The Nigerian Complex

Book excerpt: Demola Martins and Asuquo Udoh, good friends albeit of contrasting social and spiritual backgrounds, face the harsh realities of life in a country where, despite its bountiful oil reserves, the majority do not have access to a steady supply of water or electricity, employment opportunities for university graduates are severely lacking, and corruption is rampant in a government that appears to deliberately prevent its citizens from being heard. After two years of being jobless, Asuquo inadvertently applies for a doorman's job at the International Airport Hotel, willing to accept the only form of employment available to him despite his degree in chemistry. Demola, an electrical engineer from a family of professional elite, opts to wait for a job more suited to his social rank. Four years later, Demola decides to act on a vision and founds the Campaign Against Rigging Elections (CARE). Asuquo and Demola, along with three other visionaries, form the Crisis Group to head the Campaign, and a youth movement is born. Through peaceful rallying, they push for a more transparent balloting and counting system—the spot ballot method—with the ultimate goal of eliminating election rigging to redeem the “Nigeria that prospers all.”