Samuel Olomu
I am going to speak for and against the two topics. First, it is pertinent to note that both the countryside and city has it own advantages and disadvantages. Most people in big cities believes people living in the countryside or local areas are people who sees less, poverty-stricken people, uncivilized and crooks. If I say I prefer the quiet life in the countryside to the hustle bustle of the city will you believe?
In the countryside you have some levels of freedom which can ever be enjoyed in the city. Freedom to walk anywhere, anytime and anyhow without restrictions is one of the bases I can advance as an advantage over the cities. In towns, there are places the common man are not allowed into. There are some streets you cannot just walk anyhow. The level of freedom in locals cannot in anyway be compared to that of the cities.
It has become a cliche and it therefore true that the atmosphere of the city is tense, bad and unfavorable compared to the fresh air which people in the countryside enjoys. In cities, the atmosphere is disturbed by smokes from industrial exhaust pipes, heineous smokes from cars and trucks and dust which has dangerous consequences and hampers some people's health. The city is busy, Yes! Noices of different kinds cannot be inevitable. The horning of the vehicles, shouts of thugs, market bargaining, advertisement and the activities of conductors, also disturbs the atmosphere.
In cities you are prone to different problems of theft, pick-pocketing, accident, violence, kidnapping and other various human rights abuses. Jobless thugs can just walk up to you to snatch up any valuable things from you. Some will even come with arms. You just have to give them since you have no option and for the fear of being killed. Violence in various forms and manners are a part of the city. Many atimes, innocent bloods are being shed during cult members or cult-police clashes there by making everywhere unsafe. Also, kidnapping has taken different forms. When you board a bus going to area A, the bus may change direction to area B all for the purpose of using the passengers for rituals or kidnapping so a huge ransom could be demanded. The city is congested, so accident cannot be inevitable. On highways you can just see a truck smatch a car, a car or a truck jumps off lane and tumbles or a car hits a person. All these are not always part of the countryside. Everywhere is safe, everyone goes about his business with no fear.
Making it does no requires a special space or place. It is not until you go to the city before you can make headway. There are many people who are in the city jobless. They leaves their village in search of greener pastures. No greener pastures anywhere again, it has long been searched and used by people. Strategize and create one. There are quiet a number of people making it in the countryside. Though people also make it in cities because there are a lot of opportunities "over there" which infact is one of the advantages of the city but some people leaving there are still poor. They leaves little opportunities available for grabs in their localities and put in for the hustle bustle of the city. People in the countryside often see themselves often as being poor and uncivilized. As a popular Maxim has it 'wish yourself what you want people to wish you' . So people from the locals look up to their brothers and sisters in the city for provisions whereas the brother or sister may be a 'street walker', 'a fine boy or a fine girl begger', ' a jobless person'. We must learn to rethink our stances. I heard the story of a young man who leaves in Lagos. He hung out on one occasion with his friends. He was still begging his friends to buy him a bottle of Trophy when one of his sisters calls from the village to beg him to send her some money. You can also imagine. One thing we should all know is that the city is not a place where money is planted and harvested. You have to strive and work harder. Until we know this we will continue to fail where we think we are making it right.
Rural-urban migration will be a very bad enemy to food production and security. If everyone is running for the countryside then how do we want the agricultural sector to develop. Most of the foods in the urban areas today are brought and traded into these cities from local areas. There are many opportunities in agriculture today. Though you can also engage in agriculture in the cities but it will be on a smaller scale since there are no lands to farm and the few once are costly. Nowadays, most youth runs from agriculture including me since nobody wants to be a farmer while some are still passionate about it. I know of a friend. He is in his finals in the Lagos State University studying Fisheries and Aquatic Biology. He said "after my graduation from the Lagos State University I am not seeking for any white-collar job. I want to be a farmer". I took a him by his words and I know he will surely be.
Where are we coming from? Quiet life in the countryside prevents excessive spending. In the villages, you only buy what you need and not what you want. Compared to the cities where you need to buy everything. In the countryside, you spend less on foods, rent and the likes though most social services are not provided for by the government but people still live quiet, good and peaceably lives compared to the city where you spend much on food, rent, light, water, etc.
To me I prefer life in the countryside to the hustle bustle of the city but I have reasons living in the city.
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