On 1st October 1960, with joy and happiness Nigerians
agree to an independent country devoid of foreign involvement. All accepted this as the way forward towards
leading a united country and governing themselves and building a nation by
themselves and for themselves. The
independence would give a chance, guided by traditions and beliefs, culture and
religion.
Looking back in time, I am beginning to wonder if this
independence is not the curse Nigerians have had to live with. We have proved over the past 54 years of
obtaining our new independent status that we are not capable of leading
ourselves. Our once divided communities
have divided further, now into more tiny pieces. Our voice of cohesion brought about
by the independence is now our voice of war and blood. Everything about Nigeria
is a joke and is difficult to imagine, not to talk of believe that we are where
we are today.
Nothing good works in Nigeria, only the bad thrives. The level of poverty and corruption is mind
boggling. I cannot but feel very sad for
the country and its citizens. All have endured and suffered enough. There is urgent need for change to a better
life. Nigeria is run like a ghetto city
with a few rich in the means of many poor; the game everyone plays now is to
hit it or miss it. No definite plan or road map yet in Nigeria, our accepted
system is simply a shameful experiment. This worries me a lot, as we do not
appear to be ready for a collective change or progress.
Everybody in his or her own estate and the estate is fallen
into parts
The game of ‘I cut your throat before you cut mine’ has
reached a crescendo of immense propensity and the need to re-evaluate and re-assess
is overly imminent as we approached another dimension in the nation’s history.
History is in the making and another opportunity to either
re-shape our destiny or continue in our abyss of ineptitude has arisen. Now is the time we have been waiting for to either
correct the wrongs and chart a course for Nigeria or continue in the sinking
ship.
Nigeria urgently
needs a change and next month’s election is the opportunity we have to lead the
change.
This is a massive year in the history of Nigeria and it is
important that we get things right this time.
Our destiny is in our hands and we must not be bought over by money,
chicken or bag of rice as was always the case.
The need to live and build together should transcend politicians’ lies and
corruptions.
Vote Right. Guard your vote and let it count.
As we vote our national and local leaders, let’s vote with a
total conviction that we are voting for candidates whose presence can affect Nigeria
positively within a short time-frame to help forestall the impending doom. We do not need any more leaders who lack the clues
needed to lead the country.
Nigeria has already reached a tipping point and without a
quick emergency wedge, it may spill over to the detriment of the future of the
nation.
My biggest concern is that we all clamour for a great
country, commiserate with the developed nations, but most of us jump into the same
wagon as our self-gratifying, eye service, ‘paddy-paddy’ style leaders , whose
apparent interest is in their own selfish and corrupt ambitions. We are not doing enough to break this circle
of maladministration in the high places of our economy.
As much as we do not want Nigeria to break, we also do not
want it to continue to be a laughing stock.
Lets come together to build a nation we all can be proud of and dispense
with sentiments and superstitions. We no
longer require God to give us a great nation; he has already done it and
blessed the country with various resources.
It is in our part to use the resources to our advantage, natural, human
and capital. We have a duty to guard what belongs to us and entrust the
management to competent hands.
Now is the time to do what is right and vote right.
By all standards, corruption has become a norm in our
society and many Nigerians readily share in it. Corruption has reached a very
dangerous height and except we start the drive to curb this, we may all be in
the driving seat of a drowning vessel. No nation thrives on corruption. With this in mind, where is the future of our
country and that of our children? Let’s ask ourselves these questions as we
make up our minds as to the candidates we choose to captain our ship come the
next election.
Nigeria has failed and many times too. No need to re-emphasis
this more, much have been said already. However
we must start to understand the propensity of the havoc already done to our
nation and the need to get things right this time and choose right.
Let us all go out with strong determination to cast our vote
for the right candidates. We all can see
how far we have come since October 1st 1960, with this in mind;
let’s not make this another stab in the dark.
Let’s come together as one and vote for the right candidates devoid of
ethnic or religious sentiments.
This is also a call on all candidates who are contesting the
elections to do it with the fear of God.
The head that will wear the crown will surely do, therefore refrain from
killing and violence. The position you
seek is not about you and your family, not about private jets and mansion in
London and Dubai. It’s about our sinking
ship Nigeria and keeping it afloat. Be
Nigeria conscious and put your self-desire away. You have committed to serve
Nigeria, serve you should.
Written by Abiola Olaifa, from UK.
abiolla@gmail.com
