Everywhere you go, there seem to be, at least, a person, who claims to understand the roots of our political crisis and also seem to have the appropriate solutions to them (all). You would see someone engaged in a futile oratory exercise trying to convince the raptly attentive audience about his/her superior views. Wrong or right, he not only criticises government policies, he also makes unlegislated amendments or outright abolishment of them. Even with feeble arguments, unfound premises and questionable fallacies, you could feel the passion of a patriot wanting to rescue his country from economic, social and political doldrums.
On security, he laments about the unfair treatment of the operatives and the consequential brutalities meted out on innocent citizens by these operatives in their quest to extort them in the name of law enforcement. He explains to you why the hundreds of road blocks cannot be removed and how the daily N20 (twenty naira) service charge (how dare you say bribe?) unlawfully placed on motorists could help in the upkeep of a serving Police officer and that of his family; as if you don’t know. In fact, what one thing, then, can anybody say about the overall welfare of Security Operatives and their operations in the country that would not be depressing, except for hypocrites?
The education sector is on its knees at the mercies of heedless and extravagant administrators. How do you explain that the entire Universities in the country were under locks and keys while an academic Professor held sway as Education Minister? What would be the explanation for the hike in tuition fees while senators and members of the house representatives spent over a trillion naira on trip allowances annually and their monthly salaries stood firmly at N2.5 million and N1.5 million respectively? Their quarterly allowances of N45million each are exclusive. Let him say that he would make education free and compulsory, and then you will be left with no better alternative than to agree.
The government boosts of about a hundred and sixty million population strength and stresses this fact to the World Bank and the International Monetary Funds (IMF) on the need to support the country on several financial fronts. With an economic analysis that yields billion-dollar-worth dividends for these International organizations, they can not but agree that Nigeria is a viable economy for investment (Loan Granting). However, is it not pathetic that the projects for which our futures are being dashed for loans are never even implemented? How then does it not make sense to heed to the call of this “roadside legislator”, who promises a vibrantly re-engineered economy through the development of the real sector?
There are more scenarios offing. And it is startling at how Nigerians easily formulate “street” and unorthodox policies that could (hypothetically) better the lots. However, after all these heated roadside discourses about the health of the country, most of which happens at a newspaper vendor’s stand, you will hear his depressing conclusion, “Only If I am President …” and this is where my astonishment brewed.
You have just witnessed someone who can neither manage his home nor his own finances making unlegislated policies about the economic, social and political situation in the country. In fact, he had just proclaimed that if only he is President, Nigeria will be blah, blah, blah… Does governance not start from self? In the “peoples’ parliament”, you would find a landlord, who absurdly, unreasonably and unethically increases house rents complaining about an unregulated upsurge in the price of petrol. There also, you would find a man who would stampede and encroach upon the fundamental human rights of his less privileged neighbour crucifying the government of injustice and abuse of civic rights. Does justice, too, not begin from self?
There will be no such thing as a New Nigeria, if individuals refuse to rebirth them with upright, righteous and Godly personal virtues. The country we collectively blame for our communal and individual inappropriateness is an extension of our homes; and by implication, an extension of our individual beings. And if we refuse to reconstruct ourselves and our homes with foundation bricks of good virtues, what miracles are we expecting to create the new country that we desire?
As in my old article (A New Nigeria), birthing a new Nigeria essentially will involve birthing a new set of people; people who have embraced a new set of values and virtues, people with radical opposition to corruption and people with unwavering commitments towards the socio-economical and political growth of the country. The evolution of a new Nigeria requires an internal change i.e. a change in the mentality of the people. It requires a shift of paradigm. Nigeria needs not people with only verbal oratory acumen but people who will backup their words with genuine corresponding actions.
The “If I am President” syndrome underscores the reason you will find a pathological drunkard wax lyrical, even in his state of mindlessly, about his country. It is amazing to find out that what lies innermost in his heart is an undying love for his country. But how can we consciously put the future of our beloved country in the hands of a drunkard? Though, we eventually did (because they stole it and we refused to take it back). We still do. But so are the consequences that befall us either as individuals or as a nation. We empowered the drunks in our midst and allowed the sane to analyse their insanity. As result, everyone either becomes sanely insane or insanely sane.
Most of us, even the highly educated, lack the quality elements to back our words with actions. Basically speaking, while you might not agree with me, most Nigerians are either cowards, who are too afraid to face their futures, or hypocrites, who are just looking for someone to blame for their self-inflicted chronological failures.
The fact that we love our country cannot be consciously expressed though, but we do. And right there somewhere in our heart lays our undying love for Nigeria. Shouldn’t we then recreate ourselves in an effort to rebirth the new country we not only desire but really deserve? If only I am President, I will institutionalise a movement that will recreate Nigerians into people whose love and dedication for their country is not only verbally expressed, but also dutifully and responsibly delivered.
