I watched this program aired on Channel 4 on last Tuesday, 7th of June, 2016 with my mouth opened. I was just surprised that children could have a totally different set of priorities, desires, and wants from what I could see as the average Nigerian. They have a lifestyle of privilege, opulence and wealth. I did not have any against the children as they were naive and have been brought up that way since they were born. They have always had servants waiting over them, carrying their luggage, washing their clothes and bowing down to them. If they do not have it then it becomes abnormal and things have truly deteriorated. The children had the opportunity to go to expensive private schools, meet royalty, politicians, and celebrities. So their view of the real world is distorted and biased. The Otedolas and the Mbadiwes, either in Oil and Gas or being in the government, seem to have made millions, I am not saying that it is corrupt money, but there are a lot of “commas” and “question marks”.
Although a self made millionaire Mr Alex Amosu seemed to be a breath of fresh air, he was a genuine entrepreneur who had made a product. He was not in government, neither did he make his money from oil and gas. But instead of using all this knowledge and expertise to improve the life of the average Nigerian. He was producing bespoke luxury products for millionaires, some of who had looted our country. He was producing Million dollar suits which just to dry clean cost £2K. The cost of 4 luxury suits and if you were to ask me to buy it, 8 suits from Marks and Spencer or a cheaper retail store T.M.Lewin during their Sale. He was involved in the making of luxury items like yachts, diamonds, bespoke mobile phones (gold plated diamond encrusted), watches, jewelry, etc for a specific and exclusive clientele who had specific taste - it just not to own something but the item has to be unique, expensive and special. The wealth of Nigeria has been wheeled away, stolen and abused. We are still suffering from the millions stolen and looted. Money that was supposed to be used for payments of peoples salaries - nurses, doctors, teachers, education, health, power, etc. being used for houses aboard in London, Dubai and Paris, Million dollar suits, diamonds, custom made mobile phones, parties, etc.
I think the program was being aired not in the best taste and it showed how most of our wealth is being spent by a selected few. I am not judging here whether there was any justification except working in the government should not make you a multi-millionaire just after a one or 2 years and working in the Oil and Gas field has a lot of “commas”, especially with the Oil Subsidy Fiasco with Mr Farouk Lawan and the alleged $3 Million bribe and the average Nigerian not getting petrol for his or her own car. Considering the state of all our refineries and it is strange that not a single one able being able to produce petrol in the whole Federation leads the skeptic to believe if the action was deliberate i.e. as to make sure that we would continue to import petrol as to ensure payment of a subsidy by the FGN. Then there is the former Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke and her alleged houses aboard, the alleged diversion of $6 billion, a charge she denies. Unfortunately, as said, all the people shown one can query their source of wealth. But I wish they had shown Nigerians in the UK who had made their money either through Law, Medicine, Education, or IT like Mr Alex Amosu would have been a good example. But it seems most of them are underground or not willing to make themselves public. Individuals who are British Born with Nigerian heritage and are superbly rich, having going through the system here and not involved with the politics of Nigeria or in Oil and Gas. British with Nigerian heritage like MP Chuka Umunna, or even the YouTuber Olajide “JJ” Olatunji KSI, etc.
I just thank God my children did not watch the program with me as it sets a bad example of the usage of wealth, parties, shopping at Harrods, Dubai and New York. The acquisition of luxury items and the living of a high life. I still don’t know why the program was shown and it comes across as a cheap reality show and it did not bring any educational benefit. More the less it could bring jealously, envy and scorn especially when most Nigerians do not live on more than $1 dollar a day. Most Nigerians do not have access to good health or education and are in constant darkness due to electricity failures. But a lot of Nigerians whom I have spoken to did not see anything bad in it and painfully it shows that I need to change the people I associate with or those I ask questions about Nigerian Programs. I loved “Welcome to Lagos”, but a lot of people felt that it painted us in a bad light, this I felt painted us worse. But that is my own personal opinion.
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