Statistics favour Sweden, the Scandinavian country with a GDP of $570.40b. A recent survey also indicated that it is the third best country to raise a family, with almost zero crime rate and easy life. Assistant Editor, Seun Akioye, visited Stockholm, the capital city and reports on life where life’s luxuries are taken for granted.
“Put the money here, money here, please,” the destitute said in stuttering English. He extended a small bowl which was full of coins to passersby and wore a look enough to soften a lion to part with at least a part of his dinner for this hungry son of earth.
Nearby his family slept on a bed, which from the impression of poverty he created looked really comfortable, mother and two children devour a hearty meal of fish and other things I could not comprehend. By the side, other families pitched their beds, ready for the night, the streets of Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, the rich and fabulous Scandinavian country is their home.
But if you think this is all about Stockholm, perish the thought. The city which has endured for many centuries is one of the most developed and peaceful cities in the world. In August, it played host to the World Water Week (WWW) organized by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) and an opportunity to showcase to the world why the city has one of the least crime rates in the world and one of the best places to raise a family.
The city of water
The Prime Minister of Sweden, Mr. Stefan Lofven, a man of fine stature and well made hair loves to boast about Stockholm. He described the city as that of water where “one can take a swim or go fishing right in the middle of the city.”
The Swedes are proud of their water and Stockholm has been described as the city of water where one can drink from any of the water fountains scattered all over the city. If you had lived in Africa or North America, one would find the attitude of the Swedes to drinking water impossible.
The Swedes would be very angry if you buy bottled water to drink, they echoed the opinion of their Prime Minister that the water in Stockholm taps is good for drinking. In restaurants, they hardly sell carbonated drinks and they never sell bottled water, water is taken from the rap into a jug from where everyone drinks. Afraid not to offend, one is obliged to drink not without some hesitation, “Drink up, drink up, this is Sweden, our water is number one,” Vikky, a Chinese woman said. Seeing that I was shaking and unconvinced, another man placed a hand on my shoulder and in a very compassionate and assuring voice said “I promise you, this water is safe.”
But that is nothing compared to this piece of information; “If you need to drink water, you can drink the water in your bathroom; it is very safe for drinking.” One of the iconic water scenes in Stockholm is the Klara Sjo, which was once a lake but had now been made into a 35 metre wide canal with boats for anyone interested in water transportation. The Klara Sjo is adjacent to the city hall and it is a spectacular sight in the afternoon sun. Standing on top of the bridge, one can see speed boats racing on the water, but it was evident many use the river as sport than for real transportation.
The shore of Klara Sjo with its lawns, weeping willows and wooden jetty is a peaceful oasis in the middle of the city. By the shore too is the Blekholmen restaurant, a part of which was built on the river, in the summer, business booms as residents enjoy an outing in a restaurant on the river with boats speeding by.
I took the words of the Prime Minister literarily and went in search of fountains to drink from and also lakes to fish in. Starting from the fountain at the City Conference Centre in Drottninggatan, sipping a cup directly from the fountain, I discovered that true to the words of Mr. Lofven, the fountains in Stockholm are clean enough to drink.
I went to Riksgatan, which is the centre of power and the seat of the Parliament, a bridge connected Drottninggatan to the parliament houses and royal palaces which incredible are open to the public. Right in front of it is a river where citizens are free to fish at anytime.
Louis Quinze, who teaches English and French and who comes to fish three times a week said it was a hobby he had maintained for many years. But it has not been a good season for fishing and the weather has gone to hell. Quize has not been lucky, catching only a tiny tilapia after many hours of fishing.
“It is not good season this year, the weather is bad and fishing needs stable weather, so we have not been catching many fishes. But this morning, I caught a very large one about 30kilograms, it was so big, it cut the line and escape,” he said.
Easy life
The Swedes lead a very easy and uncomplicated life, for those who are fortunate enough to be born into this prosperous country, life couldn’t have been more fortunate. Although a democracy, the country also operates a welfare system that has ensured that the difference between the rich and the poor is almost non-existent. It is this easy and contented lifestyle which has made it one of the most livable countries in the world. In the mornings, residents of Stockholm could be seen mostly riding to their offices and they go about their work without any fuss.
In the city centre, there was none of the hustle and bustle usually associated with cities like Lagos or New York, instead, bicycle riders rode alongside the most expensive cars in the world. Stockholm is devoid of the chaos of Lagos or the anxiety of New York, instead everyone looks peaceful and one could tell that life is good.
