Since democracy returned in 1999 you have believed the government will build a house and put you in there, right? You believed when politicians came to you and promised to give you jobs, and create 10 million more, first year in office. You are unemployed, have left school seven years ago and you trusted those promises that ended up crashing your expectations, ‘abi’?
So the road to your village is not built, the roof of the schools your sister’s children attend have caved in and pupils sit and learn on bare floor- with illiterate teachers to coach them, is that true? Is it true that you, as a farmer has no fertilizer to grow your crops, and your neighbour’s wife died in the course of childbirth because the nearby hospital has no equipment to handle her expectations, is this your story? Alright!
The question you should asked is why are you so humiliated as a loyal, patriotic, law-abiding citizen of an oil-rich nation? Who and who really is responsible for these woes befalling and has continued to dehumanize the people? Have you asked those question? Do you really realize that all the money that has been earned and misused by this nation since 1999 are in the hands of these few leaders who are again promising they are the ones to make all your dreams come true, and perhaps take you out of ‘laziness’? Right? I know, you can’t be cheaply deceived with all the sharp memory in your brain!
It will take a dumb mind for an adult Nigerian to believe that these billionaire-boasting politicians, whose only source of wealth is that they have been a governor, or served in government in one capacity or the other, are the ones to come back to power and fulfil your expectations. Even an ass will doubt, if it is told that these fellows with humongous fraud allegations hanging on their neck for owning multiple houses in Dubai, and billions or millions of dollars (depending on their capacity to steal and conceal) hidden in graveyards, and in secret bank accounts across the globe, are the messiahs you should give another chance. Most Nigerians are not only gullible, they do not know what they want, and can’t recognize what holds true for them when they see one.
Shameless fellows who are directly responsible for the mass poverty in the nation are the same folks finding their voice now. They have apologized for their atrocious obscenities, and heart-wrenching iniquities evoked on Nigeria for 16 years. And without repentance or pledge for restitution, you believed they have turned a new leave. Anyway, Obasanjo said, “their apology is not accepted”. Period.
The greedy spirit that encouraged trusted men in power to rather share the resources earmarked to safeguard lives than provide the resources to secure or develop the nation is still very much in the heart. Unfortunately, those are the same saviours you are angling to return to rule you. Really?
It is difficult to understand why people’s mind are too much on the surface. They’re proud of what they should be despicably ashamed of, they scamper to embrace those they should keep at a distance. What a pity for a people expecting to join the comity of nations with honest, transparent and civilized leaders.
Nigerians are not outraged that we have no law capable of discouraging or punishing corruption. We have proud lawyers (Senior Advocates some of whom claimed they were trained by revered Chief Gani Fawehinmi) who boldly relish in their uncanny ability to set corrupt leaders free in the court of law. They clearly make bizarre mockery at the rest of us and the fight against corruption. Looters go about scot-free to enjoy their filthy wealth, and you, this reader, is happy with the situation. Corruption is winning over your destiny and the future of your children and all you do is drum applause for these individuals.
It is inconceivable to realize that majority of Nigerians prefer the corrupt past, and truly wish those proven corrupt elements should return in any capacity to rule them. That’s pleasant anguish of slavish proportion!
The daffiest moron with breath in his nose should know that the sole reason why 70% of the populace live in squalor is because that which should have been used to provide basic necessities has been pilfered into private pockets. And accepting to support the return of such erstwhile looters and demented crooks makes such a person a questionable horror!
And the “ex-presidents’ will help to rescue Nigeria”. From what? Didn’t the ex-president gave you Yar’adua, the ex-president gave you Jonathan and if these two fellas dragged Nigeria into a pit, do you still trust he does a better job producing presidents? The other ex-president (military) produced Abacha after rejecting the best election that had thrown up a fair candidate. Will you listen when such a one counsels on the next leadership?
Please, spare this gambit of a campaign that you need a young leader. That is crass dumb. We have had young men is various capacity of leadership since 1999, how many of them were able to make real difference? Take a roll call of all that are dragged about by EFCC, including those who have nothing against them, they ruled in their 40s, and early 50s, but what spectacular incident can you point to as valuable developmental landmark that is attributable to them? Leadership is about quality of character and purpose of the individual, and even less of intelligent initiative because you can always hire world-class professionals to man outposts of development. It’s not a matter of age, but a question of the heart!
Our greatest misfortune is that we have leaders think only of their interest. Public offices are designed to benefit the individual. We have accepted this as a culture, and it has stranded us to the mud where we are right now. Unfortunately, we have multitudes insisting the status quo remains. But this is not going to happen- that we return to our vomit!
No matter the failings of this present government, this is the noblest era where there is determined effort to fight corruption in Nigeria. This is the period when you have a president and a vice that are not interested in stealing and cornering public fund to themselves or their cronies. This is the only season in our turbulent history where government officers are afraid to steal, unlike our recent past when public officers insanely act with fraudulent impunity, and the president have no gut to question even the weakest of his misbehaving lieutenants.
The wreckage this government is fixing were not caused by them, all non-dubious or deceptive persons know this. In fact every genuine Nigerian will agree we are making progress because it could have been worse. To have exited recession in record time, to have inflation rate consistently plunging down, to build and have our foreign reserve inching towards $50 billion in less than 3 years, (remember the past administration plundered it from almost $60 billion where President Obasanjo left it down to about $23 billion before this government took over), men! There is a difference!
There is a difference in the fact that from 90% wheat and rice import, reversed to current 90% rice self-sufficiency is a progress. Can you see the River Niger Bridge springing up to completion? It takes political will to make it happen. The shoemakers in Aba building shoes for the armed forces know that things are happening. The thousands of millionaires farmers the CBN Anchor borrowers fund is empowering know there is a difference. Have you seen Lagos transforming like New York? Ha ha ha ha!!!!!! I believe, “we are not where you ought to be”, but like the African Americans love to say, “Thank God we are no longer where we used to be”. We have a better chance for a greater tomorrow when we support this government. If you have a voice lend it now, to prevent evil coming like angel of light from wining.
Inasmuch you are not specifically finding fault with the hard-working ministers, so long as you are not faulting the vice president’s dexterity to make changes, so long as you have not seen the president collecting bribe from investors and buying properties in Potomac, I think we are good to continue with them. I am confident you know what is good for you and the nation.
Ucheka Anofienem is an author of several self-development books, an idea strategist, and business growth consultant. He lives in Abuja, Nigeria (Contact www.skillandidea.com, Email: [email protected])