By Ayuba Yilgak'ha,
I woke up today with many questions on my mine. Questions about how bad things have turned out to be in my land of promise, Nigeria.
Growing up as a child, I was told how great Nigeria was. In schools, I learnt about the great potentials this country hold. Great in both human and material resources endowment.
The struggle for independence by our heroes past was about the great promise freedom from colonialism represented. Those who saw the historic lowering of the Union Jack and the glorious hoisting of the Nigerian Green white Green flag bore witness to the deepest sense of hope which overwhelmed my country on 0ctober1, 1960.
Over time, a great number of Nigerians are doing great exploits in parts of the world. In technologically advanced countries of the world, they are doing well; they are also making towering impact in emerging economies of Asia, Latin America and everywhere. Our Tijani Muhammad Bande (the 74th President of the UN General Assembly), Ngozi Konjo Iweala (the 7th DG of WTO), Okinwumi Adesina (two terms President AfDB), Ufot Okon who broke 30 years record in Mathematics in Japan, just to mention a few who are doing us proud abroad but rarely at the corporate level back home.
A meta analysis of situations in Nigeria have shown that the compendium of speeches which heralded the take over of all successive regimes in the country, whether military or civilian, share one thing in common, and that is to reverse all subsisting odds and make the country better for all. This, however, is not to be in decades!
The current despensation with great intensity lured us, during campaigns in 2014, into believing that the change mantra on which it rode to clinch power shall end the era of deception and failed governance in Nigeria. Six (6) years down the line, however, things have gotten even worse or at least not getting any better.
The insecurity, corruption and epileptic economy which the regime promised to change is grossly enshambles. Who in all honesty could step out to attest that the system is really functioning well apart from those benefitting directly or indirectly from the current government?
Today, Nigeria has become highly polarised; the economy is perennially very sick; the moral conscience of the country is groaning; men are chanting songs of war; there is palpable fear in the land; the hope of the majority of the citizenry is no longer in government. To say the least, the people are largely living at the mercy of God!
Curiously, nobody ever promised us these bad state of things we currently live under. We have all become victims of broken promises. Nigeria is under the cumulative effects of failed promises by those who have been at the corridors of power!
Here is a question for our leaders especially those on the saddle currently. Do you really love this Nigeria? "Where Is The Love?" as the Black Eyed Peas song lyrics would have us asked?
The first stanza and chorus of the song referenced above deserves our collective and sober reflection. Please, read the lyrics meditatively:
"What’s wrong with the world, mama
People livin’ like they ain’t got no mamas
I think the whole world’s addicted to the drama
Only attracted to things that’ll bring them trauma." The chorus then follows:
"People killin’, people dyin’
Children hurt and you hear them cryin’
Can you practice what you preach?
Or would you turn the other cheek?
Father, Father, Father help us
Send some guidance from above
‘Cause people got me, got me questionin’
Where is the love? (Love)."
Ain't the song referenced above a suiting reality of Nigeria today? Ain't things that bring truama becoming our new normal in the country? The situation in Nigeria is a gloomy one and great historian, Bernard Lewis postulated that there are two fundamental ways by which people and nations could respond to adversity or decline. The first is to asked the question, "Who did this to us?" and the second is, "What did we do wrong?" There is no better time to ask these questions than now.
'Who did this to us'? Our leaders who have become hypocrites and promise breakers. And "What did we do wrong in Nigeria?" Failure to be thorough and objective in our leadership recruitment processes. But more importantly, who will help us out of the deep dungeon we found ourselves in the country?
In the interim, Nigerian people need quick but lasting solutions so that the citizenry could step out without any fear of being killed and face their respective businesses of earning a living. We cannot continue to live under the present chaotic atmosphere of sounds and drums of war which has permeated the country's firmament!
In human history, time and chance has offered men of different kinds to be 'lords over the events' of others. While some of these privileged men mould, build and grow; others rent it, destroy and betray the confidence reposed on them upon the wide panoramic stage of posterity. These are the two sides to documented narrative on history makers!
In Nigeria today, an opportunity has come for someone or somebody to write his or her name on the good side of history. In times like this, the country need peace builders and not war merchants; statesmen and not misguided clergies/clerics who are fanning the embers of conflicts or uncultured politicians whose only concern is the next election.
Nigeria also needs men who can resucitate and not vultures who might be waiting for people in distress to die so that they could feast on their carcasses. Nigeria needs people who could profer solutions to problems and not those who will create more of them because there are already enough problems to tackle on our hands.
There is actually nothing normal in truama or the killing of any fellow human being by man. We can preach peace and love, and live out the true meaning of these great virtues. It is not rocket science. What is required is the strong will and unwavering determination to halt and change the ugly tide.
Quite frankly, the confidence level of Nigerians on the current Regime has dropped from the hypothetical 200 percent which made it easy for it to defeat the incumbent for the first time in the country's history to as low as who knows what level. However, the country's leadership could still rejik its allegedly biased, lukewarm and reactionary approach to national questions and evolve new strategies to make the system work for the common good.
The standard test of true leadership can be measured in its ability to tackle and resolve evolving problems including those not created by it and without pushing blames too. Blame game is a sign of weakness in the art of leadership. Oh Lord God almighty, increase the problems solving capabilities of our leaders or grant us objective men who will safe this country from utter ruin, amen.
