I had last year written on this same caption, which elicited a lot of calls and nostalgic feelings from within Nigeria and over seas. One of my callers was Bar Ozims.
Bar Ozims is a scion of the late Educationist, Chief Ozims, who owned one of the earliest “Commercial Schools” located at Oparanozie street, off Royce road Owerri, where the old but now demolished Rex cinema used to be.
Bar Ozims, though happy for taking him back memory lane with that historic piece, was not comfortable with me for writing that his late father “was dreaded for incroaching into peoples lands” I therefore apologise for using such language, especially against the dead.
Having said that, I do ponder many atimes when I compare what is happening this time seen as the developed and jet age, with my own time, which was around the late 70’s and the 80s.
Today is the so called New School, while the 70s- 80s were seen as old school. But when you compare the two you wonder which is better.
Then, Owerri was not populated with high-rise buildings except No 4 Christ church close, near White House Hotel where we lived, or the old Water Corporation near Nwankwo Kalu parent’s residence at the Njeribako’s compound at Tetlow road. Yet life was full of fun as youths then were contented with what they had and were okey. Then NEPA does not take light without warning and few infrastructure available were all functioning.
Now that “development” has taken over and beautiful houses and huge roads are springing up, what do we have? Unemployment, prostitution, armed robbery, kidnapping, etc.
Before, death was seen as a big blow and catastrophe that does not need to visit any family. So, In the 70s, if somebody dies in a family, the entire village mourns. The bereaved family do not put “fire” in their kitchen, as they depend on food and water from sympathizers.
You cannot paint a house for burial then, as the dead can not spend any thing more than two days before hitting the burial ground.
I never saw a dead body when I was growing up, because it was an aberration. And if you mistakenly see one, you will live with the horror and fear for weeks.
But what happens today? We keep dead bodies in the mortuary for months, paint Houses, sew uniforms, call life Band, assemble two ambulances, (in some cases).
The ladies and men plan for the “occasion” as though it were a party, not burial. Now children line-up to see dead body as if it is a show.
In the days of yore, there was bribery though. But it was on a very low scale and scarce. A civil servant sacked over bribery and corruption was a pariah in the society. He lives in shame. But not now. One sacked for stealing enters politics and becomes Governor, Senator or even President.
Then if you want to bribe a police man, he will order you down from your car and ask “Wetin you carry”? The motorist will use “idea” and open the car booth, and drop the bribe money into the car booth.
In some circumstances, you may squeeze the money into the hand of the police officer, who looks the other way, as the bribe giver. That was the reason of tales of how Bread labels were squeezed into the hands of unsuspecting police men by trickish motorists.
All that are now history as the police man will take the money in broad day light and even offer you a charge if need be. One day one of my children asked me “Daddy, why are you always giving this uniform people money?” I am yet to answer the question.
Talking about today’s children. They even want to know more than their parents, because of the new fad; Information Technology.
In fact, those things you try to hide or don’t want your children learn, they already know. If you are lucky your children like sports like mine, they will give you the names of all football teams in England and Spain, with their players. But ask them about Enyimba, Heartland FC or Enugu Rangers!
While we were growing up, the sound of a vehicle will alert you of danger. But these days, you will drive your car to the heels of youth, blow the horn, and roll down the windows to reprimand the chap before he moves away from the road, but not without asking if you wanted him to jump into the bush “just because you are driving a car?”
Some times, you don’t blame these youths for their I-don’t-care attitude because they have seen too many things in just 15 years, which you that is nearing 50 have not seen in your life time, until recently.
For instance, how do we compare the psychology of a youth who have read and heard how a father impregnated her own daughter? Recently in Ibadan, a man pregnanted his own daughter, who gave him a son, and they are all still living together.
Such a scenario was unthinkable in the 70s in Nigeria. A man who did that will hang himself even before the public get to know about it. So, what is happening toady has created a “thick skin” for the present youth who think that any thing is possible.
Just about a few years ago in this country Nigeria, a Minster was sacked and jailed for drinking tea and accepting a gift of wrist watch, (even though the Minister has since bean cleared by court) but today our children hear how a Minister can buy a car worth N200m (Two hundred million naira) and remains in office, until public out-cry lead her employers to sack her.
Today the alleged Minster has gone home with her loot as she has not appeared before any court, much less being sentenced of any offence.
