Nigeria At 50: A Nation Searching For Redeemers -
Leadership Discipline in Nigeria
19 September 2010By Bukhari Muhammad Jega
The
Nigerian nation has come along way, since that
faithful day, the white colonialist lower the flag of
exploitation and underdevelopment, and handed over the
independent of this country to indigenous countrymen
and women; so much have happens that shape the
directions of the country. At independent Nigeria was
a beckon of hope for all Africans; it was believes
that, Nigeria will lead other Africa countries in
championing and fostering development. Unfortunately,
these Africa countries have waited so long for their
big brother to show responsibilities and commitment,
but the big brother has failed in it responsibilities
and has become an outright embarrassments, to its
other siblings. These siblings (Africa countries),
have taken their destiny in their hands, and today
they are performing miracles; while their big brother
(Nigeria) is still walloping and galloping in the
stream of ineptitude and confusion.
Anytime the topic come up that we are a
failed state,
I find myself asking some fundamental questions which
are searching for answers. Such questions includes,
are we really a failed state? What really lead to this
sorry situation we found ourselves? Between leadership
failure and docile followers who is really to blame
for this fundamental failure? Are we really a failed
state or just not on the part of developing after 50
years of independence? Do the current politicians have
answers to our fundamental flare? Do we really have
leaders or the theater called Nigeria is full with
comedians who pretend to be our leaders. These were
the questions that keep troubling my mind as the
nation and people celebrate golden jubilee of Nigerian
independence.
Fifty (50) years after independence, since that
faithful day so many things have past under the sun;
while some are memorable, others are so annoying and
frustrating. One thing that remains certain is that,
our country men and women, have not, fare better in
discharging their responsibilities as leaders, in all
sphere of our national life. A nation with abundant
resources both human and material, but lack the
leadership and spirited and conscious citizens that
will force the leadership to fine-tunes such resources
into a roadmap for development.
Although many reasons have been advance for the
failure of this nation, but one thing that remains
certain, is the fact that, the Nigeria nation has been
suffering from cancerous ailment called failure of
leadership. Over the years, the leaders that have
ruled and are still ruling this country, lack the
sincerity of purpose and the courage to develop this
country. What all of them have in common, is the
ability to use populist policies, to deceive their
country men in believing that they care about their
welfare, where as deep inside they portend nothing but
vampiroues attitudes that, continue to suck the blood
and energy of the people they profess to administer.
People with self aggrandizements as their agenda in
governance; who see Nigeria as there farmland flowing
with milk and honey to satisfy their whimsical
desires. The nation and my country men and women, have
suffered in the hands of these charlatans for years.
There are no fabrics of our national life that these
cancerous diseases have not inflected its pains.
Today, Nigerians have clinched to their Bible and
Quar’an, praying seriously for the Almighty to redeem
them, from the hardship and frustrations there are in,
as a result of the wicked mechanization of these
selfish and unpatriotic parasites (leaders), that have
nothing to contribute, than, furthering the
destruction of the remaining pillars that hold us
together. Before it used be that the
military rule
was the problem of this country, but, as God will have
the civilians are in-charge, but yet the country has
not fare better eleven years after an uninterrupted
democracy. Do they really care about us? Are they
aware that there actions and inactions is seriously
destroying our corporate co-existence? Do we still
have somebody out there within the circle that is
listening to the voice of the voiceless? These are
some questions I ask myself often in my quite moment.
Fundamentally, Nigerians are very hardworking,
creative and talented people; if the right environment
is created by the leadership, to tap these resources
that are buried in the hearts, hands and heads of very
Nigerian. Who are the redeemers that will tap and
develop these creativity and talents? Sometime people
argued about the chances of
Muhammadu Buhari, Atiku Abuakar,
IBB, Ali Gusua and others older generations that are
jostling to rule us once again as fundamental
redeemers. But, I ask myself if some of these bright
minds suddenly pass on, does that mean we have lost
leaders that will take us to the greater height? I
believe the answer is on the negative, the essence of
development is to always identify bright minds that
have shown courage and determination in changing our
society for a better. What about grooming leaders like
the Babantude Fasholas’ of
Lagos
State, Mallam Nuhu Ribadus’,
Mallam Nasiru El Rufa’Is’, Sanusi Lamido Sanusis’ the
Governor of
Central Bank of Nigeria and host
of others including you reading this piece; as a
potential national redeemers come tomorrow, that will
fill the leadership vacuum that will soon be created.
Our hallmark to development is our ability to identify
people that have strives to make things work; within
the prism of hopeless situation we have found
ourselves. It is time the old guards should pave way
for the new breeds, to take charge of this country
while they offers guardianship, through their wealth
of experience in other to build a nation out of the
centrifugal misery we found ourselves. The time to act
is now.
As we mark a golden jubilee (50 years) of nationhood,
it is time these charlatans and comedians, who pretend
to be our leaders, in all strata of our
society understand that making Nigeria work again,
will be beneficial for all us. The current crisis of
kidnapping, militancy, 419ers and Boko Haram saga is
only clearing way for a much bigger crisis and
conflicts; if not even outright civil war in Nigeria (God
Forbid). These reactionary crises
are all composers of
revolutionary songs and dance
step, if urgent attentions and cautions were not
taking; if the predictions of the United State America
intelligent community are anything to go by; that
Nigeria will disintegrate in fifteen (15) years time;
starting from 2005-2010; ironical this year we hope to
be among the 20 largest economy in the world; any
linkage; I think we should think about this; because
if we are not among the 20 largest economy in the
world; we might end up among the 20 largest fail state
in the world (God forbid). (Logical thinking is
require here please).
While saluting the over patience and resilient of
Nigerians on the attainment of golden jubilee, 50
years of nationhood and hopelessness and confusion, it
is also important to acquits them that docility and
prayers alone will not solve the problem, but our
commitment, sacrifice, courage and self evaluations of
our contributions to the development or
underdevelopment of the country, is key to making THE
REDEEMERS appears within our mist and change this
historical injustice and exploitations of some few
group of people who seen our country as their personal
estate to be distributed to their wards and cronies.
This is because God does not change the destiny of
people unless and until they change what is in the
heart. God in the Glorious Quar’an said “Allah does
not change the condition of any people until they
first change what is in their hearts” (Surah Al-Ra’ad
13:11).
So therefore, docility, cutting corners, corruptions,
immorality, unguided criticism, dishonesty, mistrust
etc will lead us to no way; it will only deepen
our woes. Let turn a new leaves by reforming ourselves
and challenge our institutions and structures of
injustices and exploitations. This is our
historic roles as Nigerians, let us not given excuses
on why it cannot be done, let not emphasis our
difference, but understand them, we have the study,
let have the action. Happy Golden jubilee my country
men and women; and God Bless
Nigeria Amin
BUKHARI MUHAMMED BELLO JEGA
National Facilitator Study
Initiative for Leadership
Discipline in Nigeria (SILDIN)
ABUJA
belloskic@yahoo.com
07037176838
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