*(Modest Thoughts with Ayuba Yilgak'ha, August 27, 2021; *NIGERIANS AS VICTIMS OF BROKEN PROMISES*
*(Modest Thoughts with Ayuba Yilgak'ha, August 27, 2021; SMS: 08116181263; Email: loisayuba420@gmail.com)*: 08116181263; Email: loisayuba420@gmail.com)*
I woke up today with many questions on my mine. Questions about how bad things have turned out to be in my land of promise, Nigeria.
Growing up as a child, I was told how great Nigeria was. In schools, I learnt about the great potentials this country hold. Great in both human and material resources endowment.
The struggle for independence by our heroes past was about the great promise freedom from colonialism represented. Those who saw the historic lowering of the Union Jack and the glorious hoisting of the Nigerian Green white Green flag bore witness to the deepest sense of hope which overwhelmed my country on 0ctober1, 1960.
Over time, a great number of Nigerians are doing great exploits in parts of the world. In technologically advanced countries of the world, they are doing well; they are also making towering impact in emerging economies of Asia, Latin America and everywhere. Our Tijani Muhammad Bande (the 74th President of the UN General Assembly), Ngozi Konjo Iweala (the 7th DG of WTO), Okinwumi Adesina (two terms President AfDB), Ufot Okon who broke 30 years record in Mathematics in Japan, just to mention a few who are doing us proud abroad but rarely at the corporate level back home.
A meta analysis of situations in Nigeria have shown that the compendium of speeches which heralded the take over of all successive regimes in the country, whether military or civilian, share one thing in common, and that is to reverse all subsisting odds and make the country better for all. This, however, is not to be in decades!
The current despensation with great intensity lured us, during campaigns in 2014, into believing that the change mantra on which it rode to clinch power shall end the era of deception and failed governance in Nigeria. Six (6) years down the line, however, things have gotten even worse or at least not getting any better.
The insecurity, corruption and epileptic economy which the regime promised to change is grossly enshambles. Who in all honesty could step out to attest that the system is really functioning well apart from those benefitting directly or indirectly from the current government?
Today, Nigeria has become highly polarised; the economy is perennially very sick; the moral conscience of the country is groaning; men are chanting songs of war; there is palpable fear in the land; the hope of the majority of the citizenry is no longer in government. To say the least, the people are largely living at the mercy of God!
Curiously, nobody ever promised us these bad state of things we currently live under. We have all become victims of broken promises. Nigeria is under the cumulative effects of failed promises by those who have been at the corridors of power!
Here is a question for our leaders especially those on the saddle currently. Do you really love this Nigeria? "Where Is The Love?" as the Black Eyed Peas song lyrics would have us asked?
The first stanza and chorus of the song referenced above deserves our collective and sober reflection. Please, read the lyrics meditatively:
"What’s wrong with the world, mama
People livin’ like they ain’t got no mamas
I think the whole world’s addicted to the drama
Only attracted to things that’ll bring them trauma." The chorus then follows:
"People killin’, people dyin’
Children hurt and you hear them cryin’
Can you practice what you preach?
Or would you turn the other cheek?
Father, Father, Father help us
Send some guidance from above
‘Cause people got me, got me questionin’
Where is the love? (Love)."
Ain't the song referenced above a suiting reality of Nigeria today? Ain't things that bring truama becoming our new normal in the country? The situation in Nigeria is a gloomy one and great historian, Bernard Lewis postulated that there are two fundamental ways by which people and nations could respond to adversity or decline. The first is to asked the question, "Who did this to us?" and the second is, "What did we do wrong?" There is no better time to ask these questions than now.
'Who did this to us'? Our leaders who have become hypocrites and promise breakers. And "What did we do wrong in Nigeria?" Failure to be thorough and objective in our leadership recruitment processes. But more importantly, who will help us out of the deep dungeon we found ourselves in the country?
In the interim, Nigerian people need quick but lasting solutions so that the citizenry could step out without any fear of being killed and face their respective businesses of earning a living. We cannot continue to live under the present chaotic atmosphere of sounds and drums of war which has permeated the country's firmament!
In human history, time and chance has offered men of different kinds to be 'lords over the events' of others. While some of these privileged men mould, build and grow; others rent it, destroy and betray the confidence reposed on them upon the wide panoramic stage of posterity. These are the two sides to documented narrative on history makers!
In Nigeria today, an opportunity has come for someone or somebody to write his or her name on the good side of history. In times like this, the country need peace builders and not war merchants; statesmen and not misguided clergies/clerics who are fanning the embers of conflicts or uncultured politicians whose only concern is the next election.
Nigeria also needs men who can resucitate and not vultures who might be waiting for people in distress to die so that they could feast on their carcasses. Nigeria needs people who could profer solutions to problems and not those who will create more of them because there are already enough problems to tackle on our hands.
There is actually nothing normal in truama or the killing of any fellow human being by man. We can preach peace and love, and live out the true meaning of these great virtues. It is not rocket science. What is required is the strong will and unwavering determination to halt and change the ugly tide.
Quite frankly, the confidence level of Nigerians on the current Regime has dropped from the hypothetical 200 percent which made it easy for it to defeat the incumbent for the first time in the country's history to as low as who knows what level. However, the country's leadership could still rejik its allegedly biased, lukewarm and reactionary approach to national questions and evolve new strategies to make the system work for the common good.
The standard test of true leadership can be measured in its ability to tackle and resolve evolving problems including those not created by it and without pushing blames too. Blame game is a sign of weakness in the art of leadership. Oh Lord God almighty, increase the problems solving capabilities of our leaders or grant us objective men who will safe this country from utter ruin, amen.
