Jamilu Bello Dogarawa
As Nigeria matches towards independence and with the boom in agriculture and the discovery of oil at Oloibiri shortly before the independence, combined with the human and natural resources endowments, Nigeria seemed a promising and potential state filled with opportunities for herself, her citizens and even neighbours.
But now, 54 years after, Nigeria, in comparison with her counter-third world countries, seemed a lot less prestigious, and Nigerians, a lot less healthier, and happier; a development that must be attributed to the absence of public accountability, rule of law, patriotism and complete indiscipline, one the one hand; and on the other hand, the emergence of greedy quest for the acquisition, preservation and maintenance of power by some few individuals who were built by the early Nigerian leaders in order to carry on, but instead, are destroying the nation.
To so many people, today, the discovery of oil is more of curse than a blessing, because what should have been a source of comfort, nutrient and prosperity to the people; and progress, honour, integrity and unity to Nigeria, is now the bone of contention. The question here is why should oil be a bone of contention? What made it that? And who are responsible for such action? These questions can only be answered if and when one takes a closer look at the composition of those at the helm of affairs, the present leadership style and even the processes through which that leadership is attained.
The undemocratic leadership was attained through no other means than vote buying, political thuggery, election rigging and the likes. This therefore, signifies one thing – we must redirect our focus towards the selection of those aspiring to be leaders. It is imperative to vote for people that will safeguard, maintain and uplift our economic life, societal set up and cleanse our political arenas. People that have the interest of their electorate at heart, people that are certain to live for their people, and not off their people. However, the realization of such kind of leadership depends largely on a strict procedure; it depends on a predictive, orderly, careful and somehow rigorous search and selection process by both the political stakeholders and the generality of the electorates. It has to do with a careful assessment of the records and exemplary personal qualities of those aspiring to lead and who seek for support of the populace.
This might sound far-fetched but it should be noted that Nigeria has only one problem, a problem that, if solved, the country would roll down the valley of honey. The problem is indiscipline! Now having identified the problem one question remained to be answered. How do we go about solving it?
The Nigerian answer is discipline, isn’t it? But how can this be brought about? This is the reason that prompted the need to convey this message to the Nigerian youth. Nigerian youth, because unknown to them they are suppose to be the major shareholders of the so-called “national cake”, Nigerian youth, because they are the principal stakeholders of the Nigerian politics; Nigerian youth, because the legacy of Nigerian independence attainment shall forever place the role of students in particular, and youth in general in the annals of history.
But how? Struggle of course! Or have we forgotten so soon how the prime movers of the achievement of independence struggled just to liberate the country from the tyranny and oppression of an unfeeling British machinery? How they struggled to break the shackles of an exploitative system – just for a better Nigeria? Struggle should be our essential parameter! But how? Simple! By emulating our past leaders, who fought for their people with utmost dedication, total sacrifice and extreme patriotism, and did not stop until they achieved their goal – independence. People who left no mansions and fat foreign accounts; people who left no fleet of cars and spoilt children.
By emulating those people that left only their names embossed on our currencies; names engraved on our most important buildings; names bearing our major streets; names on libraries, institutions, museums and archives, and about all, names that will forever be respected!
Dear Nigerian youth, as the countdown begins and all battle lines seemed drawn we should prepare ourselves for the ultimate sacrifice. Let us not compromise our honour, our integrity and our pride for the sake of some undesirables. Let us base our politics on principles by sticking to the ethnics of democracy: registering, voting and defending our votes. And to those fake promise makers, vote buyers and election riggers it should only be a hood of derision and contemptuous stare or would an embarrassed silence be better?
Remember, noble qualities and achievements are what makes one a hero, not ill gotten riches! Participate wisely.
Dogarawa wrote from Department of English , School of Languages, Federal College of Education, Zaria. [email protected] +2348036532048
