User:Diplomatequality

THE STATE OF THE NATION (Nigeria) – DAVID, UCHECHUKWU JAPHETH

It would have been a good time to celebrate democracy – but we should ponder on what has become of the country since it wrestled independence from colonial Britain in 1960. To do this, I find it imperative to consider what some notable legendary patriots has to say about their country if they were alive – among them, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, Chinua Achebe, Ken Saro-Wiwa, and in exception Wole Soyinka, who is still hale and hearty. Arguably, Nigeria has come a long way in the past few decades. There have been important, positive growth in the economy and, yet it’s still racked by corruption, dreadful health and education systems, and deep immorality among some who style themselves as custodians of religion and politics. These issues have long haunted the nation, and some of her cultural icons has highlighted Nigeria’s failing in their work. In respect of the foregoing, Achebe, articulated Nigeria’s woes in his book, The Trouble with Nigeria. In his judgment, He asserts that “The trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership.”1 Similarly, Ken Saro-Wiwa, who led a non-violent campaign against the multinational petroleum industry in his home region, the Niger Delta, opine in his book, Sozaboy, and wittingly subtitled it “A Novel in Rotten English.1 To many Nigerians, their country is rotten. Correspondingly, Wole Soyinka speaking on the on the state of the nation asserts that the problem of Nigeria is beyond the world.2 nonetheless, let’s face it, the trouble with Nigeria also lies with her citizenry. The late Afro beat King, Fela Kuti, described them as “Fellow Fellow” people.1 However, few Nigerians would disagree with the above arguments. But the analysis and characterization of “Fellow Follow” Nigerians remains pertinent. These are citizens who cast their votes for discredited politicians and routinely return them to power. The same citizens will never support the new breeds of non-billionaire leaders, with the potential to wheel Nigeria out of the political and economic intensive care unit. And even in the face of old breed leaders subverting the country with corruption, nepotism and inept leadership; the same citizens opt to remain docile.1 they swallow their hopelessness with spiritual equanimity. My argument is that, Nigeria as a nation is prolific at producing leaders with questionable cognitive competence whose warped wisdom compels them to doggedly advance like the crap movement. This is evident in the half of the second decade of our “Democratic Era”. Most Nigerians who brought in this political machine into power in 2015 are now regretting doing so in the first place. Despite all the heavy propaganda this government has embarked on, the promise to end insurgency, kidnapping and banditry is still a mirage.3 The so-called anti-corruption war is lopsided, thereby, victimizing majorly Nigerians in the opposition. For a fact no official of the current administration can boldly say what the recovered loots are utilized for, but Nigerians are now clever to know that the funds are being re-looted. Conclusively, it is also true that Nigerians still has men and women of vision who are imbued with the fortitude, tenacity and assertiveness to redeem their country from the “Vagabonds in Power”, as Fela labeled Nigeria’s leaders of his era. However, Nigeria should not be governed by political zombie leaders forever. That is why it is of necessity for her citizens to rise and do something about this nonsense. They have nothing to lose, but the chain of servitude to break.