Nigeria just marked its 13 years of unbroken civilian rule after the military held on to power between 31st December, 1983 to 29th May, 1999. Before then, we had a civilian rule that was interrupted after it had been in the saddle for just four years (when President Shehu Shagari held forth between 1979 to 1983). Before 1979, the military had held power between 1966 to that time. At independence, we had a civilian regime under the leadership of Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa that was overthrown by the first coup which was however unsuccessful but gave birth to the reign of military rule in Nigeria.
In total, Nigeria had been subjected to military rulership for a whole period of 25 years of 51 + years of our existence as a nation. This is the first time we are enjoying an uninterrupted period of 13 years without any military incursion in our political affairs. While this calls for some measure of celebration, the civilian leadership have not lived up to the expectations of the potentials that Nigeria is known for.
Our leadership and by extension our nation is bedeviled by corruption both in low and high places; self-centered leadership; lack of vision and purpose in the political system and a serious misplacement of priorities by successive governments. Patriotism is therefore not a culture that is common with us; it is actually alien. Government is then seen as "Father Christmas" that must be patronized and lobbied to get your own share of the national cake. Politicians therefore garner for votes from their constituencies so they can be represented at the center to ensure "development" comes to the community so represented. While this in itself is not a bad idea, the voters do not vote with the big picture in their mind - they do not see the fact that the elected representatives must first of all work on ensuring there is a stable institution that they can call a nation before it can be strong enough to provide a platform for the actualization of the aspiration of its different constituent parts. The politicians in campaigning for votes, using the sentiments of going to represent the "people" have other agendas up their sleeves.
Nigeria, 51 years and counting, 13 years of democratic rule and running is a sleeping giant. The current regime appears to have been fired up by the huge expectations the electorates placed on its shoulders and appears to be working its way up the ladder of positioning Nigeria as a nation to be reckoned with. I am aware that there are motley of issues that it has to deal with. The strange issue of Boko Haram, which is gradually become a political tool in the hand of the opposition to rubbish the government; the incessant epileptic power supply or a non-existent power system; the huge unemployment especially among the youths and the total near absence of basic infrastructure like roads, housing and potable water.
A close look at the Jonathan administration reveals that it is dealing with a myriad of issues all at the same time. Even the best opposition candidates would not have performed better in the circumstance. The sincerity of the government, to me, is not in doubt. But that they have perfectly worked to ensure a total deliverance of Nigeria from the woods is what remains debatable. Governance is a process and even the corruption we talk about cannot be eradicated in one day; same with poverty. The question we should seek to answer is whether the government is doing its best to tackle the many problems.
The last one year has been interesting. The President and his team have fared well in the circumstance and we should be magnanimous in our criticism. I know there is anger in the land about corruption, mis-governance and all that but violence and unmitigated protests will not solve any problem. It aggravates issues. As a people, we must learn to sit down to articulate our problems and issues and see how to proffer solutions to them. That is the meaning of democracy. There is no room for jungle response to issues.
Nigeria will survive the storm and we will come out a better and bigger nation. A giant is emerging from the West Coast of Afroca that would become a world leader in virtually every sphere of things. God is counting on you and I to make that a reality.
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria... Naija for life!
In total, Nigeria had been subjected to military rulership for a whole period of 25 years of 51 + years of our existence as a nation. This is the first time we are enjoying an uninterrupted period of 13 years without any military incursion in our political affairs. While this calls for some measure of celebration, the civilian leadership have not lived up to the expectations of the potentials that Nigeria is known for.
Our leadership and by extension our nation is bedeviled by corruption both in low and high places; self-centered leadership; lack of vision and purpose in the political system and a serious misplacement of priorities by successive governments. Patriotism is therefore not a culture that is common with us; it is actually alien. Government is then seen as "Father Christmas" that must be patronized and lobbied to get your own share of the national cake. Politicians therefore garner for votes from their constituencies so they can be represented at the center to ensure "development" comes to the community so represented. While this in itself is not a bad idea, the voters do not vote with the big picture in their mind - they do not see the fact that the elected representatives must first of all work on ensuring there is a stable institution that they can call a nation before it can be strong enough to provide a platform for the actualization of the aspiration of its different constituent parts. The politicians in campaigning for votes, using the sentiments of going to represent the "people" have other agendas up their sleeves.
Nigeria, 51 years and counting, 13 years of democratic rule and running is a sleeping giant. The current regime appears to have been fired up by the huge expectations the electorates placed on its shoulders and appears to be working its way up the ladder of positioning Nigeria as a nation to be reckoned with. I am aware that there are motley of issues that it has to deal with. The strange issue of Boko Haram, which is gradually become a political tool in the hand of the opposition to rubbish the government; the incessant epileptic power supply or a non-existent power system; the huge unemployment especially among the youths and the total near absence of basic infrastructure like roads, housing and potable water.
A close look at the Jonathan administration reveals that it is dealing with a myriad of issues all at the same time. Even the best opposition candidates would not have performed better in the circumstance. The sincerity of the government, to me, is not in doubt. But that they have perfectly worked to ensure a total deliverance of Nigeria from the woods is what remains debatable. Governance is a process and even the corruption we talk about cannot be eradicated in one day; same with poverty. The question we should seek to answer is whether the government is doing its best to tackle the many problems.
The last one year has been interesting. The President and his team have fared well in the circumstance and we should be magnanimous in our criticism. I know there is anger in the land about corruption, mis-governance and all that but violence and unmitigated protests will not solve any problem. It aggravates issues. As a people, we must learn to sit down to articulate our problems and issues and see how to proffer solutions to them. That is the meaning of democracy. There is no room for jungle response to issues.
Nigeria will survive the storm and we will come out a better and bigger nation. A giant is emerging from the West Coast of Afroca that would become a world leader in virtually every sphere of things. God is counting on you and I to make that a reality.
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria... Naija for life!
