I have gotten used to people calling me
bias because I do not see things from their point of view. Especially when it
comes to issues pertaining to my dear country: Nigeria...my love for this
nation knows no bounds and no label will deny me the privilege of expressing my
developmental sentiments.
****
The experiences of a typical Nigerian have
been tainted by the maligned thought patterns that spread around like oxygen
and hence almost every sect has a mind-set on how the nation should be run.
Little wonder, at almost every gathering, there is hardly a unified
appreciation of the present situation (Oya!tell me it happens everywhere...but
my business is here, so my discussion is based here).
****
That said! We all agree that things are not
exactly well with the nation. You do not need special lenses to see that
Nigeria is a nation with unique prospects. However, we are in a period where we
have to stop stereotypes and deal with developmental issues. One of the major
problems we have over time is that we see national development via the prism of
personal /ethnic gain (Is this not supposed to be good? Yes it is), but when
selfish interest come to play; even the best of intentions get the worst
results.
****
It
is high time we began to take responsibility for the change we want to see. It
shouldn’t be "Let’s play the cards the way the others are playing...but let’s
do it the way it should be done”. When national interest is put at
heart, Mother Nature has a way of rewarding the soul of the quality input. It
may not be immediate, sweet or smooth but the reward will come sooner or later.
****
In this dispensation of change, where a lot
of the Buhari haters are waiting for
the "I told you so " De ja
vu, while the die Hard GeJites are
in the "You have not seen anything yet " posture and the Buharists
are looking for every form of excuses (sane or insane) to defend the child of
their votes; We have to remind ourselves of the reason why we do the things we
do. Is the nation's interest the soul of the life of your actions?
****
Oftentimes, we blame the
"THIEVES" at the top and give excuses for ourselves when we act like
them in our little spheres. The change mantra is not about the party but about
the nation. In Achebe's timeless words "We
have lost the twentieth century; are we bent on seeing that our children also
lose the twenty-First? God Forbid!” Be the change in your very own small
sphere, engage in developmental discussions...develop interest in national
issues (Don’t be passive about political happenings).
If we don't take care of her....who will?
God bless Nigeria
