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Nigeria: A fool at
46 (I)
By Ma’azu Abi Sabo
AS kids we heard of a popular saying that “a fool at forty is a fool
forever.” Never has it ever occurred to me that my country, the giant (?) of
Africa will still be a fool even after exceeding forty. My thought was that
before forty, Nigeria would have grown wise and will use its wisdom to
handle both internal and external problems that threaten her survival. But
how wrong I was in thinking that way! Events in this country shows clearly
that even at forty six, we (the nation) have not really identify the
direction to take or have not really shown commitment to taking a direction
that will better our lots. Only but a fool does that.
Before 1st October 1960, Nigeria was under the control of colonial over
lords. Very dependent, Nigeria was under the control of alien foreigners who
believed they know what is best for us. May be it is because these people
knows earlier on, that we don’t know what is good for us; that was why they
colonized us. From 1960 to date, we are politically independent but
economically dependent! Events that succeeded colonial rule are clear
demonstration of the fact that we got the independence when we were not
ready for it and hence, we jeopardized the efforts of the nationalist who
fought gallantly for our freedom.
A cursory glance at Nigerian history from the Independence Day to date shows
clearly that the nation is moving in a zig-zag manner. Nothing goes straight
in this country. Both the leaders and the led are cut in the web of
unpatriotism, greed, selfishness and above all, insincerity. Our leaders
except in very rare instances have no concern for the feeling of the masses.
The led on the other hand are utterly uncooperative even among themselves.
Our leaders delight in borrowing everything including policies from the
western world. The led are contented with “sit down look method”. Our
leaders have no regards for the constitution they swore to protect. The led
don’t give a damn about it. Our leaders spend our money the way they so
wish. The led allow them to do as they so wishes. We live in the midst of
many yet lacks virtually everything and no one is complaining. We hardly eat
three times a day yet our leaders dustbin are always filled with delicious
meals. All these happens everyday, yet no one talk or do something about it.
Ask me why and I will tell it is because Nigeria is a fool at 46.
We watch with keen interest while people we voted to represent us are busy
representing themselves yet no one say a word. Even with the sky rocketing
increase in the prices of crude oil, we are living in abject poverty. Still
yet, we are silent. Though the “noise” all over the globe is that we are
practicing democracy, our leaders are autocratic yet we are mate. What
ordinarily should have passed for social responsibility of the government is
referred to as dividends of democracy by the leaders. Yet the led join in
the shout of democracy dividends. The economy is biting hard on us. Prices
of goods keep rising everyday. Petty traders are taken off business because
of instability in the market prices. We were asked to be patient that it
will only take sometimes. We sense a foul play yet we are quiet. No! At
forty six, we are not expected to behave this way. We can give lie to the
saying that a fool at forty is a fool forever. We can! We better do!
Our villages have no hospitals. Where they exists, there are no drugs. Where
there are drugs, there are no sufficient manpower. Where there are
relatively sufficient manpower, there is no commitment because it has been
work without pay for them. Housing and environmental conditions are gory
tales. Environmental degradation and sanitation are not given deserved
attention. Millions of naira is budgeted as ecological fund, yet there is no
improvement in our ecological condition. More ecological control take place
in the pages of newspapers, in the television and radio than in reality. In
few instances where little control (environmental control) take place, they
were blown out of proportion and given unnecessary media coverage. Everyday
we hear lies of things that are not done but purported to have been done.
Yet we don’t get inspired to act and put a stop to all those lies. Indeed at
forty six, Nigeria is a fool.
In fact, the government has become insensitive to our plight. No policy
exist to cater for the youths. Even when such policies exist, which are very
rare, they exists for only the privileged. Unemployment keeps skyrocketing
everyday. Every year, the labour market admits thousands of youth yet no
record of graduation. We all know that we have a wider labour market that
can cater for all of us if not for the mismanagement of our leaders yet we
fold arms waiting or mannas to fall from heaven. Mannas will not fall and
even when they eventually fall, we must stand up to pick them else we risk
dying of hunger. Why living close to the river yet crying of thirst? Why
crying for want when you are in the midst of plenty? Only a fool behaves
this way.
At forty six, we still cannot boost of effective security network. Rampant
political killings become the order of the day. The pussle behind most if
not all, of these killings still remained unsolved. Almost on daily basis
people get killed.
There is no security of lives and properties, most assassinations occurred
under situation that makes a mockery of our security system. Sometimes, near
police stations and at broad day light persons get killed and their killers
go scott free. Hardly do people sleep with eyes closed for fear of night
visitors. Burglars are on the increase. The police have been not so
effective in tracking them let alone apprehending them. Consequent upon
this, their host resorts to the most high; for the hope of intervention by
the security forces in non existence.
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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER
25 2006