MAY
NIGERIA BE GREAT AGAIN
The
great country Nigeria became independent on the 1st of October 1960 and went
further to become a republic in 1963. But one very issue keeps on troubling me
and as the saying goes “a problem shared is a problem halved”, now this brings
me to the question. Looking back from 1960 to the present (2017), have things
really changed for the better?
From
my own perspective, the major problems bedevilling the country remains
unsolved, though a few, less severe problems have been reduced to the barest
minimum. The reader may be curious to know of those problems I am implying. Well,
they are human trafficking, insurgency (particularly the one that occurred in
the north-eastern part of the country for quite a number of years), and drug
trafficking to mention but a few.
Now,
to the major problems the country is faced with, we have endemic corruption,
bad leadership, ethno-religious bigotry, illiteracy, poverty, poor
infrastructure, and the list goes on and on. Despite the enormity of these
issues, the most worrisome among all is the problem of bad leadership. This is
usually the cause of all the others listed above; another heart-aching issue is
that of bad citizenship.
The
status quo is so bad that an average Nigerian, on the street of any state is
just seeking for an opportunity to hornswoggle a fellow citizen.
As
a passionate Nigerian, I have had conversations with young minds like myself
regarding the status quo, majority of them are of the idea that if you cannot
beat the pettifoggers then you join them. Others even take the burden of
explaining their reasons for keeping away from critical affairs of the nation,
they say things such as “who wants to die? The moment you go against those guys,
the consequence is usually detrimental”. But I and a few others among the
youths are of the opinion that as citizens of this dear country Nigeria, as
people of moral uprightness and those enthusiastic about a positive change, the
quest for a better and greater Nigeria should not be left to fizzle-out.
For
those that studied physics at one point in time or the other, I am quite
optimistic that you remember the concept of RIPPLE EFFECT; when you have a bowl
of liquid and then drop say a small piece of stone in it, the stone as small as
it may seem is able to cause waves all through the entire surface of the
liquid, I hope the reader is beginning to relate to my point. In more direct
terms, advanced English dictionary defined RIPPLE EFFECT as ‘the effect of one
event setting off other events in an unexpected way or unexpected area.
If
true patriotism would be exemplified by just an insignificant number of the
citizens, then in no time the wave (ripple) of such patriotism would be felt by
a profound number of other citizens and with time, rogue politicians will have
no puppets to tie their strings to. These spivs, mavericks and scallywags, pose
themselves as leaders willing to do whatever it takes to protect the interest
of the citizens, yet result to shenanigans and chicanery to junket their ways
up the positions of authority.
This
should serve as a notice to malfeasants that citizens are not as docile as they
were some years back, and also that buffoonery from them would no longer be
excused. These experts in subterfuge and skulduggery should be aware that
sooner or later they would meet their waterloos.
Furthermore,
looking into the demands of the citizens, I consider these demands as being
simple and reasonable. They are security, quality infrastructures, quality education,
constant or improved electricity and water supply and of cause quality
healthcare service. If most, even if not all of these demands could be met,
then I don’t deem it pertinent that the government needs stress itself to
instrument job provision. Because, with uninterrupted supply of electricity and
water and also good roads to mention but a few, a lot of industries would
flourish and by extension provide jobs for the citizens.
But
in a situation where you have epileptic electricity and water supply, bad
roads, poor healthcare service and a decaying educational sector, not much good
should be expected from such a nation. Though, like I said earlier, the country
has succeeded in dealing with some less horrendous problems and the leaders are
commendable for that, but a whole lot still needs to be done.
Finally,
I hope to see a Nigeria where individuals with integrity, pity and the fear of
God burst forth as leaders, a Nigeria where principles and ideologies rather than
ethnic and religious bigotry are inculcated in youths, a Nigeria where
individuals venture into politics with intentions to help better the lives of
citizens, a Nigeria where trustworthiness and political astuteness are being
watched out for in a potential leader rather than sheer lewdness and ostentatious display of raunchy earnings,
I hope for a better and a greater Nigeria, and I pray Nigeria becomes great
again.
An
article by;
AHMAD
MUHAMMAD KANDI
ahmadkandi78@yahoo.com
08159026447
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