Monday night at the Lagos Book and Arts Festival (LABAF) was the first time author and public figure, Niran Adedokun, read out his book “The Danfo Driver in All of Us“. In part of the book, he addressed how religion and optimism have served as a drawback against development in Nigeria.
Adedokun read an excerpt from the acclaimed social commentary from a chapter titled “Does Nigeria Have A Future?” He began the chapter, referencing Helen Keller. Keller was a disabled woman whose inspiring story changed how society viewed women and disabled people.
Adedokun wrote about her optimism and how it served as a driving force for her to achieve the things she did. He then circled back to the Nigerian condition and how its optimism comes in a far different format from Helen Keller’s. On the contrary, it serves as a leash.
Does Nigeria have a future?
The author observed Nigerians as a people with a high level of optimism, but in the wrong way. Rather than inspiring action, it made them docile and complacent towards injustice. Adedokun wrote that religion had a big part to play in the complacency of Nigerians.
It is easier to see and hear Nigerians pray about the troubles afflicting them than it is to see them turn around and strike the source of their affliction. This ties back to what fellow Nigerian author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie said about Nigerians lacking the revolutionary spirit.
The complacency of Nigerians resulting from their reliance on religion keeps them from thinking about ways to solve their problems. In fact, the goal of the common Nigerian is not to resolve the issues plaguing the country. Rather, it is to be exempt from it.
However, regardless of how much insulation God provides, nothing can protect from the collective poverty we all suffer as Nigerians. Money and divine protection can only do so much to cushion the effects of living in a third-world country where the government is conspicuous by its absence.
Niran Adedokun captures this sad reality in his book, subtly hinting to the fact that the most irreligious countries in the world happen to be the most economically sound. It is a more intellectual resounding of Fela’s frustrations in “Suffering and Smiling”. The future of Nigeria is in danger with its current mindset.
One interesting to note is that the writing and compilation of this book spanned over 5 years. It contains interesting observations about the Nigerian condition written in a series of articles by Adedokun. It truly is worth a read.