists put together.
When people at the helms of affairs fail to provide basic amenities where and when necessary, that is what we get in return. If the government had made the process easier without having to go through any difficulty at any point in time, the issue of smashing the windscreen will arise at all.
In other words, if job opportunities are made available to our teeming youths, the issue of social vices like kidnapping, cultism and militancy show up and if there’s going to be any at all, it will be minimal and controllable.
The London incident is a double edge sword in the fabric of our nation’s image, causing our heart to bleed as well as adding salt upon injury for us to nurse which will take time to heal. It’s no doubt collateral damage to us as citizens and to Nigeria as a nation.
Although, Mr EWohime Apkovmeta will have face the wrath of the law for his crime in London which will serve as a deterrent for others who may want to try such action. But he’s a hero in his own world and to many frustrated Nigerians who had gone through such ordeal for championing the cause for them.
Meanwhile, the federal government of Nigeria must as a matter of urgency look inward, do all that’s necessary to put things in order for us all to benefit
judiciously thereby translating to a better Nigeria
