Adeola Aderounmu
We need to continue to remind ourselves of the nature of our problems and our frustrations concerning our inability to solve our national problems. And for me it becomes a personal burden that as much as I’ve tried to stop, I still find myself in this position of criticizing the Nigerian government and politicians because of what I see as willful acts of wickedness and evil machinations on their parts.
And I don’t want anybody to tell me about proffering solutions. It’s simple, if those who are destroying Nigeria do not have the common sense of how to govern a country and how to tackle our national woes then let them get out of the way. I reserve my rights and freedom of expression to continue to say that in Nigeria most of the people in power are empty-skulls whose only idea of governance is to steal and loot. And that is so disgusting!
Take Dimeji Bankole for example, you will never understand why such an individual have made himself the new face of corruption in Nigeria. I am so ashamed and disappointed in him that I cannot express myself enough in words. That young man is a disgrace to his generation (my generation) and on a broader scale a serious embarrassment to his race. And let me make it clear that on my honour I would rather quit a political post than accepts bribes or make decisions that will destroy the lives of other people. I have done that before, it doesn’t matter that I did it as a student leader at the University of Lagos, way back in ‘95.
In recent days we have seen how crazy and foolish people can be in our public institutions. Those people who brought Yar Adua to Abuja are stupid and should even be facing treason charges by now. It was purely an attempt to destabilize the country and throw it into turmoil. If they brought Yar Adua to Nigeria in an ambulance, why not take him to his house in Katsina? Why Abuja?
All the military men from Kebbi State who participated in the criminal activities perpetrated during the wee hours of Wednesday and those who gave the orders for the deployment of military men in that unsuccessful bloodless coup should be arrested without further delay. Delay is dangerous. And this is not a question of arresting Military men from the north. No, far from it. This is a matter of arresting military men irrespective of their tribes for participating in a coup. They and their sponsors must face the law. To do nothing is to imply that a coup will be accepted in Nigeria today or tomorrow.
Yar Adua remains sick and probably unconscious. He cannot make his own judgments-and if he could- they are probably not sound enough. Why did the members of the kitchen cabinet plan a coup against Goodluck Jonathan? They gave orders to military personnel and they compromised the security of 150m Nigerians. No greater coup, no greater acts of treason! They should be arrested and tried in the court of law.
To let them get away with this act will be the greatest mistake Jonathan has made so far as acting president or president. Jonathan should try all he can to be a hero. He needs to make bold decisions and he needs to show the traits of a leader. Nigerians are tired of rulers and dictators. They want a leader. How can Jonathan, against the backdrop of his massively corrupt past, provide good leadership morally and socially? Time is short but it will surely tell. History will not forgive those who stood on the same side as tyranny and those who refused to make the decisions that could have sharpen our lives for the better.
This nation is falling apart for many reasons that we have highlighted before now. What has happened, since 2007 especially, gives us reasons to worry and ponder about now and the future. Corruption has increased, ineptitude is on the rampage. Poverty is spreading like wild fire. Unemployment became firmer than ever and the banking industry has not been spared.
Education is dead as public institutions are mere shadows of themselves. Brain drain continues unabated. Roads and other infrastructure are not being provided. Road accidents are common and traffic congestion remains a public health hazard. Nigerians are at an all time low. Motivation is zero and the struggles are tiring and sickling.
Social security remains at zero level. No one is talking about vulnerable women, children and old people. Pension schemes are death sentences and health care does not exist, not even for Yar Adua! He was in Saudi Arabia for more than 90 days. Mariam Babangida died in a US hospital. It doesn’t matter that his husband was a ruler for more than 8 years in Nigeria. These wicked and evil rulers even forgot to take care of themselves! Otherwise they would have provided the health care for themselves and the rest of us right here on our own soil, in Nigeria.
With all these national problems, it becomes worrying that rather than we focusing on how to solve these problem, the best we have done is to remain in conflicts fighting for political powers and political positions. Why? Because the winner takes all. Those who win political offices steal all the monies and make themselves richer and richer. In Nigeria the politics is about politicians getting rich and stealing. The masses have no say since the politics is bridled in violence and arson.
Direct target and elimination of opposition is part of Nigerian politics. It is well known that some politicians send assassins to kill their opponents as part of the dirty game of politics in Nigeria. Intimidation or the ability to intimidate and instill fear is a plus factor. These are some of the reasons why decent people do not participate in Nigerian politics. I make bold to say that in Nigeria, we do not have democracy. Our politics is complete nonsense. This is why some people think that the black race is cursed or non-intelligent.
In Nigeria we have the largest concentration of the black race. 1 out of 4 Africans is reputed to be a Nigerian. Therefore what we do or don’t do in Nigeria reflect on the black race. What we do in Nigerian politics is pure madness. We don’t even count votes and in several instances we know who will win an election before the actual voting.
Since 2003 many people have won (s)elections simply for 2 reasons. One if that Mr. Iwu who is in charge of the results can decide who wins or loses. The other reason is that the ruling PDP has the federal machinery, ex-military dictators and stolen monies to influence the results of elections. But that is not to say also that some opposition parties are beginning to learn some tricks to counter these scenarios.
So, here we are. We remain at a crossroad for most part of our history. We have the resources. We have the money, we have everything to make Nigeria the greatest country on earth but we have not done enough in that direction.
Nigeria remains in the hands of a few people who will never give us our freedom if we don’t fight for it. We have oil. But we also have pains and sorrows. We have no refineries and a cabal has held us hostage for 50 years. Our 1960 independence from the British was actually the beginning of internal slavery. We have one more fight to go. We must earn this freedom and with that we will (hopefully) be able to do some of these things:
• Be able to install true democracy where our votes will be counted
• Be able to say no to corruption and yes to prosecution of all those who have stolen our money
• Be able to plan our lives through participation and recognition of our common rights, social justice and fairness
• Be able to rebuild this nation through a sense of oneness and belonging
• Be able to respect the religion and rights all and sundry
• Be able to relegate tribalism and nepotism and give the jobs to the best man or woman
• Be able to do all that is necessary to enjoy our lives and live as decent people
• Be able to tackle problems without fear and favour
• Be able to raise our heads high and say YES, I’m a Nigerian and I represent the black race.
If these things don’t happen in my life time, we have succeeded in breeding three wasteful generations. What hope is there for our children and children’s children?