Before, we shivered when we hear of a Government official embezzling Million Naira. Today we hear about Billions of Dollars, and it means nothing to the populace
Recently, we heard how a Minister spent N10B (Ten Billion Naira) to maintain her private Jet. They have not told us how much she purchased the Aircraft though.
Whether these allegations are true of false, it is very important that we are told the real truth so that both the accused and the public will live in peace.
In the bid to live the easy life and maintain the life style of affluence that stare them in the face, our present youths indulge in such activities that will make them live in palace and drive fleet of exotic cars, even when they do not have any meaningful source of income.
Under this scenario, yahoo-yahoo comes handy. Therefore, if you go to town you see Boys who have not finished University education living in Hotel Suites.
Their female counterparts carry hand bags and phones costing hundreds of thousands of naira
Everybody wants to belong, not minding what means to get there. Those who toil night and day to make a peaceful living are seen as fools by the get rich-quick in the present society.
To make it, the females now dress half naked to attract the male folks, which include those as old as their fathers. Who cares since they can foot the bills!
Is this the society we crave for? Is it the society that is better than the old school? Can a society make it in a do or die method, where the weak are left at the mercy of the strong?
Hobbesian theory which talked about a society where life is nasty, brutish and short is already here, yet when this theory was propounded centuries ago it sounded like a fiction which was an imagination of Hobbes’.
My time is hundred percent better than now which we call the developed era. What is development when things seem to be on a reverse gear?
When Otokoto riot took place in Imo in 1996, what ignited the public inferno that consumed many of the culprits was the gory site of little Ikechukwu Okonkwo. But today have we not seen things worse than that and walk away as if we saw nothing?
Last week in Oyo State, a forest where humans are kidnapped and kept in containers for slaughter like chickens was found.
Governor Ajimobi wept when he saw how man could unleash “inhumanity to fellow man”. But while we all condemn this abomination, we must do something to stop future occurrences fast.
An idle mind is a devils work shop. There are too many of our youths roaming the streets without jobs. A hungry man is an angry man and can engage in any act provided it keeps his mind busy.
Why are things getting this bad? When we were growing up in Owerri in the late 70s, we were our brothers’ keepers, and still relate together till date, no matter in what part of the globe we live presently. And most of the boys and girls who grew up then are doing well in their chosen careers. Including those who could not further their education. We still remain happy and contented, as the present bubuyaya does not worry us.
What is good about the New School when parents buy school results for their children today? Parents see their children come home with brand new cars, and instead of asking questions start shout “prays the Lord”. Mothers watch their daughters leave home half naked? Boys shoot into the air in their parents homes without any body asking questions?
Yes, there must be development, but we must not imbibe all that we see from Oyibo country. Their environment is not like ours, where Culture and Tradition take precedence over rocket science.
Until I got married, my parents never saw my girlfriend, even though I had graduated from the university then. My younger sisters hid their boy friends from me, even after they had graduate and big enough.
In our time you can go to “Disco” but in the day time, so that you come home quick enough before your parents return. Who are you to bring a girl back home? Count your self dead if your parents see you smoking. You run away from Beer Palour if you meet your father’s friend! But do such things happen now?
Respect is gone. How can you talk when watching Television then (Black and White) with your parents in the palour? How can you pass an elder without greeting him or her? Certainly your parents will hear it.
We enjoyed our lives then to the tilt and cannot be compared to what we call “development” now. What kind of development? That you met a lady by 11am today and she ends up in your bed before 1pm and you call that development? That is promiscuity of the highest order.
During old school, you “spin or toast” a girl for months before she agrees. To visit you is another tug of war. This is after you had taken her to Kemo Fast Food for uncountable times!
Because of her, you go to state Library every day, because that is where you can meet her or else you put her in trouble with the parents. Going to Kemo is from there, after which she returns to sign off at the library and pick her books.
Despite their development, we still remember our old school. We remember our fun spots in Owerri. Afurola Night Club, Awareness Hotel, City Commercial School, Ozims Commercial, Gay Gill Super Market, Third House Hotel, James Hotel, Chase Side Hotel, Aforo Inn, Rex Cinema, Golf Course Hotel, Ihioma hotel, Kakadu, etc. I am now a Christian, but can I forget history? Their new school, our old school, please.
