Well done, England.

              Photo: Duks arts

Clap for yourselves! You have successfully deported 500 Nigerians! Congratulations! How do you feel? I hope you feel wonderful! I can't even be angry with England. No, I can't, you have to protect your own country. 

My real anger is at my country. Nigeria. Would all those people have illegally clung to England if Nigeria valued their lives? Would they all have refused to voluntarily go back home if they knew they had something to go back home to? I love Nigeria but truthfully, Nigeria disgusts me! Fela was right as usual. We complain of racism but we treat ourselves worse. I wonder what would happen if all the Nigerians in England left and boycotted the country. I wonder if Tatler Magazine would have to write an article titled, "The Nigerians have left" in response to the one they wrote titled, "The Nigerians have arrived". I wonder if the boarding schools and unis in England would suffer but most importantly, I wonder if Nigeria and the Nigerians at home would be ready for all the 'I just got back' people. 

My grandparents on my paternal and maternal side destroyed (burnt) their British passports when they were a little older than I am now. That was how much they believed in their own country and their generation. It is so sad that the country they proudly rejected is now disgracefully rejecting their own fellow Nigerian citizens. I feel sorry for the deportees but this is not the end. No, far from it, in fact this is the beginning.

Sure, you are allowed to feel all the initial emotions from shame to fear of the unknown but don't get stuck there. You are home now and no one can take this one away from you. If you hadn't been to Nigeria in a while, I have good news. Nigeria has changed and is changing in amazing ways. Not necessarily because of the new government (far from it to be honest) but because Nigerians are changing. The landscape is changing. There are numerous opportunities now, you just have to be open to them and be willing to work. 

I love Nigeria! Yes, I said I'm disgusted by her but I love her nonetheless. And I hope you all fall in love with her too! I pray for strength for you and I pray you see that the Nigeria you left all those many years ago is not the same one you have returned to. (Though it may seem so at first) 

Have a wonderful evening/day you all! 

With all my love,

Dara Rhodes

100th post.

Hello beautiful people,

I spent the 1st of November 2015, reflecting. The biggest most important lesson I've learnt this year is, all things go. Good, bad, dynasties, governments, people, friends, family, jobs, problems etc go. All things go. 

Cherish every moment and every person because they will go. And you will never get them back once they are gone. I leave you with the words of Nicki Minaj from her hit song.

Photo: typewriterquotemeup.com

With all my love,
Dara Rhodes