My recent trip to Chicago is just like any of my trips to the Western world until I jokingly asked the cab driver who drove me from the airport to my hotel if I was in Chicago. His answer raised a challenge to the leaders and the people of my country, Nigeria. The driver simply and confidently said ‘this is Chicago city in America, God owns country’. I wondered, if this man believed God owns America, who then own my country, Nigeria? At the end of my two weeks trip, I had no option than to totally agree with the driver that indeed America is owned by God. This is a city that is well designed with all structures architecturally put in place. There were many skyscrapers solidly built without the fear of possible collapse due to substandard materials. The houses were beautifully surrounded by flowers, trees, and other nature-conserving plants bringing to mind the old garden of Eden. There was no open drainages hence mosquitoes and flood problems were foreign to the citizens. Taps were flowing with both hot and cold water while I did not hear the people shouting ‘UP NEPA’ because electricity did not blink for a second throughout my stay. I walked down many of the streets; I did not hear the sound of a generator. There was no difference between day and night because all the streets were well illuminated at night. Many people were working day and night to keep the city clean. The road network was second to none, well tarred and free of pot holes with ever working traffic lights. No wonder, the vehicles condemned to garbage in America are always celebrated as New in Nigeria. In the petrol stations, the drivers filled their vehicles’ tanks themselves. No petrol attendant to demand for bribe or even alter the pump scale. I learnt that fuel queue was strange to them despite the fact that America is not one of the oil producing countries. The transport system is a story that must be told. I bought a seven day pass that took me to nearly everywhere for a whole week. The drivers of the busses in their neat Chicago transport authority (cta) uniforms were proud to be what they were. The numbers of lady drivers were equal to the men without the fear of the Agberos. I did not see any conductor to call bus stop instead the buses were automatically built to recognize and announce each stop point. Americans are so committed to showing their bus pass without the driver forcing or holding stick to punish the violator. The buses were built to accommodate everybody including reserved seats for the old citizens and less privilege. There was an appendage that shot out of the buses to make boarding easier for both the old citizens and people on wheel chairs. Unlike in Nigeria, where it was reported in the newspapers that a man with crutches was prevented from entering a bank. There were no commercial motorcycles (okada) or keke NAPEP on the streets of Chicago. The rail system is worthy of emulation. The level of education in America can only be seen in God’s kingdom. Everybody seems to know his or her duties and rights. When I asked for a direction, a map was handed over to me to trace my way, a city where everybody seems to be a geographer. There was no newspaper stand where people gather to discuss politics and sports, instead different boxes were placed on the street for people to slot in coins and collect their required newspapers. Most of their transactions were done on the internet, credit/ debit card or telephone. Besides, I was in America at the peak of the presidential campaign but I was surprised that no poster of Senator Barack Obama or Senator John Mc Lain was seen on the streets of Chicago, not even the bill-board to advertise the manifestoes of the presidential hopefuls. The campaign on the television was purely on advanced economics and security policies that required an intelligent person to deliver. They were not speeches written for candidates to deliver without knowing the implications like supply of water, electricity, free malaria treatment, free antenatal screening, provision of jobs and free feeding in schools as it is ritually done in Nigeria. The police were seen everywhere well kitted with attractive uniform and communication gadgets. The motto on their vehicles was “We serve and protect” which was definitely the duty of the police. Hence, no course for them to use fire for fire or try to battle with their integrity. Furthermore, I noticed that all my purchases were charged with accomplished tax but the people were not complaining because proceed from the tax can be justified. The citizens knew the value of their money hence coins were still very much in use in the big city of Chicago unlike in Nigeria where the use and acceptance of coin is fading despite the government’s education and public enlightenment. The way the tourist centers were planned for revenue generation was wisdom tantamount to that of King Solomon. I was at Navy pier where thousands of people all over the world troop in on daily basis to see 50 acres of rides and attractions that include 15-storey ferries, theatre, Chicago children’s museum, Chicago Shakespeare theatre, sightseeing and dining cruises. I saw museum of contemporary art. At sears Tower Sky deck, 103 stories high offers an unsurpassed view of Chicago and on a clear day four surrounding states. I was at African Art Festival 2008 at Washington Park where African arts including music were displayed. I was in Chicago for a medical conference and exhibition; there I saw that we are still far behind in technological development. I saw in their hospitals why our leaders come to overseas even if houseflies pitch on their hands. The environment and courtesy are enough to make the sick heal. All the latest medical equipment and drugs were never out of stocks. Finally, why are these systems that work in America not working in Nigeria. Is Nigeria owned by the devil? God forbid. Why should our leaders’ award contract for electricity, roads, rail and privatize all government assets without having anything to show for them. Why must fuel queue be a natural phenomenon in a big oil producing country like ours? Why should the citizens take joy in vandalizing our heritage? The answer may be found in the statement of Senator Barack Obama that “I have always said that the change we seek will not come easy, that it will not come without its share of sacrifice and struggle.” our leaders should be willing to sacrifice their pleasure and avarice then the citizens must be willing to struggle to make God have interest in Nigeria. ADEKOYA ABIMBOLA B.sc.(Hons)ife, AMLCN,MBA,M.sc.(Lagos) MEDICAL SCIENTIST
