"I nr dy sell anything today, I nr open shop"
"But ma, you are sitting in front of your shop, please just give me the items I requested for", I replied the shop owner.
"Aunty, abeg I nr dy sell, abi you nr hear say dem dy fight".
I stood there for two more minutes wondering where I would get the items I needed as all the other stores were also locked, before going back into my house.
If the above scenario looked a bit strange to you, then welcome to Warri.
Warri is a city in Delta State Nigeria, known as an oil hub including the presence of refineries including, Shell, Chevron, NNPC, at least some years back.
But then you tend to wonder, how come such a city blessed with so much resources have little or no development. Roads are always bad, high unemployment rates never drops, and so many people are still suffering despite the so-called ‘oil money’ present in Warri.
So, what then is the issue really? Most people would conclude it is corruption, after all, that is what every failing aspect of this country is attributed to. I am not going to disprove the corruption aspect, but then, there is some other issue fighting the Warri economy and growth.
This is lawlessness! There is no defined form of leadership that is being followed. Oh there are a few, but for the most part, I am a bit on the right side when I say no one follows them.
Almost everyone in Warri, right from the government to the common man, establishes their ‘own’ rule and wants to be in charge all the time. We’ve got so many “Chairmos” lying around.
Take for example, the current drama going on in Warri, it arose when the leader of a particular quarter in one of the local government refused stepping down after his tenure expired.
A quarter refers to different factions in each local government which have different leaders and they help in safe guarding the environment (rolls eyes)
This refusal to step down by the leaders, has led to fights, and most evidently, stealing and harassing of residents including; hawkers, market women, drivers, and even passerby. It has also led to things like the above scenario and so much more.
These days, you do not just go out, you have to confirm if the place you are going to pass is safe enough.
This is just pathetic. Such a blessed city with so much out of place.
Does it mean we do not have a government or even traditional rulers, who can put this menace to an end or should we believe it is also political or probably, even the so called government responsible for this crisis?
Innocent blood has been shed and the number increases everyday. Even one of of the disciplinary chairman(DC) has been killed as a result of this.
What is the way forward? How long shall we continue like this? Is Warri gradually relapsing into another crisis?