Do you know that it is a
blessing to be a Nigerian or being born in Nigeria? I know most readers would
not agree with me. Instead of being born in this complex state, called Nigeria,
it would have been better to be born in any of the developed western countries
such as; America, Asia, Europe or even in an African country like Gambia or Mozambique.
A Country that is gradually loosing grip of its past glory; even in the eyes of
other Countries that once adored and respected Nigeria as a leading power-house
in the whole of sub-Saharan Africa. According to the Mo Ibrahim African Governance Index Report for the year 2011 ranked
Nigeria 41st out of 53 African Countries in its governance index
report in various four governance indicators. What actually happened to the
giant of Africa?
A country that is full of
greatness, wealth, creativity, industrious, honest, and hardworking people. I
remember those glorious days growing-up as a kid; I always look forward to
school with great nostalgia feelings. I will hang my school lamp sack over my
slender shoulders and happily collect my pocket money of 50 kobo for each day.
I would judiciously save my daily 50 kobo(s) in my constructed wooden box.
After one month of ‘sowing’, I would ask my mother to please unlock the save
box as I waited patiently for my ‘harvest’. You would not believe how much I
have saved, which was shared into three portions; one for a new sandal, the
second for folktale story books, and lastly for sweets. Trust children, I would
quickly rush to the Mallam kiosk, to
buy for myself cubes of Chocomilo
sweet as much as the remaining balance could afford. Tell me how many children
of present days would adopt my saving and spending culture despite the over 200
per cent inflation rate we are experiencing now?
Growing
up then was very memorable, as the environment was relatively peaceful,
pollution free, steady power supply and mild traffic. My parents made it a
ritual to travel home (village) as a family once every year to see our
Grandparents and other relatives as it was fun embarking on such trips. Unlike
today, you have to psyche yourself for weeks and source for the funds to embark
on such journey. Even as middle-class citizens, we could afford whatever we desire.
Unfortunately, the Nigerian system of governance has systematically killed the ‘Middle Class’ status. It is
either you are rich or poor. However you are going to make it rich, no one
cares. I am not saying that we don’t have incidence of corruption, crime or
canny tendencies in the 70s or 80s, but such misdeeds were done in a bearable
and pardonable manner. Unfortunately, most of us cannot bear or pardon the kind
of misdeeds we witness these days. Ranging from the huge misappropriation of
state funds by our Political office holders and Civil servants, Corrupt
practices by our Legislators, the senseless murder of innocent citizens by our
‘trigger happy’ policemen and the incessant bloodletting by various ethnic and
religious groups in the country. Nigeria has now been engulfed with
terrorism acts with minimal achievements by our security agents in curbing the
menace. We leave all these for God to judge.
Nigeria’s
independence in 1960 marked a new horizon for the country to establish herself
in Africa and in the world at large.
Pathetically, our elder statesmen never envisaged that the promising Nigeria
of old could come to this abysmal state. Would we blame the discovery of crude
oil in the late 60s as God’s undoing? The Almighty creator has blessed us so abundantly
in both rich human and natural resources to take care of our needs. A Country
like Malaysia came on a fact finding mission to Nigeria in the 70s, and went
home with palm kernels. It took them a great deal to plant, grow and harness
the cash crop over time to be one of the highest exporters of palm oil and palm
kernel fruits in the world. No wonder our brothers are rushing over to Malaysia
to carve a living for themselves as the Country is better equipped with infrastructures
and amenities. What has happened to our own Palm kernel, Cocoa, Groundnut, Coal, Steel, Tin, etc. Only
if our government could re-invest in 2 or 3 of these naturals resources to an
optimal level of production, this would definitely lead to foreign exportation
that would yield good national revenue to the country. However, the only good
invention we can boast of today apart from the crude oil and Gas is Cassava
bread. Has the bread gotten to the markets, as am yet to have a bite? Kindly
let me know where to get a loaf.
We are in a country where
political office holders are being recycled all over and over again. Have our
people lost consciousness of events of yester years? Please let me borrow some lines from Mr. Abuoma Chuka’s master piece: “Sinners in Paradise” in the Daily Sun
Newspapers of July 18, 2012 and I quote “Nigeria is the only ‘paradise’ where
sinners are empowered to make Laws, assigned to be Ministers, selected as
Governors, appointed to be Judges, employed to be Security personnel and force
themselves as Presidents into the throne of our nation.” If you think he is
done, then you need to hear this; “Nigeria is a state where ‘Saints’
are in prisons while ‘Sinners’ are in paradise. ‘Saints’ are jobless in the
streets, while ‘Sinners’ are enjoying in the ‘Sanctuary’. Most interestingly, the Nigerian people have learnt their
lessons and are now with their gauntlet, deciding who governs them by electing
the right candidate(s). Remember that the people’s mandate carried the day in
the last gubernatorial elections in Imo state by pitching their tents with
Owelle Rochas Okorocha over the incumbent and recently in the Edo
state governorship elections that brought back Comrade Adams Oshiomhole in
their July elections. Biblical speaking, we should know that the voice of the people
is the voice of God.
I see the Nigerian people have
woken up from their slumber to work and choose their leaders. What role is the
church playing to mold a good leader to salvage us from this problem of
leadership? The Nigerian state have been that lucky not have plunged into
another civil war despite all the failures and wrongs we are experiencing now,
yet our so called leaders are yet to come out with the right solution. People
of other countries could not understand our strong unity in the midst of
insecurity and corruption as we still go about our daily activities unabatedly.
I have that consolation that anything that has a beginning no matter how bad
must have an end. Whatever that has gone wrong in the Nigeria state, would be a thing of
the past and the people would be better for it.
However, to achieve this
victory over stagnation, poverty, anarchy, unemployment, corruption,
depression, hunger, despair, insecurity, etc, we must trust God Almighty for
breakthroughs. Our good Lord has affirmed to us in 2nd Chronicles
16:9; “the Lord keeps close watch over
the whole World, to give strength to those whose hearts are loyal to him...”
How strong is our heart to keep on trusting and believing in Him? It is high
time we started coming out from our shells of ignorance, complaints and despair
to make a difference in solving our national problems. Nigeria needs good and
visionary leadership in providing a sense of direction in achieving individual
and collective goals that would help to harness, manage, utilize and distribute
the limited resources to cater for the basic needs of the masses. Can we really
find a true leader that would do the work of good governance devoid of
corruption and selfish interest in this country? By doing your own bit, the
people (voice of God) would divinely identify you to help salvage this quagmire
we find ourselves. That brings me to words of Sidney Powell; "Try to forget yourself in the service of
others. For when we work for others, our efforts return to bless us."
Certainly, Nigeria
needs a God-fearing, Visionary, Committed and Charismatic leader(s) that would
lead us to the promise land.
The Nigerian state should be a
great paradise indeed and I am proud to be one of its inhabitants. We have all
what it takes to be one of the best developed and growing economies in the
world. However, the first step of re-invigorating and re-orientating our people
must be through the Churches or Worship places as the case may be. Let the Church(s)
continue to recite the National prayers; “Prayer
for Nigeria in Distress” and “Prayer
against Bribery and Corruption” in order to fight this impasse. It has
worked for us in the past and it would presently, because there is awesome
power in prayers.
I therefore, call on all Religious
faithful, Lay faithful, Administrators, Diplomats, Royal fathers and all
Leaders of thoughts to rise to the occasion in fighting this ‘illness’ of the
Nigerian state, else we might be inviting an unprecedented chaos that would
split this country into rubbles. May God forbid, please can I hear a big AMEN?
