” At 61 years, Nigeria is full of enmity, full of divisions, hatred, ethnicity, a country that cannot put themselves together . Everybody has responsibility, so ask yourself questions, have I played my own part?” Those were the words of Governor Nyesom Wike at an interdenominational service at St. Paul’s Anglican Church , Portharcourt, Rivers State, in commemoration of the 61st Independence anniversary.
As much as I don’t share, completely, the pessimism of Governor Wike but, of the truth, Nigeria is indeed topsy – turvy.
Things are not just the way it should be. While the economic situation continues to deepen, for the worst, insecurity of lives and properties are now far- fetched, while,unity, among ethnic groups, is a luxury so unaffordable. In fact, there is so much distrust,the the land, that you cover the suya you bought from aboki with as much blood of the Lamb as you can mutter.
Nigeria has never been this divided among regional sentiments and resentment as we have seen lately. It is common,these days, to hear of sectional meetings, like the south east Governor’s forum, south south Governor’s forum, North East or north west forum, North Central etc. Worst is the near fistcuff between the southern Governor’s forum and the northern Governor’s forum. No matter how loud the peripheral agenda of a “one Nigeria” rhetorics seems manifest, what is hidden is nothing but premordial divisive tendencies, across ethnic and religious lines, that only considers self against the overall interest of all of us.
Otherwise, a subjudice like the VAT controversy should not have resulted in a counter coup that seems to unilaterally abrogate the legitimacy of a rotational president that is even more expedient by the day . Not even the assertiveness of the Governors from the southern Nigeria should have suddenly awaken the unpatriotic hegemonic zeal replete in the gathering of the Northern Governor’s and their leaders. One would have expected to see a more courteous and diplomatic response other than what Governor Lalong of Plateau state dished out in the name of a United North. United indeed! Even a child knows the truth about the make-believe unity. Who is not aware , for instance, that Plateau has been at the center of unabated tribal hostility and senseless carnage.
The hardship experienced in Nigeria today is better read as a fiction. While we witness the steady, unprecedented, free fall of the naira, we watch as inflation becomes the excruciating new normal. The naira notes are nothing than the bread labels that, as children, we used to flout as currency notes. Nothing, literally is affordable. But the incomes are not increasing, sadly! That is the tragedy.
How does the average unemployed young man or woman cope daily in his bid to eke a living ? How does a family of four or more cope with a minimum wage that can barely afford a bag of rice? How do the aged live, care for their health and others?
In Nigeria it’s like the dead are working. It’s common to see people walk along the streets soliloquising in visible pain and lack.At times they may almost ram into a moving car.
Church halls are the better for it, as they remain, perhaps, the only place of sucour for the depressed soul, but that hope is often short lived as soon as you realise that what some of the GOs care about is your money and nothing more.If you are not careful, they impoverish you more with their unending demand for seeds and all worth not. But miracles don’t give wealth. Obi Cubana was credited to have said in a viral video recently.
In the south east that once pride as a safe haven, before the Advent of the unknown gunmen, we are now confronted with the most bizarre situation, where innocent lives and properties worth millions of naira are daily destroyed in the name of protest.There is a spate of senseless and heartless carnage on the streets daily. Against who exactly? I ask. It’s no more about we and they, but about we against us.
You are compelled to enlist into a rogue ideology regardless of your constitutional right to liberty of choice.
Nobody has asked where the condemned criminals that were forcefully released from the various correctional centers in Owerri and other parts of Nigeria are hybernating. Those escapee prisoners will continue to pose national threat until they are re-arrested. Of course, they remain the endangered species as long as Nigeria thrive as a United nation,their most likely reprieve will come with a balkanized nation that would afford them an imaginary freedom. Concerted efforts ,therefore, must be made, by the security operators, to ensure that such persons are re- arrested.
It’s ludicrous and quite preposterous to hallucinate over the travails of the Nation without being deliberate about resolving them. We can’t wish our problems away. We can’t pray them into a bottomless abyss either . Something tangible and intentional must be done.
Like Governor Ikpeazu once advised President Buhari, he should take a trip around the country to hear the complaints of the people that he is leading.The people are unhappy. The face of your neighbor, as he wakes up in the morning, will tell you that there is nothing good about the morning .
As the number 1 citizen of this nation , he must be selfless and transparent on his policies and programs,at least, to ensure that the different geo- political entities are given sense of belonging. It was good that he appointed Senator Ararume as NNPC board chairman but more should be done to assuage the long feelings of neglect and inequity being felt by the Southerners.NNPC should not only be unbundled the present Concentration of key management staff should also be unbundled to reflect the Federal character.
President Buhari should give attention to the road infrastructure in the south east. For example in Abia state, all the entry points into Abia ,whether from Ikot- Ekpene to Umuahia or Aba, or from Portharcourt/ Enugu to Aba are all in a sorry state.For their extremely dilapidated states ,the efforts of Governor Ikpeazu, in addressing the huge infrastructural deficits, he inherited in 2015, seems unnoticed and almost unappreciated. Abia, like other states in the south, needs the Federal Government presence urgently.
Until spirited and concerted efforts are made to address all the issues that tend to divide this nation other than strengthen our unity, the cliché that “we are stronger together”, or that there is “strength in diversity”, will remain what it is, a fluke.
Issues like the lopsided Federal appointments and obvious disregard to the Federal character recommendations, unequal distribution of the commonwealth and the infrastructural neglect of the southern states must be addressed without further hesitation. Moreover, true federalism that re-invents the regional prowess and autonomy but demystify and unearth the toxic concentration of power at the center should be enthroned.
However, Nigeria still retains some apparent features of greatness like, her massive population, abundant natural resources, formidable human capital resources and resilient citizens. But all these resources must be harnessed to achieve an effective and commensurate productivity that will give us an edge over the less endowed nations and forster the desired unity and mutual trust that is lacking within us. Only then can one proudly roll out the drums in celebration of the birthday of a nation formed in brotherhood and in trust.