This good life is what led thousands of Nigerians to the shores of the country where many have prospered and a great number have found ruin too. But Charles Omobude who has been in the country for about two decades is one of the more inspiring stories. From a humble beginning, he has educated himself to becoming a water engineer.
Sweden, unlike many other European countries still have job opportunities for immigrants, this has made it an attractive destination for many Africans. In the past when education was free and easy, many Africans took advantage of it to get legal status. But this opportunity was abused with many getting resident visas using fake university degrees. “When they come here and can’t perform based on the qualification they presented for admission, they destroy the opportunity for the others. In Sweden, if you are not educated you will rot in odd jobs,” Omobude said.
Now, life is hard for the half educated immigrant with the life saving menial jobs now going to Romanian immigrants who are daily becoming a blight on the city’s skylines. Omobude said, “the most common jobs for Nigerians are driving taxis and distributing newspapers in the morning.”
He would not advice anyone without any tangible thing to do to come to Sweden. “If you don’t have anything to do, please stay away from Sweden. If you come here hoping to hustle, you will be disappointed, there is nothing to hustle here.”
The activities of some Nigerians have cast aspersions on the country generally but this is changing with the new direction being giving by President Muhammadu Buhari. At the Nigerian Embassy, a top official who does not want to be named said the President’s anti corruption drive is helping in changing perspectives about Nigeria.
Omobude agreed. “Now we have Swedes asking more about Nigeria and saying they love what is happening now. We like what the President is doing. It is elevating our reputation, in four years we will be at the top. This is what we are hoping that Nigeria can settle so that we can all come home.”
The Association of Nigerians in Sweden, which is the union of Nigerians living there, also believes that the impact of the present administration is helping to burnish the image of Nigerians in the country. “The new government is the change we are all waiting for, we pray that it turns out to be positive,” Dominic Emene, the president said.
But every blue sky must have a dark cloud, so is the story of the Romanians in Stockholm, fleeing poverty in their country, they have flooded Sweden constituting a nuisance to the cities. In Stockholm, they are seen in the day hanging around street corners begging for money. In the night, the walkways become their sleeping room with families and children bringing out their beds-hidden in train stations during the day- and duvets, sleeping on the pavements.
Some are seen eating hearty dinner in the open, the whole family eating from one plate. I learnt that the government had done its best to return the destitute to their country with cash rewards which could have set them up in business. But they come right back after lavishing the money, mostly on frivolities to take their place on the pavements of Stockholm.
Rich country, humble people
Despite its status as a rich and important country, the people of Sweden are very humble. For instance, the opening plenary of the World Water Week had the Prime Minister Mr. Stefan Lofven, in attendance. But no one would have noticed that the most powerful man in the country is among the crowd, there were no obvious armed security details- save for two bodyguards-, no siren blaring policemen and no uncontrolled photographers struggling to take a picture of him or the other dignitaries present.
Sweden’s royals are not left out of this down to earth attitude. At an event which had King Carl XV1 Gustaf and his daughter, Crown Princess of Victoria, Duchess of Vastergotland, they arrived without any fanfare. A day earlier, I had seen the Crown Princess at the Grand Hotel; we were only required to stand up for the royal to take her seat, apart from that nothing distinguished her from the rest of us. I stood by the road to see how many cars would be in her convoy and was disappointed to count only four and almost devastated to see her security details included two policemen armed with pistols.
Humility is however not the exclusive preserve of the rich and mighty in Sweden, it is seen in the average citizen. All over the city, the humility of the people is felt in their walks and stores especially at Drottninggattan which caters to the rich and in a manner of speaking the poor.
If the simplicity and gentleness of the Swedes rattles you, wait for this. Across the bridge from Riksgatan is Stromgattan road. Looking at this narrow street, it seems insignificant save that it faces the road to the parliament. However, the first house on the street had a Swedish flag flying on it, it was the Prime Ministers house.
There is no visitor who did not find this unbelievable, I did a quick scan and discovered save for the flag, nothing registers the house as that of the Prime Minister. Traffic moved easily with people passing in front of it. The main door also opened to the street, if the Minister must gain entry into his house, he would be compelled to do so in the presence of the crowd and the fishermen. There were no armed guards around the building and the house built in the fashion of most European houses was joined with others.
I dashed to the main entrance and listened for any sound, all was quiet; it was an unbelievable experience. A new feeling took over me but I resisted the urge to knock on the door and ask “Mr. Prime Minister, are you at home?”
