It is not what happens to you that determine how far you go in life; it is what you do with what happens to you. This statement by Zig Ziglar remains a nourishing food for thought for all times. Particularly for those who have been observing the marriages of two West African damsels (Nigeria and Ghana) the wisdom encapsulated herein resonates ever so loudly.
Sisters of same British parentage, our damsels have at different times in their lives been married to Petroleum; the richest and most charming prince in the entire world. He had promised both fortune and fame and at least with regards to Nigeria the prince has kept his word. Ghana's marriage on the other hand has just been consummated. Save for a quick divorce (in the event that she is found to be barren) Ghana’s fortune is also a surety. But how will the
sisters fare in this odd polygamy? Will Ghana handle her affairs the way Nigeria has?
sisters fare in this odd polygamy? Will Ghana handle her affairs the way Nigeria has?
The younger of the two sisters, Nigeria had the good fortune of catching the eye of the prince first. After several years of courtship, the love birds finally got married in an elaborate wedding at Oloibiri, Niger-Delta. The year was 1956 and the officiating minister was Shell-Bp.
And so it happened that young Nigeria ascended to stardom. By 1975, she had completely jettisoned the down-to-earth agriculture lifestyle of her childhood to adopt instead, pomp and pageantry of the classy socialite. Nigeria dazzled. She became the toast of world events; a card carrying member of such exclusive elite clubs as OPEC. In the 1980s, Nigeria took for herself the chieftaincy title of Giant 1 of Africa.
Recent events however reveal that behind the veil of glamour, Nigeria suffers from acute anorexia. Now 50 years old and mother to some 140 million children, Nigeria’s addiction to very expensive cosmetics is also legendry. Her routine mortgaging of large chunks of her fortune to finance this addiction has led to serious agitation from some of her children. Particularly from those most proximate to the treasure trove, the war against mum campaign rages on. The depths to which Nigeria has fallen became glaring when at the turn of the century she led the world’s poorest mothers, cap in hand, to seek for debt relief from the people who otherwise are less naturally endowed than she is. How are the mighty fallen.
Now the prince, irked by all the shame brought upon him by Nigeria (in spite of matrimonial rules relating affinity) sought the hands of Ghana in marriage. On the 15th of December 2010, at an offshore location known as Jubilee fields, the new couple was wedded.
Ghana has spent much of her honeymoon consulting with diviners, marabout and marriage counselors. But as the saying goes, the best things in life are free. Ghana only has to diligently observe some home truths in order to have marital bliss. She must never forget where she is coming from. She must avoid greed and she must take care of the kids. Classic examples of how to waste a good fortune lie eastwards at her sister’s doormat, but Ghana must rather look westward to total strangers (Canada, Australia and Norway) for how not to waste her fortune.
Victor is a Maritime Lawyer based in Lagos Nigeria.
He is the Editor of OTL Africa Downstream Newsletter and also the Sub-Editor of Marine and Petroleum Nigeria Magazine; the Nations foremost Maritime and Petroleum Industry Journal.
