The
Land Of The Hopeful And Hopeless - Nigeria Defined
29 December 2009By Buhari Bello
Any time the thought of Nigerian state come to mind, I
always ask myself the question if there is any hope of
redemption from the current hopelessness we found
ourselves. Naturally, we are a blessed country. God in
His Infinity Mercy Has blessed this country with
abundant resources both material and human. But, the
question is why we are not developing all these years,
with all these resources at our disposal. I believe
the cardinal answer to this question, is the fact,
that, all this while the men and women that have
superintendents this country and the citizens have
failed to leave up to the expectations and the
challenges of leadership and conscious followers.
Any hope? I ask this pertinent question, not because I
have lost hope on this country or am a cynic, or
pessimist per say, I am one of those who believe that
this nation will be great whether the vampires and
hawks, that, are at the saddled of leadership today,
like it or not. But, some time no matter how
optimistic you could be, certain actions and inactions
of those at the saddled of leadership in the country
will shake up such optimism you might have had before
about the future of this country. The current reality
is that nothing is working in this country.
Governments in all tiers have failed to implement
policies and programme that are of beneficial to the
people. What you have are mere policies and programme
that will serve as pipe-drain to loot the resource of
the state.
The alarming rate of poverty, ignorance and
unemployment in the country called for sober
reflection. And the irony of the whole fiasco, nobody
seems to cares or is doing something about this
crisis. Both the federal and state government
officials seem to be engrossed in activities that are
far away from tackling the three problems mentioned. I
believe, there is no danger for any country, than
having its larger population in abject poverty,
ignorance and unemployed. Poverty, ignorance and
unemployment over the years, have been the major
propellers of violent, crisis, conflicts, kidnapping
and wars. When people are idle, hungry and lack the
required standard of living; life becomes hopeless and
useless to them; so any inducement from any quarters
will move them to actions that will disrupts the peace
of the land. The recent crises of Boko Haram,
Niger-Delta militancy, Jos ethnic/religious genocide
etc are nothing, but, the by product of these factors
mentioned; even the current spread of kidnapping.
Is our problem beyond redemption? Has God forsaken us?
Or have we forsaken ourselves? Do the current
politicians have solutions to our problems? Or the
destiny of this nation lies elsewhere - could it be
with the younger generations? These are the few
questions I keeping asking myself all the time. I
believe our problems no matter how complex they may
be, are not beyond redemption. Yes! I believe, it is
only if all Nigerians can agrees with one simply
truth- which is we have all failed as a nation and
citizens. The failure of leadership in all strata of
the society is because the people have failed to hold
their leaders accountable to their deeds. Why do we
give them the kind of acknowledgement, they don’t
deserve? I believe if only we could learn to disabuse
our minds and comfort, and channel our angers and
frustration on these leaders only then they will learn
to treat us like human. But, a situation where we are
the same set of people that are been used to rigged
elections, format violence either ethnic or religious,
we are the same set of people that constitute the
praise singers that wax special songs for these
crooks, awarding chieftaincy titles and doctorate
degrees as evidence of self arrival; how then do we
expect any miracle from God Almighty to redeem our
hopelessness.
There is no hope for this country, as long the society
does not change its attitude and orientations towards
some certain issues that bounder on national heritage
and development. We must have a system of rewards and
punishment, if anything will move in this country. The
reason why people do what they do is because they knew
the punishment of the state is meager compare to the
crime committed. A situation where you have criminals
that have stolen billions of naira; but yet, still
walking our streets as free men and women, thereby
abusing our intelligence and conscience. Some have
even smuggle themselves into our national lives as
Minister of the Federal Republic while some are the
kitchen cabinet and policy advisers to our dear
President- Imagine!. One wonders how the spoilers of
yesterdays do automatically becomes the reformers of
today. It will rather be a vicious circle of
confusion, despairs, frustration, poverty and
corruption. Corruption has spread in the land, sea and
air, because of the appointment and the closeness of
these spoilers of yesterday, today and the future to
the seat of power. Appointment into strategic offices
are for the highest bidder; this is because people are
bribing their way to be appointed as Ministers,
Director Generals, chairmen and members of Boards of
government Ministries, Parastatals and Agencies.
Pity a nation that has no plan for it youths. In the
absence of any plan, the youths have created a
platform for them selves to channel their energy on.
Such channels include kidnapping, financial scams,
prostitution, drug trafficking and taking, militancy,
armed robbery, serving as soldiers for ethnic and
religious confusions and conflicts. All these are
antithesis to the development of the nation. Did they
really understand the dangers they are all putting us
in.
It is pertinent our leaders at all level understand
the fact, the hope and expectations of Nigerians are
drying up. Nigerians have been patient and loyal
enough; so therefore they deserve some little
appreciations through developmental projects for them
and their children. The only thing Nigerians are
asking for is improvement in their ways of lives,
which will increase their self esteem and let them
appreciate and contribute to the development of the
country. There is no hope as long as the people are
not carried along and provided with the basic
incentives that make live comfortable and worth
living; so that Nigeria will be worth dying for.
Failure to provide and develop this will smell doom
for the future of this country; because if soldiers of
unemployed and poverty riddle people should avenge
their angers and frustrations on the state; not even
the military can content with the situation. Someone
may say, this rather utopian; because Nigerians will
never show such courage. But, I believe we are almost
coming to that stage if urgent steps are not taking to
arrest the general downward slide into Hobbesian stage
the country is drifting into as result of the
insensitivity of the leadership. Kidnapping, militancy
and the Boko haram episode are composers of
revolutionary songs and dance steps if we failed to
change our attitude towards governance and peoples’
patience.
Oh God we call on you as the last resolute of our
predicament; touch the hearts of Nigerian leaders to
do the right thing and provide leadership that will
propel us to greatness. And touch the hearts of
Nigerians to change their attitudes and their sinful
ways, so that Your mercy will descend on this nation.
Change our hopelessness and despairs into hopefulness,
happiness and tranquility. Change our wickedness,
greed and corrupt hearts into pity, compassions,
dedication and tolerance. Reawake the minds of
Nigerians to realize it is their destiny that is been
destroys; so that we can galvanize and mobilize
ourselves into a vanguard of change without any
sentiment or rancour. So help us oh Almighty One
because with Your Command I believe all things are
possible Amin.
©
EsinIslam.Com
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