Nigeria My Country - Much Ado About A Failed Nation
Author: OBODO PASCHAL EKENZE
NGERIA MY COUNTRY: MUCH ADO ABOUT A FAILED NATION
I am an optimist. I see more than a million stars in every single cloud. I see Nigeria surmounting all her problems and moving to the next level, joining the league of developed countries like USA, UK, and China etc. Definitely, I see hope, I see Nigeria, my beloved country in a total rebirth. I see things return to normalcy; no more ASUU, NASU, SSANU strike. I see the football sector doing well. I see a corrupt free nation in the nearest future. I see a militant free nation, a nation whose watch word is on the common good of her people. I also see a nation that anchors her success on education and researches, and therefore, treats lecturers as sacred beings, always seeking innovations and ways to improve on the sector. I see a crime free nation, a nation that breathes quiet and peace, a nation that will do anything to stop kidnapping and thus, guarantee the freedom of her people. Indeed I see hope not as our former president chief Obasanjo saw it during his eight years spell in Aso-Rock, but in the real sense of it.
To say that at 49, Nigeria is a failed nation is to say the least. Indeed, Nigeria is in an abysmal failure. This woeful failure on its own is a menace, always threatening to suffocate the nation, and except we decide to help ourselves, we may not be able to rise again, and the hopes I see may just fizzle out. Forty-nine years ago, Nigerians had celebrated a total freedom. This total freedom turns out to be a partial freedom in cognizance to the fact we are still tied under the apron strings of the west, always working in such a way as to truncate our hard earned democracy. The people's hope, dreams and aspirations of been ushered into the land that flows with milk and honey was high. Nigerians at the eve of the independence had dreamt big, seeing a great and prosperous black giant. But today, these gigantic dreams still seem to be far from reach. I have in so many occasions heard Nigerians; especially the masses decry independence, and in so many occasions' stage prayers purposely to ask God to take them back to the colonial era. This should not come as a surprise to you after all the Israelites did it too on their way to the promise land. The only difference between Nigerians and the Israelites is that the latter had purposeful and willful leaders that were determined to take them to the promise land unlike our leaders that have decided to take only themselves and their respective families to ASO ROCK.
At 49, Nigeria, the giant on its back, is yet to be on the sure path to greatness. It is a pity to say that this nation blessed with enormous potentials is yet to discover them, let alone harness them towards greatness. The dream we dreamt 49-years ago seems a mere mirage – an illusion. There is a total lack of confidence as we are rattled by mind-bogging retrogression. Yet what is our story. Our politics, Methuselah education, security situation, health, electricity, sports, economy, infrastructures, are on a negative gradient to say but the least.
For sure, we live in a wonderful country, Nigeria, is a country like no other. Indeed we live in a country where our elected lawmakers go to the national assembly to trade by barter. It is only in this country that illegalities thrive; else we would have had a fully sworn-in president with full presidential powers and not an ailing president. Anyway, this piece is not intended to discuss our ailing president in the name of Y'ardua. I had expected the acting president, Dr. Jonathan to be his own man and act decisively, but he has chosen not to discuss his boss. Anyway, I would like to seize this opportunity to tell the Mr. Goodluck that excessive ass-kissing could be the kiss of death. He is comfortable with current status and I hope he does not regret when his Excellency Umaru Musa Y'ardua recuperates. If you care to listen, your Excellency the acting president, I advice you get yourself a copy of the book titled "The 48 Laws Of Power."
You have said earlier that you are an optimist, why then did you to say your country has failed? you may ask. The answer is that when compared with other countries, one could not help but say the truth. The attributes of every successful nations anchor on good governance, utilization of the natural resources to provide decent and peaceable life for the people, a state that inspires oneness, pride and confidence of citizens in their polity. It is a pity and sad to say that Nigeria is grossly lacking in all these. You now see why I say Nigeria has failed woefully. This is the only rich country that parades the highest number of poor people. It is appalling indeed to reiterate the fact that after 49-years of independence, Nigeria, one of the major oil producing nations in the world, hosts the highest number of unemployed and hungry masses. Poverty in the country keeps rearing its ugly head, uglier and bigger………………………………..to be continued
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