By Kesandu Egburonu
In March 2022, two boys were sacked by fast-food company, Chicken Republic, but, rather than send them back into the depressing world of the Nigerian Labour market, the chain of events shot them to instant stardom and fame. Popularly referred to as the ‘Happie Boys,’ they emerged on the public scene after a video surfaced of them routinely opening the door for customers with electrifying dance moves that left clients amused. The management did not find anything amusing about that and gave their dancing feet the marching orders.
The Nigerian audience, who had earlier hailed their theatrics, got irritated by the management’s decision to fire the boys and called for their heads. “Insensitive,” “bad” and many other names were used to blast the management of Chicken Republic. While the boys had just lost their jobs on one hand, on the other, they had just become the darling of every Nigerian.
Trusting the Nigerian way of typically getting help once one’s matter begins to trend, the Happie Boys were instantly recognized by the General Overseer of the Omega Power Ministries (OPM) and rewarded with a scholarship abroad. Their lives had taken a positive turn and their dancing feet were about to moonwalk to Cyprus—the country earmarked as their new destination. Off they went, along with the public praise showered on them, as well as their benefactor, Apostle Chibuzor Gift Chinyere.
No one really heard of them afterwards and everyone, naturally, assumed they were enjoying their greener pastures over there. Boom! Just as they had shot to limelight via social media, they used that same route to waltz back into the minds of Nigerians. A year and about 3 months after, the Happie Boys had taken to social media to call out their benefactor for “failing to fulfil his promises” to them. This was a rude awakening and that got everyone’s attention. It wasn’t obviously green in their supposed greener pastures after all.
What happened? Well, it so happened, as per the boys’ explanation, that their tuition fees had not been sent to them and that their feeding and other allowances weren’t getting to them as it used to. The camera, thus, beamed on Apostle Chibuzor for his side of the story and he was not one to shun the camera. In his defence, the economy, Covid-19 and many other challenges hit his pocket hard, causing the money pipeline not to flow as it used to. This, in his explanation, had a ripple effect on the Happie Boys over in Cyprus, causing them not to be so happy anymore.
The Apostle further explained that he had suggested that the boys relocate to Nigeria, from where he would position them in a University in West Africa to continue their studies. The boys had obviously turned down this request, hence the outburst of unfulfilled promises. Trust Nigerians: The divide was drawn and people were, either going for the throat of Apostle Chibuzor or, labelling the Happie Boys as “ingrates.”
Those on the ‘ingrate’ side pointed to the boys’ failure to justify the huge sums expended on their education as findings revealed that they had indeed failed over 90% of the courses they had sat for. The pro-Apostle divide went further in their case by showing images of the boys living vicariously—dressing lavishly and partying. This, as per their argument, was against the Christian standard and enough reason to discontinue their scholarship.
The above arguments have a merit or two in them, but, I also sympathise with the Happie Boys on various grounds. To start with, you and I will agree that, if given an opportunity, a lot of us will ‘japa’ (run away) from this country called Nigeria in a heartbeat all in search of green pastures. We will also agree that, once out of this country and enjoying the good life over there, it can only take the 7days fasting and prayers of the top angels in heaven to bring us back home! The same is through for most, if not all of us.
So, why should it be any different for the Happie Boys? These are boys, who, in their widest imagination never believed they will cross the Togo border, talk less of crossing the Atlantic ocean, yet, fortune smiled on them and oppressed their village people instead! What do you think will motivate them to then swap their new abode for a scholarship in a West African University as the Apostle suggests? Absolutely nothing. No wonder they blasted, “make everybody dey there dey” (let everyone mind their business).
I do fault the manner in which they called out the Apostle and even went as far as making outlandish claims about him possibly using their destinies and those of other beneficiaries. That was uncalled for and I salute them for tendering an unreserved apology. Only smart people do wrong, own up to it and apologise and make peace. I believe our dear Apostle, being spirit-filled, will embrace them and pardon their youthful exuberance.
In all, I believe it is abundantly clear that the boys have no intention of returning to Africa. It would also be unfair to order the Apostle to “fulfil his promises” especially after laying bare his financial challenges. I do, however, hope that all interested parties find a suitable compromise that, doesn’t undo the good deeds of the Apostle and doesn’t jeopardise the happiness of the Happie Boys as well. Until that resolution is found, it is safe to caution every other party to “dey there dey.” God bless you.
