It is no longer news that the life of our people is devalued daily by a group of people under the pretext of national development. As our nation’s wealth increases, the poverty level of the population increases by leaps and bounds. It’s quite an irony. There is no reason for us to be endowed with abundant human and natural resources yet; we remain underdeveloped, hopelessly and stubbornly poor. Nothing works in this country. The only reason, of course, can only be traced to our inept and rapacious leadership who have since substituted ‘keeping the madness’ for our hard-won democracy. From time to time, we wake up to the shocking and devastating news of organized looting of the public purse by our so-called upright men-women in positions of authority. In fact, it has become the 11th commandment in Nigeria to steal from high places, but make sure you don’t get caught.
The activities of perfidious kleptomaniacs in leadership positions have crippled all aspects of our development as a nation. What we now have instead of development is a collapsing infrastructure, a comatose economy, mass unemployment, etc., and all of these together have continued to heat up politics on an almost daily basis. We are all living witnesses to a series of industrial actions and strikes against the federal and state governments. Name them, Nigerian Teachers Union (NUT), Joint Health Workers Union, Nigerian Oil and Natural Gas Workers Union (NUPENG), Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Staff Union Academician of Universities (ASUU), National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Garri Sellers Association (GSA), Food Consumers Association (FCA), etc. all these unions and associations had at various times threatened or launched warning or full-scale strikes, due to the prevailing socio-economic conditions in the country to demand an improvement in their lot from the mostly callous, indifferent and arrogant government. Since then, some of our youth have embraced militancy, kidnapping and other violent crime not only for a livelihood but also to vent their anger on a system that has no provision for them. Every year thousands of our young people are expelled from universities, polytechnics and colleges of education without employment prospects. Our roads have become deadly traps; the education system is almost a ghost of its former self and people are dying powerless due to the appalling condition of our health care system.
These issues pose a great challenge to us as a nation to rise from our slumber and take bold steps towards a true national renaissance and sustainable development. Oh! It is quite shameful that our country Nigeria, which prides itself as the giant of Africa, is nothing more than a giant with feet of clay. There is a very urgent need for a great national reorientation and appreciation of our homeland. It is time that those in positions of authority allow their conscience to steer them away from the misappropriation of public funds. They must realize that they were elected to public office not to serve their personal interests but our collective interests. They must also realize that we as a people work hard for this democracy. Many shed their blood in the process.
The only option for our elected leaders to move the country forward is to uphold the principles of good leadership and steward our vast resources for the benefit of all. Those in government should drop their dubious ways in high office and focus on improving the welfare of Nigerians. They should invest in the country, and stop buying mansions and other luxuries abroad, and create job opportunities for our unemployed youth. Things must change for the better, and urgently too. Further delay could spell ruin for the leadership itself.
