‘JAPA’ Syndrome And The Challenges Of A New Nigeria -By Richard Odusanya

Life-changing experiences of our citizens with ‘Japa’, a lingo in Nigeria for deliberate exit from the country especially for greener pastures abroad, has been a constant happening over the last few years with students, professionals, and partners forming the chunk of those fleeing its shores. ‘Japa’, is a Yoruba coinage, which in its literal connotation denotes ‘to leave for good’. To be clear: ‘Japa’ has become the new catchphrase for unbridled migration by desperate Nigerians in search of better-paying jobs or other life-supporting means. Hidden behind the misadventures of flapjack ‘Japa’ is lazy-mindedness and wishing for magical happenstance by many of our citizens.

I don’t need a shooting star, To wish for something to happen magically, For I know that the universe is listening from afar — to all my thoughts quite candidly. In essence, I daresay that, it is the lack of, and inadequate, education including our mindsets. That Africans (Nigerians), in our mentally lazy state, and expectation of magical happenstance, believe we can live in a society that we did not create because we are dissatisfied with the one we have created! What an illusion!!

“Always remember that you are the writer of your own story”. People who want to live well must work 100% to achieve that yearning; no shortcut to this reality! Yet I wish I found the right words today, to say, to wish, to ask what I want, but even the constellations know what I’ll say, about all the feelings that always haunt. So, here I am talking cryptically like it’s a war, rhyming words again poetically, I think, I need that shooting star, to wish for something to happen magically.

Flowing from the above, I will like to therefore, posit that a clear pathway to A NEW NIGERIA is rooted in the ATTITUDINAL INTEGRITY of our citizens and the system. There’s a paradigm shift already, today being the first full working day after the inauguration of the Tinubu/Shettima administration, indeed the atmosphere has changed considerably. In his inaugural speech, the new President Asíwájú Bola Ahmed Tinubu, said:

“Our administration will govern you only on your behalf but never rule over you.

“We shall consult and dialogue but never dictate. We shall never pull down a single person for holding views contrary to our own.

“We are here to further mend and heal this nation, not tear and injure it

“I shall serve with prejudice towards none but compassion and amity towards all.

“Let us develop a shared sense of fairness and equity.”- President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (PBAT).

One of the prerequisites for Nation-building is leadership/citizenship joint responsibilities. This is what I termed “Deconstructive or disruptive permutations”. Its dynamism is positivism, stirring up insatiability in the new frontiers in attitude, behaviour, character, culture, creed, knowledge, and most humanely, our humanity. Therefore, it is my considered opinion that we join our faith together in praying for the wisdom of King Solomon and Nehemiah’s unction to be replicated in the new administration including the yet-to-be-inaugurated 10th NASS. Nonetheless, the challenge is for the new administration under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to walk the talk in his inaugural address with the support of our compatriots at home and abroad.

Above all, as the journey to the promised land commenced, I join my faith with our compatriots home and abroad to pray for His mercies so that as a nation destined for greatness, we may begin to experience the joy of a new dawn and the mercies of God upon our beloved country Nigeria and His grace to have full expression so that the ‘Japa syndrome’ which happened to be the result of the broken Wall, be rebuilt. It is a new dawn, a call to duty, and a clarion call. “NIGERIA WE HAIL THEE or ARISE ‘O COMPATRIOTS”?

Richard Odusanya
Mind Restructuring Enthusiast.