I listened to them not out of fear, but out of curiosity. I wanted to know if they were really trying to save
Nigeria, or just trying to save themselves.
I recently travelled from Enugu to Anambra using public transport, and it reminded me of the kind of country we’ve quietly accepted.
At every checkpoint, police officers stopped us searching bags, checking phones, asking questions. I stayed quiet, watching. Listening.
The sad part? Those who took cash from drivers without searching were seen as the “good ones.” But the ones who thoroughly searched our PERSONAL BELONGINGS ; violating our privacy were defended with one phrase: “Obodo adiro mma.” (The country is bad.)
But I wonder, will this make the Obodo di mma? (Will this make the country good?)
I belleve not.
“Can we breathe?”, my painting was born from moments like this. The quiet questions we ask ourselves about who we’ve become, and who we still hope to be.