I just saw a short documentary on CNN about the Emirate of Dubai (an Islamic State) and her many disruptive and record-breaking technological/innovative strides, and my heart sank into despair. Dubai is NOT a country. It is just one out of seven emirates that make up the UAE. An Islamic country which declared independence from Great Britain in 1971. Yet, Dubai is the fastest-growing Science and ICT hub in the world. Yes, you read that correctly; in the world! As I watched the documentary and marvelled at the unbelievable leaps in education, innovation and infrastructure achieved within 50 years, I began to compare the emirate with our own Emirate of Sokoto and the Emirate of Kano back home.
Folks, the difference is a universe apart. Did you know that the Emirate of Dubai has singlehandedly launched 2 satellites into Space? Did you know that the last launched spacecraft had the innovative signature of a Dubai teenage girl on it? A teenager who dreams to be the first astronaut on Mars. Did you know that by 2020 the Dubai Emirate launched its first Mars Exploration Spacecraft? Did you know that the Dubai Emirate currently has the largest number of FOREIGN RESEARCH SCIENTISTS AND ICT EXPERTS IN THE WORLD? This is a deeply culturally Islamic State prioritizing Science, Technology and Futurism. What then is different about their own practice of Islam and the ones we have here at home?
What is different about their practice of Islam which encourages a teenage girl to aspire to Mars while emirates at home marry off underaged girls? What is different about their practice of Islam which prioritizes innovations and science, while even Churches back at home only prioritize buildings and tithing? Guys, religion is not Nigeria’s albatross. Anyone who argues otherwise is thinking fallaciously. Nigeria is messed up because we have our own issues. Our orientation, our mindset, our value system, our sociocultural ethics, and our ways are deeply ANTIPROGRESSIVE!
I just saw men in Arabic gowns and women in Arabic purdah (the moderate ones) having a dialogue about championing the next frontiers in science and innovations. Any so-called Christian who defends the kind of Christianity we practice in this country is part of the problem. For now, the Emirate of Dubai is the leader of the Arab World. A well-deserved title. Truth is sacred. Selah. Permit me to borrow what Professor Isa Hussaini of the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Maiduguri wrote as follows:
The blame for what Nigeria has become falls on you and me. Not Buhari, not Jonathan, not Obasanjo and definitely not Abacha. OUR WICKEDNESS STINKS TO THE HEAVENS AS WE GO ABOUT OUR DAILY LIVES, PULLING DOWN EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING TO BECOME RICH. We import substandard products, fake drugs and expired baby food unfit for human consumption and we have the nerve to complain about leadership? We even steal from widows, orphans, weaklings and refugees. We take their food and sell it for profit. No conscience. Nothing is sacred. No one is spared.
WE BUILD SUBSTANDARD ROADS, SCHOOLS, HOUSES, AND HOSPITALS, ALL FOR PROFIT AT THE EXPENSE OF HUMAN LIFE; AN INVALUABLE ITEM WHICH ALL OUR PROFIT AND CONTRACT SUM CANNOT BUY. One would think this behaviour is reserved for urchins but it would surprise you that this is the character of many decent-looking people who appear to be normal but are not any better than Boko Haram members. They are church members, Muslims, husbands, wives and sadly youths.
WE PERVERT JUSTICE AND PRETEND WE DO NOT KNOW RIGHT FROM WRONG JUST TO SERVE OUR SELFISH INTERESTS. Slave traders pale in comparison to what we do to ourselves. WE ARE WICKEDNESS PERSONIFIED. So much hatred flows in our blood and we transfer it to our children. It’s evident in what we say and do. We have fasting and prayer sessions all year long, night vigils and deliverance when the actual problem is us. WE SIMPLY CANNOT LEARN TO LOVE OTHERS. IT IS ME, ME, ME. THAT IS ALL THAT EVER MATTERS. IT IS SICKENING.
Anyone who cannot love has no business in Politics, Government Parastatals/Agencies and in Nigeria. Until we understand this, we will continue on this path of destruction. I can Change! You can Change! They can Change! And We can Change by Sharing and Spreading this message… Change starts with Me…
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The designations employed in this publication and the presentation of materials herein do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever of the Publisher (Nze Ikay’s Blog) or its employees concerning the legal status of any country, its authority, area or territory or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers. Equally, the sketches, images, pictures and videos are gotten from the public domain.
