A Nigerian man, who has a black Nigerian father and a caucasian mother, has shared what it’s like living in Nigeria without wealth.
He explained that Nigerians have the impression that white people and mixed-race people must be rich so they get curious when they see him boarding buses or haggling in the market.
Patrick Ifeanyi, who worked briefly as a Nollywood actor, wrote on Facebook: ‘I am still trying to understand where people got the idea that every wh*te person is rich and swimming in money.
‘Sometimes when I accompany my wife to the market and we start negotiating prices, the traders look at me and say, “Why are you bargaining? Wh*te people have money!”
‘I just smile because if they could see my account balance, they might be the ones giving me transport fare back home.
‘The funniest part is when I enter public transport. Some people stare at me as if I mistakenly boarded the wrong vehicle. I can almost hear their thoughts: “This one looks like a wh*te man, but why is he inside this bus?” Then someone will eventually whisper, “It seems he doesn’t even have money. I thought all wh*te people were wealthy.”
‘My dear friends, let me clear up this misunderstanding once and for all. Not all wh*te people are rich. Not all of them own mansions, private jets, or have unlimited money in the bank. Many of them wake up every morning, go to work, pay bills, struggle with rent, and carefully plan their expenses just like the rest of us.
‘The colour of a person’s skin does not determine the size of their bank account. Wealth has no complexion.
‘So the next time you see a wh*te person haggling in the market or riding public transport, don’t be surprised. They may be doing exactly what you and I are doing—trying to survive this economy one day at a time.
‘Life has taught me that assumptions are free, but reality is usually more expensive.’
