Lagosians And The Curse Of Indiscipline — Part One

Editor’s Note: Lagos has spiraled from the clean, serene and sane city it was years ago into an abyss of chaos and filth. How did Lagos come to its present state. Naij.com’s Lagos contributor, Ishioma Ineh relives her childhood years in Lagos and compares the good old days to the present. 

As a young Lasgidi girl born in the late 80’s, I grew up to hear words like “Eko for show”, “Eko Akete”, “Centre of Excellence”, “The Island City”, etc.. These were just some of the beautiful words used to describe the magnificence of the State. I recall intimidating a playmate who was on holiday from one of the neighbouring African Countries and I asked her if she had visited the Race Course at Onikan (now TBS).

Her response was in the negative. I went on babbling and painted scenarios about the horses there looking so huge and high up like they were smiling at you as you walked in. There were so many points I used in intimidating her that she ended up in tears. She refused to stop until her parents took her to all the fun places I told her about. #MischieviousMe

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I grew up to admire the Lagos “Three wise men” as I fondly call them and beam with pride wishing their hands will move and they’ll wave at me. I still wish they will miraculously wave at me someday. Time passed and as I grew in age, I grew up to wonder what happened to the Lagos i so cherished.

No day passes without me trying to figure out what went wrong until recently, the answers began coming to me in droves. Maybe the curse that turned this state into a shadow of its past was the unbridled quest for political acceptance and cconomic boom

Such that whilst the decency, serenity and brotherly love the state once enjoyed were being trampled on by the high influx of migrants from other parts of the nation, the leadership was blinded by the huge financial and personal gains they made from the blow out. Now we are stuck in the maze of indiscipline and lawlessness; crying desperately to find our way out as the time of national evolution ticks away.

Maybe I should start by recounting the Lagos I knew.

Well! Once upon a time, the streets of Lagos were far less populated than it is today. The market places were neatly kept. Food items were stored and displayed so cutely, you wouldn’t worry much about diseases at all. Roads were in much better shape and there weren’t horrific traffics as they are today, talk more of buses stopping at the centre of the road calling on passersby to board their vehicles.

READ ALSO: Amazing Pictures Of Lagos At Independence

The drainage  system worked, the streets weren’t the dumping grounds as they are today, and the streets weren’t as littered with dirt as they are today. Noise pollution was minimal unlike today where you have some “okada men” installing small but freaking loud music speakers on their bikes disturbing the peace of the neighborhood.

The environment was by far safe and healthy. The air was clean, the heat was minimal, and the skies were way puffier; the blue clouds were so deep and looked like the heart of the blue sea, while the white clouds had this gold shimmer to it. I cannot recall the number of times I would sit after my afternoon lessons and figure out what shape the puffy clouds took. #ThingsIStillLongThroatFor

Christmas and other Festive Seasons were much more fun than we have ever experienced in the past 10years now. Could it be that the Economy wasn’t as bad or the Environment has been so polluted that we can no longer enjoy the luxury of feeling Christmas in the air from the month of October, or that Cute Dragon Flies are fewer now, or that the Fire Flies that used to light up the Night sky during the dry seasons seem to have all gone into extinction?

I recall most especially that the people weren’t as evil minded as they are today and communal love and oneness was still alive #WonderHowWeLostItAll

These were just a little description of how beautiful things were. Unfortunately, as the population of the state grew, Economic Status grew, Wealth grew, and Indiscipline and lawlessness grew above all.
The sanctity, prestige, mental opulence and birthright of the city as “The Centre for Excellence” was sold for a pot of Economic Boom which only a few (the real hustlers) eat from.

Today, world standards have proven that no Nation/State can be economically buoyant without its residents having strong social discipline and attitude either towards time, government policies, upholding the rule of law, protecting public infrastructure, protecting fellow citizens and standing for Justice.

On having a Lagos that will match up with international destinations which have high levels of discipline, social justice, equality and minimal crime such as the UAE, Kuwait, Singapore, Switzerland and the many more that exists, the Current leadership of the Lagos State Government would need to learn to lead and govern the Lee Kuan Yew style.

This renewed world leader once said “If you are a troublemaker… it’s our job to politically destroy you… Everybody knows that in my bag I have a hatchet, and a very sharp one. You take me on, I take my hatchet, and we meet in the cul-de-sac.”

This approach to enforcing discipline in such appropriate ways not only earned him the title “The Founding Father of Singapore”, but he successfully pulled down the negative image which painted the Singaporean nation so black before the World. He helped turn the Economic ruins into great Prosperity, a feat which only mentally and physically disciplined/upright individuals can achieve.

In the midst of limited resources and a dwindling Economy, imaging what the government of Lagos state can achieve if it first focuses on restoring the lost glory of the Centre of Excellence. Judging by the level of impunity on ground today, would it be possible to achieve a new Lagos, one that would be better than all beautiful old memories ever held?

A Lagos that will be an economic and tourist destination haven for individuals and corporate organizations from across the globe? A Lagos where everyone will live in sanity, safety, good health and prosperity for all? If you believe so, then how will that happen or will that require one of the Angels coming down to lead us into line?

You may wonder how does discipline, abiding by the rule of law, sanitizing the mindset of its residents, enforcing sanitation rules and strict compliance with health laws, etc determine what state or nation becomes economically buoyant and prosperous or isn’t business just business abi persin dey come lagos come chop environment wey make sense ni?

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If you belong to such category, this piece is for you and it’s pertinent that you humbly change your mindset and channel your energies in “forcing” government to be responsive, responsible and restoring the lost values of the Lagos- Community.

The one zillion naira questions are:

1. What must be done to create the Lagos that we desire?

2. Who are those responsible for achieving such?
3. How many years do we have to waith for that to happen?

4. Who benefits from such? Is it politicians-investors,residents, trouble makers or Mr. Nobody?

To be continued

 

 

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