If Makinde Matthew, a primary school pupil, had his way, he would bar Nigerians from traveling to South Africa. In a chat with Ganiu Olawale, the seven-year-old also wants government to scrap the power companies in the country because of their failure to supply Nigerians with adequate power.
What is your name?
My name is Makinde Matthew.
How old are you?
Am seven years old.
Do you go to school?
Yes.
What class are you in?
Basic 3.
What is the name of your school?
The name of my school is Pikel Nursery and Primary School.
What country are you from?
Nigeria.
Do you know the power supply companies?
Yes.
Who are they?
They are the one that take our light.
They take your light or give you light?
They take the light more than they give it.
How?
Sometimes they just flash the light and before we finish shouting ‘up NEPA’, they take it again.
Oh, sorry. That must be very disappointing?
Yes.
Why do you need light in the first place?
We need light to see and to read our books. And we need light to watch television and play music.
So, you like music?
Yes.
Who is your favourite musician?
Small Doctor.
Because there is no light, you don’t often see or listen to his music?
Yes.
If you were in government, what would you do to the power companies?
I would close them down and sack their workers, especially the big men there.
Ha! How then would you get light?
I would set up new ones and put serious people there.
You sound angry?
Yes, I’m very angry. I hate NEPA (power companies).
Really?
Yes, they don’t give us light in our house.
Do you like watching cartoon?
Yes, when we get light.
What is your favourite cartoon?
Tom and Jerry.
Why do you like it?
Because they are funny.
Have you travelled before?
Yes.
To where?
My grandma’s place.
At where?
I don’t remember.
Where would you like to celebrate your next birthday?
At the beach.
Why did you choose the beach?
Because I will play with a lot water and sand
Do know South Africa?
I have heard about it.
What did you hear?
They kill Nigerians there.
But they have stopped now?
No, they will still start again.
But if you get the chance to travel to South Africa would you go there?
No, God forbid!
So, what do you think Nigerians should do?
We should stop going there; the place is evil.
But some Nigerians love to go there?
Because, maybe, they don’t know what is good for their lives. If I were the president, I would stop them.