Now, that I am not, I write this article for you, in the little light that you will readdress your attitudes towards our country. And above all, that I should not be also caught in the same web of “If I am President”.
On security, he laments about the unfair treatment of the operatives and the consequential brutalities meted out on innocent citizens by these operatives in their quest to extort them in the name of law enforcement. He explains to you why the hundreds of road blocks cannot be removed and how the daily N20 (twenty naira) service charge (how dare you say bribe?) unlawfully placed on motorists could help in the upkeep of a serving Police officer and that of his family; as if you don’t know. In fact, what one thing, then, can anybody say about the overall welfare of Security Operatives and their operations in the country that would not be depressing, except for hypocrites?
The education sector is on its knees at the mercies of heedless and extravagant administrators. How do you explain that the entire Universities in the country were under locks and keys while an academic Professor held sway as Education Minister? What would be the explanation for the hike in tuition fees while senators and members of the house representatives spent over a trillion naira on trip allowances annually and their monthly salaries stood firmly at N2.5 million and N1.5 million respectively? Their quarterly allowances of N45million each are exclusive. Let him say that he would make education free and compulsory, and then you will be left with no better alternative than to agree.
The government boosts of about a hundred and sixty million population strength and stresses this fact to the World Bank and the International Monetary Funds (IMF) on the need to support the country on several financial fronts. With an economic analysis that yields billion-dollar-worth dividends for these International organizations, they can not but agree that Nigeria is a viable economy for investment (Loan Granting). However, is it not pathetic that the projects for which our futures are being dashed for loans are never even implemented? How then does it not make sense to heed to the call of this “roadside legislator”, who promises a vibrantly re-engineered economy through the development of the real sector?
There are more scenarios offing. And it is startling at how Nigerians easily formulate “street” and unorthodox policies that could (hypothetically) better the lots. However, after all these heated roadside discourses about the health of the country, most of which happens at a newspaper vendor’s stand, you will hear his depressing conclusion, “Only If I am President …” and this is where my astonishment brewed.
You have just witnessed someone who can neither manage his home nor his own finances making unlegislated policies about the economic, social and political situation in the country. In fact, he had just proclaimed that if only he is President, Nigeria will be blah, blah, blah… Does governance not start from self? In the “peoples’ parliament”, you would find a landlord, who absurdly, unreasonably and unethically increases house rents complaining about an unregulated upsurge in the price of petrol. There also, you would find a man who would stampede and encroach upon the fundamental human rights of his less privileged neighbour crucifying the government of injustice and abuse of civic rights. Does justice, too, not begin from self?
There will be no such thing as a New Nigeria, if individuals refuse to rebirth them with upright, righteous and Godly personal virtues. The country we collectively blame for our communal and individual inappropriateness is an extension of our homes; and by implication, an extension of our individual beings. And if we refuse to reconstruct ourselves and our homes with foundation bricks of good virtues, what miracles are we expecting to create the new country that we desire?
As in my old article (A New Nigeria), birthing a new Nigeria essentially will involve birthing a new set of people; people who have embraced a new set of values and virtues, people with radical opposition to corruption and people with unwavering commitments towards the socio-economical and political growth of the country. The evolution of a new Nigeria requires an internal change i.e. a change in the mentality of the people. It requires a shift of paradigm. Nigeria needs not people with only verbal oratory acumen but people who will backup their words with genuine corresponding actions.
The “If I am President” syndrome underscores the reason you will find a pathological drunkard wax lyrical, even in his state of mindlessly, about his country. It is amazing to find out that what lies innermost in his heart is an undying love for his country. But how can we consciously put the future of our beloved country in the hands of a drunkard? Though, we eventually did (because they stole it and we refused to take it back). We still do. But so are the consequences that befall us either as individuals or as a nation. We empowered the drunks in our midst and allowed the sane to analyse their insanity. As result, everyone either becomes sanely insane or insanely sane.
Most of us, even the highly educated, lack the quality elements to back our words with actions. Basically speaking, while you might not agree with me, most Nigerians are either cowards, who are too afraid to face their futures, or hypocrites, who are just looking for someone to blame for their self-inflicted chronological failures.
The fact that we love our country cannot be consciously expressed though, but we do. And right there somewhere in our heart lays our undying love for Nigeria. Shouldn’t we then recreate ourselves in an effort to rebirth the new country we not only desire but really deserve? If only I am President, I will institutionalise a movement that will recreate Nigerians into people whose love and dedication for their country is not only verbally expressed, but also dutifully and responsibly delivered.
Now, that I am not, I write this article for you, in the little light that you will readdress your attitudes towards our country. And above all, that I should not be also caught in the same web of “If I am President”.
