The Diary of A Nigerian Child - Michael Abdullahi

I have been to a few regions in this country and the people all thought of me and saw me differently but in all their assertions, one thing that was common is the fact that they saw me as a Nigerian.

To the northerners where I spent 6 years of my life, a few of them said to me “Mike you are definitely from the west cos of your accent and looks” while others felt I am from the south-south region because of my physique and probably because of the few southern dress I had to put on some occasions but in all, they were right because I am indeed a Nigerian regardless of the “accent, looks or physique”

Then I traveled to the West, first as a young teenager where I spent 3 years and later as a corp member for the one-year mandatory service to the nation.

And each time I had to speak, they said “Hey the Hausa Corper with the Hausa tongue” and often times I have to say to them I am not even from the core-north not to talk of being a Hausa origin and I do not even know how to speak Hausa and some felt it was a denial of my origin… Hmm

Others emphatically said to me “you must be a Muslim speaking Hausa” and I often ask why? They said, “your beards and looks say it all”.

In all of their deduction and vetting of me was the fact that they were right about who I am cos I am a Nigerian.

Then to the few Easterners that I have met in the last few years of my life.

Often times when I meet them, they usually mistake me for their brother, and then I had to say no, I am actually not from the east and some headlong look at me and say “you this Aboki boy” Smiles.

I’m a Nigerian

And finally to my state.

I’m proudly a kogite and I am aware of the challenges but we are still Nigerians and whatever is happening to us is common to all and is a phase that will surely pass.

I have had to make people understand on several occasions that I am a kogite because there’s usually this unbelievable look on some person’s face each time I had to address somebody in my own dialect.

The usual question is “Mike when did you learn that language”?

Because you are definitely not from here and I often have to ask “please where do you think I am from”?

And the responses are usually amazing, “you are sure a Yoruba guy because of your accent”! Hmmm, Yoruba how now? lol

But in all, I am a Nigerian

I have had to go back to my room most times asking myself questions like “why do they all see me differently”

And this is my conclusion…..

They all see a brother, a reflection of what a Nigerian is, one not tied to a geographical location/region because what made us is not tied to a region, He is bigger than us all and our regions and as such our diversity should not be a weakness rather strength.

Though they all had different stories, and opinions, and possibly access me by different parameters but one thing that was common in all their findings is the fact that they saw a True Representation of the Nigerian Child.

We’re stronger together

I’m proudly a Nigerian

#LongLiveNigeria

#GodBlessNigeria