Electricity workers’ strike and a nation of hostage takers, By Sola Salako-Ajulo

“Nigerians, this is who we truly are: Self centered “terrorists”, “hostage takers” and “blackmailers.

The Nigerian nation is gradually being held in bondage by ‘citizen activism’ and ‘unionism’ for self centered reasons.
I am an activist and believe in unionism, but what we practice in Nigeria now is NOT in anyway reflective of the founding principles of activism.

Imagine workers resisting accountability at all costs and punish employers and consumers who insist on order? Is that normal?

But sadly, it’s becoming a trend. Teachers once resisted a competency test in Ekiti. ASUU is on strike for almost 6 months because it wants to dictate how it’s employer should pay its members. Now it’s Electricity workers shutting down the national grid because they don’t want to to be interviewed for a promotion.

Please what do we have against competence or excellence?

Why do public servants choose to punish the citizens (their consumers) every time they have problems with their employer (government)? Do they understand or appreciate their responsibility to the public they serve?

I have been in the UK during a train and airline strike. Strike days were like 2 days a week and was NEVER total. At NO time was the transportation system totally shut down even at the peak of the strike! And they put in alternative routes for commuters whose travel schedules were affected. The strike went on for weeks but the citizens’ lifestyle was made uncomfortable but never grounded to a halt!

Bottomline: Nigerians have lost our sense of communal responsibility. Deep down, we are autocrats by nature; leaders and followers alike. We are selfish and self centered. And we have little or no compassion for each other. Sometimes, animals show more compassion for each other than we do for fellow citizens!

We have NO respect for other citizens’ rights. We will block a major highway for weeks to show our grievances without regard for other citizens’ rights to carry on with their lives. We will terrorize fellow citizens who have a contrary political perspective to ours because our choices MUST be forced on others (we are the only ones who love Nigeria) as we must have our way or threaten to make life unbearable for others.

We are selfish mob terrorists and citizen dictators! Using activism as an excuse, we unionize to hold Government hostage and demand ransom or else, the citizen suffers!

Yet we want Nigeria to work. How?

We are Nigerians… we all contribute to the hell we live in… every single one of us!

Our leaders are a reflection of the majority of us. When we point one finger at them, the remaining four fingers points at US!

A nation thriving on hostage taking. Well played.

Let’s continue!

• Salako-Ajulo is a consumer rights protection activist