Johnson Babalola

Johnson Babalola

Bomboy, a curious 10-year-old boy, was visiting a town named Naija with his father, Fadaka, from another part of the world. It was Bomboy’s first time in the town. As soon as they arrived at the town’s airport, one of the airport staff greeted Fadaka warmly and asked, “Welcome sir. What did you bring for us?”

Bomboy, puzzled, turned to his father and asked, “Daddy, why the question?” Fadaka, just as perplexed, replied, “I don’t know, son.”

They collected their luggage and headed to their hotel. Along the way, they were stopped by two policemen at a roadblock. After exchanging pleasantries, one of the officers looked at Fadaka and said, “Sir, you look fresh. Anything for the boys?” Bomboy asked again, “Daddy, why?” “I don’t know, son,” Fadaka responded.

At the hotel gate, the security officers were very friendly and asked the driver to open the trunk for inspection. One of them saluted Fadaka, offering prayers and saying expectantly, “May God bless you, sir. We are here for you, sir.” Bomboy, now more confused, asked, “Daddy, why?” “I don’t know, son,” was his father’s response.

Inside the hotel, they received top-notch greetings from every staff member they encountered. There was always someone offering to help with one issue or another, and after offering their help and “help,” they would linger for a few minutes as if expecting something in return.

Overwhelmed by the excessive show of assistance, Bomboy asked, “Daddy, why?” “I don’t know,” Fadaka replied.

After dinner, they settled in their room and decided to watch television. They saw several government dignitaries, prominent citizens and other invited guests gathered at a lavish event to declare open a one-kilometer road just built by the town. Surprised by the cost of the lavish ceremony for such minor infrastructure, Bomboy asked his father again, “Daddy, why?” “I don’t know,” Fadaka answered.

Fadaka changed the channel, and they saw a newscaster reporting that the town’s university vice-chancellor had been arrested for embezzling funds meant for the welfare of the students. Bomboy, again perplexed, asked, “Daddy, why?” Fadaka could only respond, “I don’t know, son.”

Changing the channel again, they saw a program where some individuals complained to a TV personality that they had bought land from the town’s government within a government estate, but the government had failed to provide the promised infrastructure and perfect their ownership documents. Fifteen years later, their complaints remained unanswered amidst political manouvering and request for bribes from civil servants. “Daddy, why?” Bomboy asked again, looking to his father for an answer. “I don’t know,” Fadaka said once more.

They retired to bed. The next day, Bomboy set out with his father to visit his uncle. He noticed several young people, including school-age children, hawking items on the street. Should they not be at school? It was a Tuesday, and there was no public holiday. He saw many youths roaming the streets. Should they not be at work? “Daddy, why?” he asked again. “I don’t know,” his father responded.

A few minutes later, they got into traffic. Soon, a long convoy of exotic government SUVs accompanied by several security agents passed by on the other side of the lane. Their driver told them it was the first lady of the town heading to attend her friend’s birthday at the expense of the town. “Daddy, why?” Bomboy asked again. “I don’t know,” his father said.

They arrived at his uncle’s neighborhood and saw a man openly beating a woman while a policeman stood by watching. She cried for help but none came. “Daddy, why?” Bomboy asked again. “I don’t know,” said Fadaka.

Inside his uncle’s house, his older cousin was crying. She narrated the frustration she was facing at her higher institution, where a lecturer refused to pass her in a paper she had sat for because she refused to sleep with him. The school authorities and the police refused to assist her. “Daddy, why?” “I don’t know, son,” said his father.

The uncle turned on the television, and they saw many important people in the town, including the head of government, attending a party. It was 1 pm on a weekday. There were hundreds of VIPs at the high-society party, which the TV station was showing live. So, these people abandoned their duties to attend the funeral party of a prominent politician’s father? “Daddy, why?” “I don’t know,” said his father.

Later, it was time for his uncle to account to Fadaka for the huge amount of money Fadaka had sent home to invest in land. His uncle started apologizing, explaining that he had used the money for a quick business hoping for a good return that never came. Bomboy was disappointed in his uncle. “Daddy, why?” “I don’t know,” said his father.

On their journey back home at the airport departure hall, Bomboy saw perhaphs hundreds of people heading out of the country. They were young, old, poor, rich, educated, illiterate and more. He wondered where they were all going and why. “Daddy, why?” “I don’t know, son. I don’t know.”

Frustrated by his father’s repeated “I don’t know” responses, Bomboy asked, “Dad, you always know everything back home, but here you don’t seem to know anything. What’s going on?” Fadaka bent down, held his son’s cheeks in his hands, and calmly responded, “Sorry, son. When we get back home, I promise you that I will regain my brains and will know things again. Here, everything and everyone makes you lose your sense of knowing. Let’s go get our boarding passes.”

“Okay, Dad. I was getting concerned for you,” Bomboy replied.

This story highlights the pervasive issues of corruption, lack of empathy and inefficiency in the town of Naija. It emphasizes the impact these problems have on both locals and visitors, painting a picture of a society where even the most fundamental questions often go unanswered. As we reflect on Bomboy’s innocent curiosity and Fadaka’s helpless responses, it becomes evident that addressing these systemic issues requires collective effort and accountability. Only then can a more transparent and just society be built, where the next generation doesn’t have to ask, “Daddy, why?” and receive, “I don’t know” as the only answer.

*Johnson Babalola, a Canada based lawyer, leadership consultant and corporate emcee, is a public affairs analyst. Follow him for discussions on real life issues that affect us all:*
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