THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE TO OUR GROWTH IS NEITHER ETHNICITY NOR RELIGION

The biggest challenge to our growth is neither ethnicity nor religion. It is the "I Better Pass My Neighbour" mentality. It is primitive individualism at its expressionist best. It destroys the companionship misery offers.

When the socially disenfranchised in a poor society starts enforcing their own division because they need inner validation of being better than others, then it is a reproach to humanity.

It is within the covens of the companionship that misery offers that mass actions that can shake and change societies are birthed. And people say we die here. That "we" is a collective resolve.

When people are able to uninhibitedly mingle among people who face similar threats of "extinction" as them, the absence of fear of a fall for already downtrodden dissipates and they appreciate the need to take their collective destinies in their own hands.

It is worse than tribalism and ethnic bigotry because it manifests most even within intra ethnic relationships. They don't care about your language or place of nativity.

And it is worse than religious bigotry because those who exhibit it do not care that they worship same God as their neighbors.

It encourages people to be comfortable in their own miseries at least their neighbors are worse off.

This spirit of "I Better Pass My Neighbour" is worse that witchcraft. It is that witchcraft spirit that tend to gladden your heart when your flat is the only one with electricity while your neighbors are in pitch darkness.

It is that witchcraft spirit that makes you feel no compassion at your fellow compatriots queueing for hours under this unforgiving Lagos sun either for fuel or at the ATM machines simply because your fuel tank is full and your house has enough food to last a week.

Even at events such as weddings or other ceremonies, you notice that people whose tables are filled to the brim either because they're connected to the caterers or celebrants tend to look down on those whose tables look like deserts. Imagine such human trait. Even animals try to share sometimes.

It is that witchcraft spirit that makes you think those crying and shouting about this policy are part of the problem because they don't want Nigeria to work, but you forgot that opportunities in life are not on a level playing field.

It is that witchcraft spirit that makes you always make caricature of people facing challenges you escaped or are below your station in life.

I better pass my neighbor spirit will never offer you the opportunity to be in the shoes of those you look down on.

Have you been to the bank and notice how those on Forex queues carry their shoulders high at those on ordinary naira queues?

Until a people understand how the pains of some would eventually get to them if nothing is done to address those feeling that pain.

No society can grow until people understand how interconnected their actions are and appreciate the concept of enlightened self interest.

That's why David Hundeyin described Nigerian elites as toilet elites.

— Kelechi Deca