Ndi Igbo si na, “afụfụ gba nwoke obi, o di ka o na-eke ike.” When a man becomes accustomed to suffering without purpose, over time he begins to mistake it for hard work.
The hallmark of development in any country lies in the combination of economic, social, and institutional progress that improves the overall quality of life for its citizens. In essence, for a nation to be classified as developed or even developing, the general standard of living of its people should be above average. If we use Maslow’s motivational theory as a reference point, then the basic needs, physiological needs, safety, and security must first be met.
Yet since 1960, it has been the same story: the same patterns, the same leadership cycles, and a condition that continues to deteriorate. So what exactly is the problem? Ọ bụ na okpu isi amaghi akpụ ka ọ na-aguba adịghị nko? (Is it that the head does not know how to wear the cap, or that the cap itself is faulty?)
One reason I believe we are where we are today is what I call poverty conditioned habituation. Habituation is a form of non-associative learning in which an organism reduces its response to a repeated, irrelevant stimulus over time. In our context, this means we have gradually become desensitized to hardship.
It is like the hen that cries not because it expects to be freed, but so the world can hear its distress. Nigerians have developed various coping mechanisms to survive the hardship created by poor leadership. However, our ability to adapt to these difficult conditions has unintentionally made the problem feel normal woven into the fabric of everyday life.
Some families now measure resilience by how much suffering they can endure, even competing over who bears more. For instance, when government schools fail in infrastructure and quality of education, instead of demanding accountability, we turn to private schools as an alternative. When electricity providers disconnect power yet still issue bills for unused supply, people advise compliance rather than resistance.
Parents are constantly preoccupied with survival chasing daily bread while children are forced to grow up too quickly. It is no surprise that many adults today carry unresolved childhood burdens. Some exhibit what can be described as childhood fixation, having never been given the chance to fully experience or enjoy their formative years.
My point is this: poverty has conditioned us into acceptance. It no longer feels like a threat, it has become familiar. We struggle to even imagine a life beyond our present circumstances.
With elections around the corner, some argue that it is better to let the current government continue after all, “no be today.” This reflects a deeper resignation, as though suffering has mastered us.
The painful truth is that while habituation may help us ignore constant noise or unpleasant odors, in a social and economic context, it comes at a devastating cost.
Just this week, a final-year cardiothoracic student collapsed in an exam hall. An ambulance arrived without oxygen. In a university responsible for training medical professionals, basic life-saving equipment was unavailable. After an hour of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, the student died.
This is the consequence of poverty-conditioned habituation. It strikes not just at our systems, but at the very core of our humanity it hits us at the center of the heart.
I remain your friend and brother,
Maazi Onuora Obodoechi
Pen it down. 