Events in Nigeria often recur with dizzying and bewildering speed. Here, odd things are treated with heartrending levity. Due to the frequency with which the unusual happens, we have resorted to treating oddities with the wave of the hand. Rich as we are, we have morphed into a nation that is defined by hunger and highflying poverty rate. In stealing, we take the front seat. In moral rectitude and accountability in governance and all what not, our score has sickeningly remained abysmal. Zero.
Yet, in all these, ordinary Nigerians whose only sin is coming from a country that tussle for power is placed head and above provisions of basic amenities for its citizenry, are daily denied access to what a government should ordinarily provide. Today, power supply has taken a flight almost to a place of no return.
All we do, and with wilful aplomb is to stage a walkout during sittings in the Red Chamber because a party man has defected to another party without his seat being declared vacant. No, i can’t comprehend this. Dear reader, when have senators ever mooted the idea or actually staged a walkout during a session on account of government’s inability to provide water, electricity, food, shelter and all that? This can never happen here. It’s a country hobbled by the chains of politics and party. We shed a tear when we lose a member to another party but hit the bottle when an average Nigerian can hardly feed. It’s a country that has gleefully chosen the ignominious path of living and existing in denial - evading realities and pursuing inanities and shadows with the sprinting prowess and flair of Usain Bolt.
To be sure, why should we even start bringing issues of seeking or not seeking for re-election come 2019 when we are barely two years into a four year race? Does it mean we have exhausted all programmes we had for Nigerians hence the need to go to bed while waiting for 2019 to come? Oh no, this, ideally, is not in order. You may hold a contrary view, but I refuse, and adamantly too, to be goaded into sharing your views. No way. I won’t. Today, the high cost of living have left a hitherto most happy people on earth very sad, red-faced and unpardonably disconsolate. Life has become, hellish. It has kept faith with the famous Hobbesian state assertion of life becoming solitary, poor, brutish and short.
In a sane clime, the governing APC would not dare talk of 2019. Yes. For one, while the party is bent on fighting the hydra headed scourge of corruption, Nigerians are yet to reap positive results from the governing party after being bombarded and literally railroaded into believing that the party was armed with solutions to all the country’s seemingly intractable malaise.
What ails us are manifold.
The other day, the country’s academic space was thrown into mourning following the heart shattering demise of a First Class graduate of Transport Management from the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ifedolapo Oladepo at the NYSC Orientation Camp in Kano State. Not a few Nigerians were outraged by the circumstances leading to her death. The late Corper is said to have told the NYSC and medical personnel of her ill health but it was allegedly dismissed as a decoy for her to avoid participating in the morning parade. All efforts by her to get the necessary medical attention proved fruitless. After several hours, a Nurse later gave her injection.
The injection, as it were, turned out to be an injection to her grave. Sad! Oladepo’s death is just one out of similar bloody tales that have characterised the Nigerian state vis-à-vis its youthful population. Established in 1973, the NYSC, many reason, should be done away with. Most Nigerians are of the view that the National Service Scheme has outlived its usefulness hence should be scrapped. Those clamouring for its proscription argue that the scheme has subjected many young Nigerians to untimely deaths rather than promote the unity and national integration it initially set to achieve.
With the passing away of Oladepo and two others, Monday Asuquo Ukeme and Chinyenrum Nwenenda Elechi, both of who were serving in Bayelsa and Zamfara states respectively, the call to scrap the scheme has heightened. In the main, what pains one is that these young Nigerians have been cut short in their prime – a time they looked forward to serving their fatherland and later being gainfully employed. Their families, having invested so much to see them through school certainly expected dividends after their service year respectively. But that was not to be as such hopes have been dashed. Instead of reaping from their toil and sacrifice of many years, these parents watch in utter shock and disbelief as their children are brought back for burial. Cruel!
As usual, a committee has been set up to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths of these fecund minds. This has become a drudgery routine in this part of the world. It’s unfortunate that these young and energetic Nigerians had to die the way they did. Now, these parents will say their children would not have died were they to be home. Who wouldn’t say so?
