iRep Nigeria

I know hope that all Nigerians know that there's a general dislike for us --- especially by other African nations.  Apparently, Nigerians are rude, arrogant, pompous, ignorant, abraisive, aggressive ... and of course, fraudsters.  These are just a few of the nice words that have been used to compliment us.

A few weeks ago, I was in the computer lab at my former school. There were three other students there when I came in. I chose to sit at the Professor's computer - mistake number two (I would later find out that mistake number one was being a Nigerian).  I knew it was the Professor's computer, but I chose to sit there anyway because (i) They're not personal computers. Nothing is saved there (ii) Walking in, it was the closest one to the door (apart from the other ones that students already occupied), (iii) It was the closest to the printer, and the printer was the reason for my visit (iv) Having witnessed students sit there several times, I really didn't know or think that students were not allowed to sit there.

So, there I sat, quietly working on editing my paper and printing it. That was when a man, obviously an African walked in, and the first thing he decided to say to me was, "That's the Professor's computer. You're not supposed to sit there."

Me: Too bad. I'm here already

Him: Where are you from?

Me: Nigeria

Him: Ohhhh. No wonder.

Me: No wonder, what?

Him: You Nigerians, you're always like that.

Me: Always like how?

Him: Aggressive

Me: Huh? 

He went on to tell me that he was from Ethiopia, that Nigerians scare everyone, that we're all rude, aggressive and unafraid, that we think we're above the law and better than everyone else, that we're thieves, that our Government sucks, that he knows one Nigerian guy who steals from his boss, and could I tell him why our Government sucks ... and why we are the way we are.

I laughed through everything he said. I was not offended or angry. How could I be? To answer his questions, however, I said, I don't know why our Government is the way it is because I have not taken up my job assignment at Aso Rock where I would have access to investigate this issue. I also don't know why we are the way we are, but we love ourselves so. 

He laughed, saying that he was a gentleman, and that in spite of everything he had said, that he would want to marry a Nigerian woman. Why? Well, Nigerian women, he said, are bold. They'll push him to do things he's too afraid of doing. He went on to say that he liked me, that I was nice, and he would want me to "sack" my boyfriend, if I had one. He was a gentleman, he said, so he could not steal another man's girlfriend. 

Well, there you have it. As much as I would have loved to become his bold Nigerian woman, we Nigerians obviously have a flare for the rude, aggressive, unafraid type, the type that scare others. I think I'll stick to them for now.

P.S. You can now vote for me on Nigerian Blog Awards. Please do so here.