A NIGERIAN FROM GRINDR
We met on Grindr.
His name is X.
After a brief conversation, we moved to WhatsApp. We conversed for a bit there, firming up our acquaintanceship. When I mentioned that I was sorting through my late father’s things, trying to decide what to give away, he suggested donating them to an orphanage close to where he stays. I’d given to an orphanage before, so this idea appealed to me.
“It will also give us a chance to meet,” he said.
I agreed.
The plan was to meet him at his junction, go with him to the orphanage, make my donation, and then move over to his place to bump and grind.
I was at the junction by noon. I was picking out my phone to call him when I saw him walking out toward the main road from the direction on the other side. He had seen me already and waved to get my attention. I made to cross the road but he gestured for me to stay there; apparently, the orphanage was located on my side of the road.
He walked over to me.
We sized each other up.
“You’re just shining, looking fresh,” he complimented with a beaming smile.
He didn’t look bad himself, and I told him that.
We shook hands and then started walking.
As we walked, we gisted about the weather and the floods that were wrecking the country, about ASUU strike getting called off and how everywhere was suddenly full of university students again, about this and that.
It wasn’t a long walk; we were soon at the gate of Mother-something-something Orphanage. The words on the signpost mounted over the wall wasn’t clear; the elements of rain and shine had worn them off.
We knocked and a gateman let us in. A young woman emerged from inside the building, from where we could hear the happy squeals of little kids, to meet us. I told her what I was there for, hefting the small Ghana-must-go in my hand. She was very solicitous, led us into a room where I signed my donation into a logbook and she answered some of my questions about the children in their care.
“The older ones are in school,” she said. “Do you want to meet the other ones?”
“That’s alright,” I said with a polite smile. “I have some other engagements to get to.”
I saw X flash a smile at me, that knowing expression of exactly what “other engagements” I have to get to.
Soon, we were back out on the street, walking back the way we came. We had gotten to the junction when he suddenly remembered he had to collect his voter’s card from a collection centre just a few yards away from the junction.
“I went to INEC and they said I should collect my card here,” he said, pointing to the building. “Can we go collect it first before going to my place?”
“Sure,” I acquiesced. We started walking. “I went to my collection centre yesterday and they told me to return November ending, that the cards aren’t ready.”
“Hian! When did you register?” he asked.
“May,” I replied.
“I registered in June. That means this one we are going is just a waste of time.”
We soon got there. It was a clubhouse. I wondered why this place would be made a PVC collection centre instead of some local government office. The security man proved my doubts right; he affirmed that this place couldn’t possibly be connected to any INEC activity because it is a private property, insisting that nobody had ever come here to ask to collect their PVC. He wouldn’t let us past the gate to confirm from any staff member of the club.
So we turned away.
X looked exasperated.
“This card is even just for my banking activities o,” he grumbled. “It’s not like I’m even going to vote. On that day, I’m jejely going to stay in my house and sleep.”
I stopped walking.
“Wait, what?” I said softly.
He stopped and looked at me with some amusement. “Let’s be going na.”
“Let’s not. There’s no rush. Why won’t you want to vote?”
And that was how we started talking about the upcoming elections, the three major presidential candidates and the call for Nigeria’s votes.
It was a bit of an intense conversation, but here is the summary of his stance: Nigeria is a shithole that cannot be fixed; just because Peter Obi was a good governor doesn’t mean he will make a competent president; and the Igbos should be allowed to secede.
“Are you a BATist?” I asked at one point, feeling my skin crawl at the thought that I was going to get naked with this guy.
“No,” he said with a laugh.
“Do you support Atiku?”
“Of course not! I don’t even want any of them to win.”
“But that is not what will happen,” I said. “One of them will win. You can’t be so mad at how bad Nigeria has gotten, that your response to it is to not vote, hoping the three of them will just go away. One of them will win. And your vote can count for the right person winning.”
“And the right person is Peter Obi?” he said with annoying superciliousness.
“Yes!”
“That man may not even be the good person you people think he is. These politicians will just make all sorts of promises, show you what they know you want to see, until they get to that seat, and then they become who they truly are.”
“We already know that about politics. You’ve not revealed any brand new information here,” I retorted. “But based on their records, based on what we already know about these three main candidates, there is a reason Nigerians are more willing to take their chances with Peter Obi than the other two.”
