Last week, a friend of mine was stopped, arrested and beaten like a common criminal by SARS while taking his car to the car wash.
What was his crime you may be wondering? Well, he is a successful young Nigerian who doesn't for the corrupt system.
How did this happen?
He was stopped and asked what he does for a living, he told them he was into IT and immediately, they accuse him of being a 419 operative. They questioned the legitimacy of his earnings as an IT personnel and how he could afford an automobile like the one he owned; a Toyota Camry 2014 model.
For those who do not know, SARS is "Special Anti-Robbery Squad", a special unit of the Nigerian Police and they are a pain and more criminal than the criminals they claim to be fighting.
On going through his phone, they noticed he trades Crypto and the plot thickened. He was beaten for no reason even threatened to be shot if he doesn't give the N500k.
After what seems like eternity and pleadings from his family, he paid N200k and was later released with no apologies tendered whatsoever.
He spent another N10k to get treated and still carries the scar of the beating.
As the experience of a globally changing economy is catching on, we are constantly getting into a place where it is becoming difficult to stay above status quo as ordained by the centralized system.
The Nigerian story is not new to many. If the youths are not being forced to be governed indiscriminately, they will be forced to live below expectations.
The government of the day constantly bullies the populace with their corrupt system.
Thank God for the decentralized economy that is in place to help many innovate progressively, but then, it come with it so pain and hurt.
Have you seen the markets yet? Do you feel at all happy with the price crash and constant deeps?
Are you buying the deep yet?
The centralized system keeps fighting the decentralized system and it seems to be winning. I think the debate about winning or losing depends on who is looking and how they are looking and from where they are looking from.
Even right now on Steemit, there is a decline in motivation. Many have given up on the Steem dream like the average Nigerian youth have on her country.
The decentralized model appeals to me specifically because it gives us a way out of the various challenges as imposed by bad governance.
After my friends experience with SARS and some I have had in recent past, I am really cautious about how I move about town.
We are constantly working to change the world as we know it but, the government keeps bringing out policies that will make it impossible for real change to be felt.
We are making progress I am sure and soon enough, our beloved ecosystem will rise again.