BY REV DR. MIKE NWANYANWU
THE STATE OF THE NATION: Who did this to Nigerians.
We came into this part of the world called Nigeria either by omission or commission, accidental or natural. Any one your mind set accepts so be it.
This entity called Nigeria was once a place of pride for any average Nigerian man or woman. It was the time when the tripod stand on which Nigeria stands was fully active and resolutely committed to be each other’s keeper.
The era I am talking about was the early sixties (60s), early seventies (70s), early eighties (80s) and late Nineties (90s). When as an entity every other African country bows and Europeans where scrambling to do business with Nigerians, with respect.
An era when Nationalists laboured hard to be strong statesmen who preferred giving their lives to the service of all and to better the project Nigeria their father land..
I remembered among them, Obafemi Awolowo, Akintola, Ahmadu Bello, Tafawa Balewa, Okotie Eboh, Enahoro, Herbart Macaulay, Nnamdi Azikiwe etc, who led the struggle for Nigeria Independence. These statesmen laboured hard to see that Nigeria remains the Giant of Africa in everything. Be it economy, politics, religion etc. May their souls continued resting in peace.
THE NATIONALISTS
What will they be hearing today about the united and strong house which they built with little or nothing. The good foundation they laid is being gradually deteriorating and scattered by those they handed over the leadership of our dear country. In those days I remembered when scholars aimed at and want to be like a replica of our founding fathers. They want to measure up to their foot-steps with little education but better ingenuity.
But today the wind of change has shattered the entity called Nigeria, and still blowing to tear the nation into pieces. Our so called leaders who vowed to lead the rest of us have thrown overboard the concept of leadership. They have desecrated and debased the bases of true leadership making us to now sleep with one eye open and our hearts beating without seizing in anticipation without hope.
They have caused all things to fall apart which is affecting both high and low, rich and poor. The peace of the land departed.
I wonder what the present crop of leaders of this nation are doing or thinking in their closets, I mean those who signed a social contract with the people to represent them and promised to give them that which were entrusted in their hands that is good governance. Are they happy? Are they jubilating as they see the masses down and out? Are they beating their chests that they have achieved success? Only God can tell.
Who did this to us? Who changed the mind sets of this sons and daughters of this God given nation, a land flowing with milk and honey. What we are witnessing now in our leadership is an era where a man woke up and went to an ever busy market place and starts throwing stone unabatedly. You can imagine what will happen.
The state of the nation is now unpredictable for those who sit on the nation’s wealth are carting it all alone and milking the treasury dry. In every part of this federation, the story is the same. No effort to write their names in the book of records.
Today you may have succeeded in yourself and immediate family, what of your kinsmen. If you build all the beautiful mansions and edifice, what of the thatch houses or dilapidated buildings around your vicinity. If you bought the best and expensive cars on which road are you going to ride them. If you have provided all food for your home and family, feed them to the brim, what of your next door neighbor and brothers and sisters. Those kinsmen of us.
Any time you come around, with your friends and business associates, these kits and kin as well as neighbours cluster around with plates and spoons in their hands walking up and down looking for what to eat and asking for arms, How do you feel. Do we still have conscience?
What will you tell your associates, or do you keep them permanently in a hotel so that they will not know your environment which you polluted? Do you lie to them that your people miss used what you gave? Come to think of it , when you travel abroad to your friends and associates walking around their homes and offices what do you see? The only thing you see is it the best state of the arts buildings which you copied to build. What of the even distribution of dividends of democracy or governance.
My dear leaders or self-acclaimed nationalists let us think twice and make this place better again. Wake Up Nigerian Leaders. The little opportunity you have to be at the helm of affairs, help or contribute to put things right and make your people comfortable as your foreign counterparts where you run to every now and then.
Lead the people with a genuine heart and make the difference today. Be fruitful