Something must be done beyond the setting up of committees to end these avoidable disasters in our nation - dying in such a manner while serving one’s country is not a good commentary. One is of the view that barring the negligence with which Oladepo was treated, she would have lived. Now, the family is in tears. They have been dealt a big blow. They looked forward to a great future but now, all that is gone with the winds. How can one console the deceased families?
Without desiring for PDP’s return, I dare say that when the then prodigal party had the levers of power in its kitty, things were not like this. We had food. There was a reasonable value for money. Alas, today, everything has skyrocketed beyond the reach of the long famished Nigerians who are tarrying daily in worship centres of their choice hoping and praying that things will look up. Please, someone should talk some sense into the minds of those talking about the polls in 2019. It’s too early in the day and, at best, a huge slap on the sensibilities of Nigerians who trooped out in their numbers, defied rain and shine, to vote for the APC last year. We need to break free from this old order of playing politics when governance is badly needed. It has never helped our case hence the need for a paradigm shift.
The challenges confronting us are legion; one should not dawdle or chase rats when his house is in flames. 56 years after gaining independence, steady power supply remains a mirage. We pay for light but all we see is darkness. Today, one would organise a lavish party if electricity is enjoyed uninterruptedly for say five hours. Some federal roads have become one of the easiest means of passing to the world beyond. Death traps. Very many gory images stare us in the face yet our senators who claim to love us so much will never stage a walkout. No. it is not their business so long as they continue to mindlessly feed fat on our collective patrimony. Don’t be deceived, these people do not really care how we survive. It’s the truth. They may parrot it from the rooftops of how much of our interest they have at heart, but deep within the innermost recesses of their hearts, they know it’s a fat lie.
Can’t a nation look at this power sector headache and channel all needed efforts that will get us out of this darkness? When the next poll is here, we will campaign again with undying passion of how poor power supply will become a thing of the past if party A or B is elected. In a layman’s street parlance, ‘all na wash’. During last Sunday’s service in church, the preacher re-echoed what the late celebrated freedom fighter, Nelson Mandela said of Nigeria. Here him: “the problem with Nigerian leaders is that they think their interest is the interest of the people’’. Vintage Mandela. That is what has kept us in this motionless state. That is why the basic things we need are not here. But when it comes to electioneering season, truckloads of promises will be made with remarkable glee.
Jumping sheep is a pastime here. If my bread is no longer buttered in this camp, I move to the other party. This is done without recourse to how passionate one was when he was in the party he is now despising. At any rate, if our politicians believe in the manifesto and ethos of their party and the potency such has to better the lots of Nigerians, they will not dump their party for another when turbulence comes. If I claim to be a good Christian, and married for five years without a child, will I quit my faith and join forces with Satan just because of my lack of child? If I do that, it means my faith was not firm in the God I professed to love. It means I was only clinging onto Him for the goodies I can get. So, when I can’t have access to all what I hear and know He does, I run to another god for solution. Poor folks!
For a truth, these people don’t love their party as they want us to believe. They are there because the cake reaches them plus their families and hangers on. Only a negligible number of Nigerians have stuck to their party even when the grass is not green. For others, such patience is not possible. It’s a matter of give me food or I go to where I can get it. It’s a system devoid of principle and clear ideology. With this character still forming the layers of our beleaguered democracy, how and when will we experience an egalitarian leadership driven by real passion for good and quality service delivery?
But in times like this, trust Nigerians to offer an escape route with their humorous vibes. Consider this: you wan commit suicide? You are going nowhere; we are in this recession together; nobody is dying here.’’ will these pranksters ever rest with their comics? Is it possible that the MMM, ultimate Cycler and the rest are not enough time-consuming adventure for people to have the spare time for jokes?
Let’s get down to business of governance and leave politics now. We don’t need it. In this Christmas, Nigerians should not be subjected to extra suffering? We’ve had enough!
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