PRISONER IN YOUR OWN NATION?

For decades, we have had political instability in Nigeria. Moving from civil rule to military and vice versa. We have suffered at the hands of leaders who added not much value but were said to have oozed of corruption and nepotism. … Year in, year out, we have only but succeeded in circulating corruption and nepotism that a day old baby breathes in this awful air. An independent nation old enough for independence yet dependent and ever consuming from others. A nation yet to make electricity, good road, water and other social amenities and infrastructures constant and available to all. You struggle to make the money; you are not even able to spend the money in peace? In Nigeria, people’s rights become privileges. How else does one become a prisoner in his own nation other than this?

Our institutions have been said to be dwelling on past glories. Perhaps, when you compare having to be tutored with theories without practical for a technical course owing to lack of adequate facilities, one would agree that we have issues to deal with. It is in Nigeria you spend six years for a four-year course due to strike actions. If ASUU is not on strike, NASU is. If NASU is not, SUG unrest is on. Who do we hold responsible for this endless drama?

Should we take a step further to compare how convenient, efficient and effective our transportation system is? I bet you if it is not about an accident caused by bad road, it could be transporters hiking transport fare or you cannot even get fuel to fuel your car. People spend hours at the filling stations from time to time, yet we are an oil-producing nation. It is also not news that you had a 4 pm flight but got delayed till 9 pm and the best that comes out of the waste of your productivity time, is “we are sorry…” and other flimsy reasons all the time. Whichwaynaija?!

Again, If it is not about herdsmen killing people for farming and doing agriculture that has been said to be the future, it could be armed robbers striking fellow struggling Nigerians. Sometimes, I just wonder how much the life of a Nigerian worth in Nigeria?

Is there a need to talk about our economy with our deeply devalued currency? Has it ever gotten this bad that other African nations now have their currencies having more value than ours? Is it true that Nigeria calls herself a “Big Brother’’  but sometimes, cannot keep her home in order? Would there have been fewer unemployment issues if our educational system prepared students for such future?

Have you not heard of patients being rejected and denied treatment even in government medical facilities? Every now and then, doctors are on strike just so their welfare is taken care of.  The government only provides facilities with little or no investment in the sector and in the personnel. Whereas, in another country, the doctors complained of excess compensation. Call it the irony of life and maybe just man’s inhumanity to his fellow man. And in this case, Leaders inhumanity to those being led. Little wonder, our doctors who have the opportunity to exit this nation do so at the slightest opportunity. What happens if all the good brains leave the country? Do we make do with average people? Our leaders would comfortably travel overseas to get medical attention all the time. That probably explains why little or no value is added to this sector?

Indeed, we could spend all the time discussing how much prisoners Nigerians are in their own nation but it really does not solve the problem. We all are part of the system and have obligations to see the system work.

People, Let’s Kill Mediocrity!! It is better to take a bow than to be mediocre. Rather than being an average person, pursue excellence. If everyone would understand patriotism, then more value would be added even from the bottom to the top. Nepotism is a product of averageness – dare to be different!

Similarly, If only our value system and sense of One nation bound in freedom, peace and unity would be taken seriously, we just might have less corruption. Patriotism is what makes a people have a unified purpose. If we would have a national philosophy that really makes us one, perhaps, our song tomorrow would be different? Let us unite to flush the system of the many ills in the various sectors of our nation. Let all Nigerian youth embrace patriotism.

Whichwaynaija cannot identify solutions without talking about Accountability. For everything that ever worked, someone was behind it. For everything that did not work, someone was equally behind it. Let there be Consequences! Let people take and be made to take Responsibilities for their actions and inactions regardless of who is involved. Making Nigeria Great Again is doable if You and I would treat others the way we would love to be treated. That is the law of Humanity.

Every Life counts!!

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