As I reflected on happenings in the country, I could contrast those years back when fun filled the air. As they say, there is every reason to be happy, even if it is to thank God for seeing us through the trying times and moments, as major religions of the world also demand that the faithful show their appreciation for the opportunity granted them in good health and abounding grace. There is always a reason to be happy.
But bearing in mind that there are puzzling issues that one needs to refFect upon otherwise, engrossing in too much merry-making could drag one into complete detachment from the realities of the day; stark realities that stare us in the face in my dear country. These challenges are not peculiar to my country alone in the sense that each nation has its nagging problems that it should be ready to grapple with, if it is really serious about development.
That is what I also see overhere. What is, however, important is the capacity or tendency to come out from such doldrums. It then becomes a great source of worry when things seem not to be improving as we can see all over us. That was why I asked myself the question: Should we then forget our nagging pains so easily and go merry-making? No, this should not! Th at is the feeling one gets whenever one reflects on the state of affairs of my country.
As I ponder over what has becomes the fate of our dear nation – that is abundantly blessed with human and natural resources – I could not fathom why we keep suffering in the midst of plenty. Why should the most populous black nation in the universe be in this mess?
Or, why should it be the lot of the nation that in spite of our endowments, we still live from handto-mouth with so much indebtedness to even less endowed countries? Why is it that many of our people are still being rendered homeless, grapple in perpetual darkness while buying fuel at great cost in an oil-producing nation for that matter.
What has become our lot is the evident collapse of our value system, and even our physical infrastructure seem worst hit, as our roads are not only death traps but abode for men of the underworld, who daily wreak havoc on the innocent souls, who get kidnapped, robbed and killed without much help from our inadequate, frustrated, ill-equipped, poorly remunerated and helpless law enforcement agents. It will be easier for me to celebrate when all seem to be well with my country and my fellow men.
Hopefully, I should be the fIrst person to celebrate from the bottom of my heart when the people can sleep deeply with their eyes closed, when I no longer see my fellow man picking stuff s from the dustbins, when our roads are safer and innocent people do not die in their droves from hunger, absence of basic social amenities and comfort of life.
I will be the happiest person on earth when I know that my fellow country man can walk freely into any part of the nation and get whatever he/she legitimately desires without being discriminated upon on the basis of gender, tribe, ethnicity and other things that divide us a people. I will rejoice over delicious food and drinks when able-bodied, qualified fellows find jobs so easily without a godfather and there will no longer be any need to deploy their energy into evil adventures in a desperate bid to earn a living. It will be a landmark feasting when we can take regular power supply for granted, when our hospitals are wellequipped and affordable to the extent that an ordinary man that can afford good healthcare, when our best brains will not have further cause to leave the shores of our nation for greener pasture.
I will sing with joy, the day the virtues of hardwork, diligence, honesty, creativity, selfless service and communal life – which are still alien and nowhere to be found in our social lexicon – become institutionalized and cherished ideals that will earn us great respect as a potential super-power.
It will be celebration galore for many of us that wish to come to our fatherland when the right people assume leadership mantle in all strata of our national life – whereby those ruling us will be true men and women of vision – who will not wrongly use the power entrusted them to torment the masses. It will be cheery news when our leaders strive for good governance and efficient service delivery at the expense of sheer partisan politics.
Inspite all of these challenges, my country remains the same. I only hope and look forward to a better nation and do hope that things will turn around for the better. I really hope so. It is this kind of hope that makes me thick in the midst of crisis and depression. Certainly, I still believe that the future of my dear country is indeed, bright!
