Professor Akin Oyebode’s exposition in The Guardian of May 27, 2013 in which he elucidated the abysmal Nigeria’s foreign policy is incisive and instructive. The article has further explicitly exposed the ineptitude and inefficiency of government in both domestic and international affairs.
Nigeria has suffered and also has been abused by its rulers from the inception of nationhood. The country is like a wife who endures a continuous domestic violence from her husband with no respite. But one characteristic of her endurance is the resilience and unwavering hope for her children’s better tomorrow. Nigeria should by now be competing favourably with the developed nations in the international sphere considering her remarkable strategic position, human capital and natural endowments. Leadership is the bane of Nigeria’s existence and the chunk of her citizens also in mass ignorance, poverty and pauperisation in spite of their level of education.
The deletion of Nigeria from the itinerary of President Barack Obama of the United States in his last much-publicised state visits to Africa was not a good omen for the country. Also, the polite insult received from the government of South Africa by our president at the rite of passage to eternity for late Mandela in South Africa recently was a bad taste in our collective memory as a nation. Nigeria has played enviable roles in security and socio-political emancipation of Africa. Nigeria should re-engineer itself as we are fast becoming a pariah nation; put its house in order and ensure adequate security for its citizens for the world to take her serious. Its political leadership should also realise that they cannot deceive in this age of globalization. All individual, groups, religion and government actions, inactions and contributions are seen and weighed by the global community.
It should be noted that serious nations are advancing in science and technology, our political leaders are busy writing open spurious letters amongst themselves with banters and counter banters. They seem to have lost all sense of shame. All these nonsensical and behavioral approach to governance should be stopped in the next election.
With 2015 general election around the corner, the eerie dance seems to have started again in Nigeria with the politicians getting ready to jostle for power with empty promises of political and economic abracadabra. Nigerian electorates should realize that the weapon of change squarely resides in them as they must vote wisely in the forthcoming general election.
Repetitious history with twisted mind and corruption is the bane of Nigerian society. That is why we will continue to witness the wanton prostitution of our collective bride (mind), this also poses existential threats to our existence as a nation. It should be avoided. We need to change our ruinous approach from the current political miasma to good governance.
Most Nigerians also have short memories like a beautiful pregnant woman whose memory is consumed by the unlimited sweet of honeymoon only to realize the unbridled bitter side on the D-day of delivery. A litmus test of what to expect in 2015 general elections is the conduct of the shenanigan and shameful gubernatorial election in Anambra state some weeks ago. A cursory look at Nigerian history, one would see a replica of president Olusegun Obasanjo’s locust years with these happenstance in Anambra state and governor Amechi’s travails in Rivers State. President Goodluck Jonathan seems to be borrowing copiously from the book shelve of Obasanjo’s political library. We all remember the Ngige/Obasanjo’s political saga.
People are suffering in Nigeria with the nonchalant attitudes of their leaders to provide the basic necessities of life. President Jonathan should urgently do something to alleviate the suffering of the people. There is no justification for people to wallow in abject poverty in the midst of plenty.
The reason why people seek elective positions in a civilized society is to serve and the current political office holders in Nigeria pompously “do not give a damn” to serve the masses that elected them. They violate their constitutional responsibilities and duties to uphold the constitution (our sacred document). The constitution that suppose to circumscribe our set of rules as a nation; they seem to have misplaced their priorities. According to Prof. Pius Adesanmi, “The psychology of Nigerian is Nigerian deadliest enemy. Rewire that wrongly-wired psychology and all other things shall be added….”. Nigerian leaders have used these wired minds to misrule us. We should not allow this in 2015 general election and beyond.
Before 2015, President Goodluck Jonathan with posterity’s sake should use his exalted office to take urgent cognizance of needs of the people and rewrite his administration in the good book of the deprived Nigerians. He should beware of political jobbers and any government in power; take heed of Godfathers; come not near religious zealots; and have an eye with political prostitutes. They all love thee not. It is not too late for his administration to make history. Once all Nigerians start to see dividends of his government in their lives, I bet, he will not only be making history in this purported “wasted generation” but rewriting Nigeria ugly history with hopes and aspirations. A stitch in time saves nine! “It is not too late”.
Nigeria’s socio-economic and political problems do not defy any solutions, all we need is a contextual leader with clear vision who will be transformational, courageous and transactional in his/ her governing approach to tackling self-inflicted mundane problems that plaque our beloved nation. May this new year brings peaceful revolution to change Nigeria for better and count us positively as a country among the comity of nations.
Happy new year to all Nigerians.
