By Tiola
Sometimes, its tedious writing this column because it almost seems like all one does is gripe. And it’s not that I’m bitter… I’m living my dream. And as far as Nigerian living standards go, I and mine are relatively comfortable. But what does that amount to really; that a tiny percentage are ‘relatively comfortable’ in the face of this all-pervasive poverty?

I came across the sad story of a former Nigerian Olympic athlete, Ambrose Monye who was arrested in South Africa for the charge of murder. Two years ago, this same person faced a charge of culpable homicide after beating a Pretoria motorist to death although he was said to have been acquitted of the charge earlier this month. He got his just dessert you might want to say. My question though is; what are the mitigating circumstances?

I am not holding brief for this person, neither will I condone the taking of a human life in cold blood but doesn’t it make you wonder? How does someone who not only represented his country in 1998 Olympics but won a silver medal in the 400 meter event and also won another silver medal for the 400 meter hurdle event at the All African Games go from that to being regarded in 2011, as one of the most dangerous men in Pretoria who had been on the police radar for a while?

We can all dismiss him as a victim of his own bad choices but I think that as a nation, we share some responsibility for the way this life has turned out. Do you know the time, discipline and commitment that go into becoming an Olympic champion? The pride of one’s bearing as one dons his national colours? Nah… you don’t go from that to this by ‘choice’. ‘Things’ happened… if I were to hazard I guess, I would say Ambrose returned from his Olympic feat expecting that life would turn out for the better. It’s not impossible that he already started spending the ‘appreciation’ he was bound to receive. He returnes and of course, there’s no such thing, his moment of glory was gone with yesterday’s news ink. So he struggles to put something together and ‘do something’.

Plus now, there’s the added pressure of being an Olympic silver medallist – expectations are high! In frustration (and part shame), he leaves for greener pastures where it turns out the grass isn’t so green. So he takes to petty crime to keep body and soul together, 419, credit card scam, till it gets deeper and like earlier said, one thing leads to another.

I do not believe that just because an individual has once represented this country in one capacity or the other, we should therefore subsidize their lives ad infinitum. But if this was a place where basic infrastructure and amenities are in place, then a man like that, even if no longer considered relevant, would at least be able to scrape together a decent living without losing his dignity.

Before things began to crumble, America was the place every one wanted to run to. It was called the American Dream. It was touted that all you needed was half an idea, a willingness to work hard , a little bit of good luck and you could make it. It wasn’t just hype either; some of the wealthiest American dynasties were founded by immigrants who had just that – half an idea, a willingness to work hard and a little bit of luck.

That this success story could be aspired to by all, says something…the most obvious being that America if nothing else is an ‘enabling’ environment; unlike here; where everything seems to conspire to rob one of their dreams. Whatever the idea is, if the lack of infrastructure doesn’t kill it, bureaucracy will.

If that doesn’t put an end to it, the ‘people factor’ will. If that doesn’t do it, the ‘Naija factor’, that blanket excuse for all things mediocre will definitely ensure it’s buried ten feet under.

And yet another one, plucked like fruit from the tree, sucked dry, husk-tossed aside, used and forgotten…. Selah.