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Our tragedy therefore, is that we have not been able to empower a transformative and a visionary leader. We have not been able to enthrone a democratic culture that would pave way for the emergence of a visionary leader, who would utilize our abundant resources and catapult us to the first world. I am afraid that unless we start today to make conscious efforts in this regard, the march to the Promised Land remains long, winding and arduous.
As an apostle of social engineering, I am certain that change will occur.
Everybody must be involved in these conscious revolutionary reforms.
First, we must stand up, as the Nigerian Labour Congress is doing to say “No” to autocracy. We must give fresh blood to opposition politics. The South African example is there for us to learn. In the last South African election, we all saw what transparent election meant. It is interesting also to learn some few lessons from Kerry’s strong opposition to Bush. It may be helpful to note that one central issue in the forthcoming elections in the United States is the question of which ideology is stronger. Whose programme is better and more convincing? It is not right; raw powers as we often see in Nigeria. Political violence and intimidation are triumphing in Nigeria because we are yet to realise the astonishing power of ideas over might.
It is also important that we find a way of pushing the current illiberal regime to pay more attention to education at all levels. There is no doubt that hardship is impacting seriously on intellectual development of our youths: the only hope we now have in the struggle for Nigerian’s emancipation. We must insist that facilities for acquiring good knowledge be put in place. Education, good education would be a critical tool in the impending intellectual and political revolution in Nigeria
Before I draw the curtain on this reflection, it is important to note that many people that fall within this category of “open society enemies in Nigeria” are not presently in governance. They are in the private sector and may soon cross to the other side of political leadership. They are powerful men and women that hate Nigeria passionately.
This should take us to the issue of citizenship. It struck me recently that although Nigeria’s population is put at over 140 million (estimate) we may be surprised that when it comes to counting real “citizens” we may not be able to secure 10%. I am using citizenship restrictively to refer to persons that truly love Nigeria and are truly concerned to see the country through this difficult development pavement. This proposition can easily be tested, wherever there is a gathering of Nigerians. Just make a simple inquiry in a gathering: “Those who want to drop Nigerian citizenship and take up American or UK citizenship, show by raise of hands” I have tried this before in an extra mural class of over 100 Nigerian youths and I was shocked at the response. The whole class preferred to take up another country’s citizenship. In fact, one member of the class said, she will be excited to drop the Nigerian passport for that of Ghana!
That’s the level; we’ve sunk the ship of the nation. There is nothing to inspire hope again. Those who should inspire hope and confidence in us are continuously demonstrating to us how they do not believe in Nigeria. When they are sick, they fly abroad for treatment. They send their children to the best schools abroad and bluntly refuse to provide facilities in our public schools. Increasingly, therefore, we continue to nurture more enemies to Nigeria’s growth.
In conclusion, let this truth be told, that Nigeria can only change, if we are able to deal with the critical problem of leadership. The real enemies are from within. We must either change them or push them away and re-connect our society to the global march towards an open society. I remain confident that “the ravening clouds shall not be long victorious” Change must occur, if not now, certainly later.
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Wilfred Mamah
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