PASSAGE II Whenever I have to ask myself the question why I have not left this country for good, many answers rush to my mind, each striving to be recognized as being the most cogent. I am reminded of the popular slogan that this country belongs to us all; for which reason every Nigerian must join hands in trying to salvage it. I try to demise the argument by reasoning that it is foolhardy attempting to lend a helping hand where one’s services are apparently not required. Then I am reminded that if I left the country in hurry just because of our political instability and economic hardships my commitment to my family and extended family at home would suffer. I reply by saying that soon as long I got settled abroad I would arrange for my family to join me. Other financial problems at home would be taken care of by my regular remittance would I then never think of going to back home in future? Not until the situation in the country improved considerably, I would answer. And who did I expect to carry on with the task of national rehabilitation when the likes of me are all out of the country? Those who messed up In the first place, I would argue and so on. This dialogue of self has been going on for the last ten years or so meanwhile I am yet to leave the country When I wonder how many people share my kind of mental experience, I realize that we must be very few for not many have the slightest opportunity of absconding from the country; they do not have the place to run to, nor do they have the means of escape. Even among the elite who this possibility, the uncertainty of future outside their fatherland intimidates
