As we celebrate Eid-al-Fitr can we please consider the thought of creating a little heaven on earth 

By Ayo Akinfe 

(1) As we celebrate Eid-al-Fitr, can we please pause for a second and actually think about the concept of heaven which underpins the doctrines of Islam and Christianity. Nigerian adherents to these two faiths are so passionate about going to heaven but appear not interested in replicating the idea of heaven on earth. I for one simply cannot get my head around that discrepancy 

(2) For starters, in heaven, everyone will have to speak one language to communicate with each other. There are roughly 6,500 spoken languages in the world today. Unless heaven operates a pre-Tower of Babel language policy, everyone will have to get on with each other irrespective of language, ethnic origin, religious belief and skin colour. Why are we not able to think that way. We do we celebrate our differences?

(3) Every picture of heaven I have seen depicts it as an egalitarian and socialist enclave. Everyone wears the same white clothing, has equal status with each other and no one is considered an inferior being. Nobody had 20 SUVs, six Hummers of dozens of bodyguards. Why do we not bring this heavenly egalitarianism into our daily dealings with each other?

(4) It appears that heaven also has a universal health service as no one appears to get sick there. Indeed nobody dies there, so I assume the healthcare on offer is simply wonderful. Should we not at least aspire for this in Nigeria given how passionate we are about the living conditions in heaven? At the very least, we should have one general hospital in each of our 774 local government areas 

(5) Islam and Christianity grew internationally because they offered eternal life. In Europe for instance, in the old Roman Empire, people abandoned their polytheistic faiths, which have been dubbed Pagan some 2000 years ago because they did not offer eternal life. With life expectancy just around 25, the idea of living forever in the afterlife made Christianity appealing. Now, we cannot offer that in Nigeria but we can at least have a policy target of getting say 50% of our population to live up to 80 years old 

(6) In heaven, there are no potholes, power cuts, corrupt officials, failing schools, crumbling buildings, polluted creeks or flooded streets. Why are these not targets we set ourselves in Nigeria? Has any of the newly sworn-in governors promised for instance that there will be no potholes in his state at the end of his tenure?

(7) To me, it appears most Nigerians are keen to go to heaven because there are wonderful facilities there which can be enjoyed without us having to make any input. We love the idea of going to a place to enjoy the best of life without having to put the effort in. This is typical of our consumerist mentality. Unfortunately, no society is ever built without the sweat and toil of its people 

(8) When I look at the way Nigerians troop to Dubai to throw lavish parties I ask why making their own country that comfortable is not a more urgent priority for us. At independence, Dubai was some 50 years behind Lagos developmentally but alas, look at the difference today. We love readymade comfort and are prepared to sell our future to pay for it 

(9) In heaven, will the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (Macban) officials and the Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob) leaders not hug and kiss each other as brothers? If they can do it in heaven, why can’t they do it on earth in Nigeria? I assume the Macban herdsmen will drop their AK47s when they get to heaven. Why can’t they do likewise in Nigeria?

(10) I find it hard to believe that the managers of heaven are not worried about Nigerian immigration as let us be honest, our people will destroy the beauty of the place when they are there in large numbers. We will defecate on the streets, drive our cars down the wrong lanes, tap into the oil pipes, throw litter on the streets and refuse to obey law enforcement agents. With Nigeria poised to be the fourth largest nation on earth by 2050, it is only a matter of time before a majority of the population of heaven are Nigerians. Will it still remain an attractive place we all want to go to when that happens? I very much doubt it!