Nigeria; A Big Blind Country -By Ettu Mohammed

Growing up in the suburb of Itire Mushin/Surulere in the 80s was fun, it was never a dull moment.

From rolling of tyres, Flying Kite, playing Football when school is on a long break. Going to Sanya Expressway to cut bamboo to make cage for birds.

Going to swim at oke langbodo in Sanya, escaping from school for no reason.
Going to Odo-Oluwu in ijesha to pack expired Sardines, Milks and co.

Love was everywhere, your neighbor would look out for you when you misbehave. There was nothing like Omo Yibo, Omo Edo, Omo Hausa-Fulani nor Omo Yoruba. We were all one.

Though cases of juvenile was rampant but the rod was there for reset.

Raining season is never a good time.in Itire , because flood would take over everywhere.

I do not like raining season one bit.

The power situation was bad not this terrible,we normally wait till 4pm to watch Tv, programmes like Eiye Jomijoke, SuperTed, Voltron, Speedy racer and Abija wara biekun, willy willy, Koto Orun and many I can’t remember.

A man with video was a public figure because it was not common.

Ileya festival was fun, Christmas was also fun, we would go visiting expecting cash from family members and neighbors.

Magazine like Tell, hearts and soft sell like lolly( Dauda the sexy guy who was serial rapist was always a fun to read.) Nobody told us Dauda the rapist was a devil inscription) I read all these magazine weekly from my Late neighbor Mr Henry.

We normally go to watch movie at Twins/Ola Street mostly Indian film. We under stood the language even without translation.

I remember going to argue at newspaper stand those days. I don day argue tay tay.

While growing up we were told Fela was a nuisance and a bad influence. Our parents were not 100 correct.

We had Fuji Musicians dictating the pace then in Itire, Sikiri Ayinde Barrister, Kollington, Akonko Who was shot dead, Adewale Ayuba, African Michael Jackson known as Obesere, Bombay, Kazeem Aremu and many other was the order of the day, Raskimono,Majek Fashek, showkey, baba fryo and host of other were the bomb.

Poverty was the order of the day Nigerians were always smiling despite suffering. Poverty na wrapper. We had government water flowing, the health centre was working not like the morgue we have today. Today it has gone out of hand.

The Public Educational sector was working, I knew only 2 dudes who attended a private school and I met then at my secondary school. I never knew anything like a private school was existing until 1990.

We had MAMSA, SAP, spearheaded by Chief Falae, we once use Adogan Abacha when kerosene was scarce during abacha era.

Poverty was the boss in the neighborhood.

Story telling was a normal thing within the family. My father and mum told me plenty stories.

Along the expressway where lot of manufacturing companies, Aswani textile and many other companies I can’t remember.

We even heard of gulf windfall and $9bn looted yet poverty was a given.

I pass my neighbor was a big man generator. My late father had one kai.

Egg and yam was big man food we only ate it on Sunday.

Naming ceremony was fun, you first drink tea, eat yam and stew before the real party, I enjoyed many. But today nothing like that again oh.

Those days you can easily get holiday job at Itire by just walking along the expressway.

3 decades after,the whole iyana Isolo- 5star is deserted no more manufacturing companies in sight, lack of electricity drove them all.

Who can help my country? Only Nigerians, if they embrace a new conversation where we do the right thing. Hold our politicians to their electoral promises, go through a structured reorientation process.

A repost of Ettu Mohammed nostalgic memories of his childhood.Nigeria a Big Blind Country.

Growing up in the suburb of Itire Mushin/Surulere in the 80s was fun, it was never a dull moment.

From rolling of tyres, Flying Kite, playing Football when school is on a long break. Going to Sanya Expressway to cut bamboo to make cage for birds.

Going to swim at oke langbodo in Sanya, escaping from school for no reason.
Going to Odo-Oluwu in ijesha to pack expired Sardines, Milks and co.

Love was everywhere, your neighbor would look out for you when you misbehave. There was nothing like Omo Yibo, Omo Edo, Omo Hausa-Fulani nor Omo Yoruba. We were all one.

Though cases of juvenile was rampant but the rod was there for reset.

Raining season is never a good time.in Itire , because flood would take over everywhere.

I do not like raining season one bit.

The power situation was bad not this terrible,we normally wait till 4pm to watch Tv, programmes like Eiye Jomijoke, SuperTed, Voltron, Speedy racer and Abija wara biekun, willy willy, Koto Orun and many I can’t remember.

A man with video was a public figure because it was not common.

Ileya festival was fun, Christmas was also fun, we would go visiting expecting cash from family members and neighbors.

Magazine like Tell, hearts and soft sell like lolly( Dauda the sexy guy who was serial rapist was always a fun to read.) Nobody told us Dauda the rapist was a devil inscription) I read all these magazine weekly from my Late neighbor Mr Henry.

We normally go to watch movie at Twins/Ola Street mostly Indian film. We under stood the language even without translation.

I remember going to argue at newspaper stand those days. I don day argue tay tay.

While growing up we were told Fela was a nuisance and a bad influence. Our parents were not 100 correct.

We had Fuji Musicians dictating the pace then in Itire, Sikiri Ayinde Barrister, Kollington, Akonko Who was shot dead, Adewale Ayuba, African Michael Jackson known as Obesere, Bombay, Kazeem Aremu and many other was the order of the day, Raskimono,Majek Fashek, showkey, baba fryo and host of other were the bomb.

Poverty was the order of the day Nigerians were always smiling despite suffering. Poverty na wrapper. We had government water flowing, the health centre was working not like the morgue we have today. Today it has gone out of hand.

The Public Educational sector was working, I knew only 2 dudes who attended a private school and I met then at my secondary school. I never knew anything like a private school was existing until 1990.

We had MAMSA, SAP, spearheaded by Chief Falae, we once use Adogan Abacha when kerosene was scarce during abacha era.

Poverty was the boss in the neighborhood.

Story telling was a normal thing within the family. My father and mum told me plenty stories.

Along the expressway where lot of manufacturing companies, Aswani textile and many other companies I can’t remember.

We even heard of gulf windfall and $9bn looted yet poverty was a given.

I pass my neighbor was a big man generator. My late father had one kai.

Egg and yam was big man food we only ate it on Sunday.

Naming ceremony was fun, you first drink tea, eat yam and stew before the real party, I enjoyed many. But today nothing like that again oh.

Those days you can easily get holiday job at Itire by just walking along the expressway.

3 decades after,the whole iyana Isolo- 5star is deserted no more manufacturing companies in sight, lack of electricity drove them all.

Who can help my country? Only Nigerians, if they embrace a new conversation where we do the right thing. Hold our politicians to their electoral promises, go through a structured reorientation process.

A repost of Ettu Mohammed nostalgic memories of his childhood.