Adeola Aderounmu
Time waits for no man. This is the third in the series of my random reflections about Nigeria written on my birthday.
I must confess it was really hard to find things to discuss about.
Exactly 3 years ago I argued that there is almost nothing new to write about in Nigeria.
Many of the things we complained about 30 years ago are still unresolved. Nigeria’s problems must be one of mankind’s greatest puzzles.
I refuse to overflog the issues.
However it is just necessary that we continue to remind ourselves of our potentials and our collective failures.
Nigeria remains a potentially great nation with very bad rulers. We are missing true leaders.
This country has been captured and recaptured by people who imposed themselves on us by force. Truth does not expire and time does not transform illegality into legality. The misapplication of the law can conveniently do the latter.
Evidently the rulers of Nigeria never learn from history and in the arrogance of their minds and their avoidable misconceptions about power they continue to repeat the same old and silly mistakes. Together we remain in doldrums.
The one who rules Nigeria today by inheriting the remnants of the 2007 charade will now spend billions of naira celebrating failures. Meanwhile pensioners are dying on the verification exercise queues. Some schools remain closed while our children roam the streets missing lessons and examinations.
I promised not to overflog the issues.
But one should never look beyond Nigeria’s political arena for the definition of insanity.
Nigeria is taking a turn for the worse with each passing year because as a nation of over 140m people, we lack a good leader. We are missing true leaders. Blood suckers-those who attempt and succeed in taking as much from us as possible-continue to reign in Nigeria.
We need a change that can work for Nigeria.
Maybe in 2011, 51 years after independence we will finally be able to count our votes. We’ll see where the electoral reforms take us and if we can finally have genuine democracy and legitimate government in Nigeria.
With the different views we have on election and election matters in Nigeria and considering our volatile tribal inclinations it will take a great deal of education and public enlightenment to have a successful election in 2011.
To be honest 2011 is not the magic year. A lot of water has passed under River Niger since June 12 ‘93. I don’t know the probability of getting to that threshold level.
But our best shots, we must give!
I’m still working hard on the goals and plans that I made @ 37
I’m afraid of time. I may never be able to do all I wanted to do, for myself, for humanity. I may never be able to write all the books that I had in mind.
I have plans but the family remain a fundamental time-taker. Daily work is essential too.
I must continue to look for the right people and the right moments. A number of thing will surely fall in their rightful places in due times. I’ve got to keep on moving, keep all dreams alive.
Well it’s my birthday and as a tradition I have never failed to celebrate for the past 15 years. I’ve learnt to count my days and apply my heart to wisdom.
The celebration this year has been two-folds. The first was with my family on Saturday at the countryside and the second with my friends on Sunday at our home. But my birthday is July 12th so the celebration can continue because I’m usually on hols this time of the year since 2002.
I have challenges but there are reasons for me to celebrate and share with others. Not least was an additional professional academic degree last spring.
Greater challenges lie ahead. Not least the task of building Nigeria. Nigeria is sinking because of Nigerian-made factors that suit a few and enslave the rest.
I still believe in Nigeria as a workable project if we can break that cult-like rulership and enthrone the true pillars of democracy.
2011 will provide a testing ground for our institutions. We’ll see if we manage to build them on principles or if we still left them aimlessly on selfish people.
The modes and outcomes of the 2011 elections will provide a quick insight into what lies ahead in the new jubilee.
The outgoing one (1960-2010) is a complete disaster and any form of extraordinary celebration (or looting mechanism) attached should be considered as a crime against ordinary Nigerians.
History will not be kind to the protagonists of such wastage in the land of the resilient.
aderounmu@gmail.com
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