“Nigeria is too fucked up for that man to fix if he becomes president.”
“Okay. So what then is the alternative? If he is such a hopeless choice, what is the alternative? A geriatric overlord who says he will continue from where Buhari stopped? Or a former vice president who can’t even be courageous on Twitter? What is the alternative?”
“For none of them to win.” He gave a stupid little laugh. “They should all just lose jare.”
My exasperation cooled then. The annoyance stopped kindling in my soul. The desire to have sex with him had long since died. All I felt was a sadness for him – for me, for every Nigerian who is desperate for their vote to count and for those whose ambivalence will fuck that up.
“I’m going home now,” I said with some tiredness.
“What? Why?” he spluttered. “Don’t tell me this small argument is making you not want us to fuck.”
“Small argument?” I said with a sardonic laugh. “That’s your takeaway from all this? That we had a small argument? You are too grown to not understand why these issues are gravely important, especially as we come to the end of 8 years of a hellish administration. And all it comes down to you is that it is a small argument?” I shook my head and began walking away. “I’m going home please.”
“Nawa for you o,” he said behind me. “Your blood is just hot anyhow. It’s well. When you have calmed down, we can see tomorrow. You’re just too fresh for us not to fuck.”
I continued walking toward the main road where I’ll get a taxi headed my way, fetching my phone from my pocket to hit DELETE on his contact.
Written by Pink Panther
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11 Comments
Miraculum
November 16, 18:37Sadly many Nigerians still have this mindset…Funny how a grown-up man thinks like an idiot. Mental health is surely underrated in Nigeria. The only difference he shares with a mad man roaming the streets is that he’s still putting on clothes..Too fresh for us not to fuck???lol I’ll pass that. Nice one pinky.. Been one of your silent readers..Jisie ike.
Wizdiamond
November 17, 09:55😂😂😆, no good will come out from this one, see his end remark “you are too fresh for us not to fuck”wahala
Oba of Benin
November 19, 08:28Lol… second to the last paragraph depicts The douchebag is an obvious reprobate… such lowlife.
Saltimbanco 🤢
Pinky Hunnay pardon me please cos no pun intended. I thought you’re in a serious relationship.
My relationship I used to think is perfect has suddenly gone northeast….. i’ gotta share the story to ease the burden in my heart soonest
Ken
November 19, 22:10Voting is a choice, same as not voting. It shouldn’t be the basis of any meaningful relationship. Politicians are all the same, regardless of their fantastic promises. The politicians will never give up their own relationships based on political differences. Infact peter obi remains a PDP at heart, he was one of the many well-wishers of atiku when he won the primaries. Tinubu and atiku also remain close friends. Their first loyalty is to themselves, so I don’t think people should take political differences personal.
Moreover, whoever wins won’t change shit. It takes more than a president to change Nigeria. Our problem is nationwide greed, corruption and total lack of any conscience. There is nobody that will enter govt that won’t loot to stupor or use the position of office for personal gain. Anyway, let me not be preaching, 2023 is not far. I sincerely pray peter obi wins tho, just so I can say I told you so. Lol
Wizdiamond
November 19, 22:28Well, from what I grab from the story, this is not all about voting or not but the mindset behind it, you can’t succeed without trying, there must be step taken to achieve our aim or the other, just like you stated “our problem is nationwide greed …..” But if I’m to state our problem is our ignorance which is actually attributed by our low mentality,so my dear no matter how bad Nigeria is, it can’t be better without us trying our possible best to make it better and in this case as well there’s no relationship given up on cus from that guy replies, he obviously gat nothing to offer seriously,
Jeff
November 21, 17:08Voting actually isn’t a choice. It’s a responsibility. Until we get to understand that, we’ll remain where we are.
Ken
November 23, 22:57And how many times have u voted?? Don’t lie o
Gbolly
November 23, 21:50If only he didn’t say too much he would have had the fresh guy…….
Buh why himself no go dey vote?
He wants change but he’s not participating (does he even wat change?)
Wahala poorer buhh he should vote sha if he’s reading this.
Queen of Queens
December 05, 21:11Who is this Pink Panther that everyman seems to want? We want to see this pink panther dear
rexxy
December 19, 01:14Good riddance for bad nonsense
Joel
December 19, 13:00You can decide to vote or not to vote, voting is a choice. Voting is your decision. So there is nothing wrong if you decide not to vote.