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In our series of letters from African journalists, Nigerian writer and novelist Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani looks at the clamour for assistance that accompanies a politician's rise to office.

The political party primaries in Nigeria have drawn to a close and voters now have a clearer picture of whose turn it might be to divide up the national cake after the elections in February 2015.

But the winning candidates won't be the only ones taking their share of the country's riches.

In Nigeria, news of a person's success in an election often travels at the speed of lightning, over rivers and mountains and past fields and forests, to his kindred in all corners of the globe.

Those with no jobs believe their days of unemployment are coming to an end; those with no education think it will soon pose no barrier to climbing the corporate ladder; those in faraway lands begin plans to return home.

Soon, these kith and kin launch their pilgrimage towards the successful candidate.

They ring his phone; they send text messages; they knock at his gate.

They offer to help his campaign in any way they can; they organise prayer sessions for his victory, usually late at night in his living room.

The most unforgivable sin a politician can commit is to forget 'his people' after he assumes office
Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani

'Bitter tongues will wag'

A friend of mine who lives in Lagos told me last week that he was travelling to Benin city.

His friend had just "picked up" a spot in the House of Assembly there. Another person he knew was set for another top position.

"He's a good friend of my elder brother in Florida," he said. "I've already told my brother: 'You'd better come down and rub minds with him and introduce us to him.'"

Another friend whose husband is a close associate of a winning candidate in one of Nigeria's choicest states told me her phone did not stop ringing after his victory was announced.

People had been calling to offer congratulations. Indeed, even I had called for that very reason.

In Nigeria, the culture has always been that anyone who gets into power, who suddenly finds himself holding a knife with which to cut the national cake, must invite his clan to both slice and eat it with him.

The most unforgivable sin a politician can commit is to forget "his people" after he assumes office.

He must "remember" his sisters, brothers, cousins, nieces, nephews, in-laws, friends, schoolmates, and so on.

Preferably through contracts, appointments and jobs.

Failure to do so will lead to taunts and ostracism and on the day his tenure expires, he will find himself completely alone.

Long after his funeral, the bitter tongues will continue wagging.

Local history will forever record him as having denied his kindred their turn.

I have heard several amusing stories regarding the influx of people from the Niger Delta region into Abuja, the Nigerian capital, after their kinsman, Goodluck Jonathan, was elected president in 2011.

Outstretched palms

One of my favourite tales was told by my British-Nigerian friend who teaches in one of those Abuja schools where the children pay stupendous fees in dollars and make fun of their teachers' cheap mobile phones.

She was shocked when a particular pupil, during a science lesson, seemed to know more about crustaceans than you would expect of a child his age in the city.

This child stood before the class and described in great detail how the creatures are caught, cleaned and cooked.

At the end, my friend called the boy aside and asked how he knew so much about the topic.

The child explained that he had grown up in the creeks, where his family petty-traded crustaceans for a living.

That is why the news of a candidate's potential ascension into political office stirs such joy.

In many parts of the world, it requires years of steady progress for one's economic circumstances to radically transform.

Here in Nigeria, all it takes is an election, and a new political appointment. Suddenly, a child goes from capturing crustaceans in the creeks to an exclusive school in Abuja.

Voracious kith and kin are the main force behind Nigeria's corruption problem.

Imagine the thousands lined up with outstretched palms behind each political office holder.

Try telling them that you intend to reform the system now that it is finally their turn to eat.
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Letter from Africa: Sharing Nigeria's cake - BBC News

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In our series of letters from African journalists, Nigerian writer and novelist Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani looks at the clamour for assistance that accompanies a politician's rise to office. The political party primaries in Nigeria have drawn to a close and voters now have a clearer picture of whose turn it might be to divide up the national cake after the elections in February 2015.

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Breaking misconceptions

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The Nigeria media mogul with the global empire

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Behind the scenes of Nigeria's thriving film industry.

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Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria - Home

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THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA HAS ORDERED THE CLOSURE OF THE NNAMDI AZIKIWE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, ABUJA, NIGERIA FROM 8TH MARCH TO 19TH APRIL, 2017. THIS IS TO ENABLE GENERAL REPAIRS ON THE AIRPORT...

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#BringBackOurGirls

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Rebecca Samuel Yaga was one of dozens of parents of the Chibok schoolgirls who attended an inaugural lecture Friday to commemorate the three-year anniversary of their kidnappings.

Boko Haram seized 276 students from the Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok on April 14, 2014. Fifty-seven managed to escape almost immediately, while two others were found by the army.

Twenty one girls were released in October 2016 following negotiations in a deal brokered by an unnamed Swiss contingent and Nigerian authorities. Those negotiations are ongoing to free the remaining girls, the government said.

"The government is in constant touch through negotiations, through local intelligence, to secure the release of the remaining girls and other abducted persons unharmed," Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari said in a statement Thursday.

"On this solemn occasion, my appeal is that we must not lose hope on the return of our remaining schoolgirls."

The lecture held at Abuja was one of a series of events and rallies held Friday to remember the 195 that are still missing. It was given by the Emir of Kano, Muhammed Sanusi, and was organized by the Bring Back our Girls group, which has long campaigned for their safe return.

Oby Ezekwesili, a co-founder of the movement, vowed Friday that they would continue to protest until the rest of the Chibok girls are brought back.

In Chibok, about 100 parents gathered at the secondary school for a multi-faith meeting with Muslim and Christian clerics to hold prayers for the safe return of the missing girls.

It was the first time the parents had met at the school to hold a prayer session since their daughters were kidnapped.

Yana Galang, the women's leader of the association of Chibok girls, told CNN: "Only a few parents got their daughters back. Over 100, including myself and my husband, are still groaning for... those who were not found."

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chibok missing girls: parents pray for daughters 3 years later - cnn.com

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Stephanie Busari, CNN and Ibrahim Sawab for CNN

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Chibok parents pray for missing girls three years on

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It's been three years since Boko Haram militants raided a boarding school in Chibok, Nigeria, and abducted 276 girls. Some of them have been found, but parents of the girls who are still missing are praying their daughters will one day return home.

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CNN - 4/25/17

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Nigeria's economy is heavily dependent on oil revenue, and price swings can send the country from recession to recovery in a matter of months.

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A Quizlet for you!

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Thank you, Mr. Brogley!

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AP Comparative Government Unit 5 Review: The Federal Republic of Nigeria (Fourth Republic)