The statistics of people living beneath the poverty margins are unbelievable! And like the old Yoruba song, “ori ye ye ni’mogun, ti a i se lo po” (many innocent people are in prison); so we can safely conclude that many people are poor for many reasons far beyond their making.

While I know that there are many ‘unemployable’ graduates out there, but we can safely posit that Nigeria is perhaps the biggest pool of uncultivated and unengaged youths in the whole world. Millions of graduates who will be good enough to compete with some of Tokyo’s bests are unemployed or underemployed, and not catered for by any arm of our government. Asides the graduates of tertiary education, millions of artisans and skills based experts are there too. Many farmers and traders in our communities are as hopeless as the hibiscus flower in the winter – the potential for beauty is there, but no sunlight.

These people labour so hard, yet most have almost nothing to live on. Some others just continue to hustle around the clock but what prospect do you expect from a vegetable seller whose overall business capital is not up to #5,000 (12 euros)? And, I speak as a child of a farmer and a trader. My autobiography titled "OMO TALIKA" tells much of my story. Yeah, I am aware that there are poor folks in Paris, Beijing, Rome, London and Brooklyn; but Naija own too much for a continent. Having mentioned the groups who unfortunately found themselves beneath the rubbles and unavoidably so, this post is to tackle those whose decisions and lifestyles form the foundation of their poverty.

Let us look at a real life analysis....

Kazeem (and his wife) in Kent (UK) versus Ken (and his wife) in Abeokuta (Nigeria). The four adults in the two families are in same age brackets. They are all healthy and feeding very well.

Ken couple are both top professionals and with good years in practice. They have four children who attend two of the best + most expensive private schools in the ancient city of Abeokuta, they are renting in a beautiful estate in the city while their 5 bedroom tastefully designed family house is under construction; they are driving their dream cars (a recent Lexus saloon and a Rav4). Any social event from either family, they will ‘do normal’ – aso ebi and juicy souvenirs are the icing cake of owanbes.

For healthcare, they attend a private specialist hospital and are members of a private gym facility, to stay fit. Ken patronises the carwash facility at the estate’s gate while his drycleaners are situated within few minutes’ drive to their house. Kens like branded clothes, shoes and accessories like watches, jewellery, perfume, bags and children stuffs too.

Now, let's discuss the Kazeems.

Even though UK government approves a yearlong maternity leave, totally free maternal and child care in the public facilities - Kazeems have two children who attend public school; they have medical care covered by government schemes. They are renting an apartment within Kent community while they are saving for mortgage. They have a car (Nissan micra). Kazeem is tagged stingy man by Ken, his friend, because Kazeem would rather jog twice a day and walk to work than pay gym in order to keep fit; he has never used the carwash and drycleaners – he does these himself.

For social events, Kazy would rather shy away from unnecessary parties and frivolities. The Kazeems are proud to buy from clearance sales, charity shops and just any good deals that help them to cut costs without unnecessarily lowering their quality of life. They too are top rated professionals in their own class and are gainfully employed in one of UK’s public service areas.

Kazeems and Kens have much more differences than similarities isn’t it? Yes. More still, there are differences in their incomes. Kens earn just a little less than the monthly tithe of Kazeems, before tax. The overall cost of living and monthly rent of Kazeems totals about £2, 000 (a little more than #1, 000, 000 at the current exchange rate). But they still strive to save about £500 - £800 per month (#250, 000 - #400, 000). And, when all is said and done, the lower margin of Kazeems’ monthly savings is fairly higher than the legitimate monthly gross income of Kens.

But while Ken believes that only the living can enjoy life, Kazeem is of the opinion that delaying economic gratification can help to shape what his family’s future looks like, in case God grants them the grace to see tomorrow. The terms of life and education insurance packages for both families are far more opposite than everything else listed above.

In the end, Ken had to join the civil servants in Nigeria who take bribe, pad office budgets and bid for both ‘kangaroo and ghost’ contracts because his social class and expansive happy lifestyle cost far above the income of the family. And, we have many Kens in Nigeria – in civil service, in our religious settings and across all our tribes. People whose lifestyle and choices cost more, per capita, than our compatriots who live and work in New York, London and Berlin. When a guy on #100, 000 monthly salaries drives the same luxurious car that university Prof drives, you should be suspecting some wrong priorities.

No amount of mountain seeking efforts can reverse the principles of economic success. If God graciously grants them life and continues to shower His grace upon the families of Ken and Kazeem, you too can forecast what the decades ahead will look like for the two families.

What is the solution for Ken and co? Who doesn’t like beautiful things? Who doesn’t like big parties and how colourful aso ebis look? Who doesn’t want to be in a dream car and boast of the best brands of everything money can buy? We all do; okay, most of us do. I do too. But, you just have to watch your path and take a firm stand. The Bible reassures of God’s promises for each of us to prosper; but that doesn’t cancel our roles in following the principles of economic success.

Please let me remind you, that Israel, with all the unshakable covenants, their government still applies modern day economic and security principles to keep the nation excelling as they live out the infallible covenant. You can’t be unguided or frivolous with the seeds or noble opportunities in your care and then blame Satan for your situation. Selah

Good morning and have a nice day.

© SELAH SERIES 2020