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THE GENERAL MALAISE OF CONSUMERISM


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I find it difficult to buy stuff while stuck in traffic. Judging by the number of people who eagerly buy 4-5 food items, ranging from a bottle of drink to ‘wara’ (cheese) or gala; I’d say I’m a part of the minority; owing as it may be however, to a myriad of factors [I think I have a small bladder, for instance- and this propels me to frequently void urine].
I understand that people might be hungry and thus need to eat while stuck in traffic; but what really baffles me is how people would pay 1,500 naira as transport fare and spend close to 1,000 naira on consumables.
When I see a scenario similar to that playing out, I subconsciously come to the conclusion that ‘this person is more likely to be poor than rich’. I might be wrong, but I don’t see a lot of rich individuals buying consumables with their ‘2 pence’. Instead, it’s the ‘talikas’ (poor people) who freely distribute the little they have in traffic. Little wonder, that the poor get poorer and the rich, richer with such a mentality? This is of course, my subjective conclusion and very open to factual debate.
Instead of aimlessly accumulating consumables, the rich invest in pliable trades, seeing opportunities in seemingly rotten places and making the best out of such circumstances.
Barely 56, we as Nigerians need to change our mentality on a lot of issues. We need to rise up to the task of building our nation, and this would not happen if we are stuck in a culture of consumerism.
#My own 2 pence.’
P.S: Let the comments and questions roll in people!
More stuff on #Lateral thinking next Thursday.


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