Nigeria is 53 years no doubt, but the big question still occupies space in my mind – “Is Nigeria a proud 53 year old country”
At 53, a man ought to be fulfilled when, he looks back to his past – his several years of labour as well as his numerous achievements in life and sets his heart to the tune of merriment. At 53, all things being equal, he should come back to his house after every lay’s business to a cozy and a serene environment, devoid of chaos and disturbances. As a 53 year old man, he should be surrounded by a lovely wife, courageous and forward looking if not already fulfilled serviceable and progressively-minded friends and relations all competing hard to make this 53 year old personality happy.
At 53, he should not be thinking on who to kill to take away such a person’s wealth and happiness because the retinue of his investments and business empires should even be getting difficult for him to effectively manage.
I just remembered a picture of a 50 year old man I saw some time ago in a newspaper, obviously marking his 50th birthday anniversary. The survey of this photograph revealed a face of a fulfilled and relaxed man. On his head were flickers of grey hairs – an indication of measured maturity. In fact the summary was that the man was at home with his world. A flip through the next page showed the man still, but this time around surrounded by his wife and children, ail beaming with smiles of fulfillment. Yes! That is what it should be, because in his much younger days, he worked tirelessly to bring those goodness around him.
Today, our dear country, Nigeria, the so-called giant of Africa at 53 is surrounded with too many troubles. Indeed each time I imagine Nigeria in the form of a man, I see a giant, tall and handsome. One who should ordinarily have all things put in place to glow, out instead of glowing he is gloomy and always grieving. When a man at 53 who ordinarily should attract goodness and respect turns to a mischief-maker what he attracts is disrespect and dishonor. That is exactly the state of our great Nigeria.
He is a man whose land is flowing with milk and honey but instead of sitting down to enjoy his resources he is busy digging holes to uproot the natural resources and waste them. When al! the beautiful vegetations are uprooted, where will the shelter, and natural air for our future generation come from?
The incessant killings by the Boko Haram sect Niger Delta militants, the Ombatse Militia and the other terror groups have filled the whole atmosphere with the stench of fouled and smelly kindred blood. The air is polluted. The land is so severely damaged and desecrated. And I ask: Why? I have severally tined to see if I could paint any picture that supports the acts of killings and brigandage going on in the land, and quite seriously I couldn’t come up with any justification no matter how lame. It was at that point that the Spirit of God led me to the Holy 3ook – Exodus 20:13, where God has categorically stated: “Thou shall not kill”. When the first murderer on earth, Cain performed his murderous act, God rose in anger and declared him a fugitive on the face of the earth.
It is only God and God alone who has the capacity to reveal the components he used to form blood,, because .indeed blood is powerful! Whenever it is spilied, the earth quakes and retribution follows. It is rather unfortunate that many Nigerians have adamantly refused to apprehend the fullest import of these divine injunctions. More strange is the fact that we are always in the churches and the mosques everyday performing and receiving miracles.
Just recently, a College of Agriculture in Yobe State was visited by these animals in human attire and scores of students were murdered. The worst was that when they struck was when these innocent and unarmed students were in deep sleep dreaming of the future. How does one attack another who is defenseless? What manner of religious fanaticism can push a gun-totting terrorist to unleash mayhem on unarmed and totally defenseless students? When one is asleep, such a person ordinarily, is in a world of peace and serenity, but not in Nigeria. The dare devils could not allow them to enjoy their peace in sleep; rather they struck unexpectedly and sent several of our innocent young men to their early graves. What a shame! What an act of cowardice? This is because only cowards kill that way. They could not even give the students the benefit of self-defense no matter how feeble. Today their blood has been spilled and the stench has further complicated the already fouled air that we breathe! Will God ever be happy with Nigeria? I wonder!
All these atrocities are contributory to the poor state of our dear Nigeria in the present day. Today citizens of Nigeria are wallowing in object poverty. The economy has crumbled and the people have turned to street beggars in a land blessed with plenty of goodies.
If you want to know the state of hunger in Nigeria visit some functions where food and drinks will be served and see how people scramble for food. I was in one recently and food was being shared. That point of sharing was the rowdiest moment as even the so called big men on suit and women one big gele were falling over themselves just to get a plant of rice. A particular episode drew tears from my eyes – the scene was where a particular woman who looked quite hale and comfortable was picking the crumbs from the plates of those that could not finish theirs and was putting such waste in her mouth hungrily Was she indeed pretending or was that real? It was indeed a pathetic sight. I thought we have long past this stage. In the house of a typical 53 year old man, ordinarily there should be food, enough and plenty for enjoyment. But it is not the case with this 53 year old Nigeria because at this age and time his children are picking crumbs from the floor. It is indeed worth shedding tears for. God please help us.
Too many things have gone wrong and more wrongs are yet to come. Yet the cabal is not in any way learning any lessons. Each time I think about the 2015 election, my heart skips. I am sure you already knew why. For me what happened in the 2011 election where desperate politicians killed and maimed just to have power is enough cause for worry. The activities of killing between then and now are still rising. And if this is so what happens come 2015 when these blood sucking dare devils will be thirstier. Each new killing becomes a dress rehearsal for greater perfection in the acts of neat elimination of the human species in Nigeria. As things stand now, these murderers are spending time, energy and resources gathering deadlier weapons to launch their attacks. One consolation I have however is that man proposes but God disposes. If it is a He, ask Abacha. That you once uttered that Nigeria will be made ungovernable does not mean that it must be so. God is on the throne and He is a great fighter. When He fights, He does so with unimaginable weapons. He can even fight a man using the same man to kill himself. Many former leaders can testify.
It is high time Nigerians came back to the drawing table. Even though in Nigeria we have different tongues and culture yet, the values are the same and it is the positive values we share that unite us as one. We are one Nigeria, same brothers from the same root. Why then are we killing ourselves?
See the damage selfishness, hatred and greed, have done to us. Every day, the nation’s populations are reduced not because of natural disasters but rather because of man-made disasters. Another consolation I have is that there is still chance for us to make amends. Ghana as a nation was once worse than Nigeria but one day they rose and said enough of all the follies. Things are better in Ghana toda\. Our children have almost taken over Ghanaian institutions of higher learning because of the sound and quality decisions in that country. The on-going ASUU Strike has entered the fourth month and it doesn’t seem the end of the altercation is yet in sight. Those are some of the issues that are setting the educational developments of Nigeria backwards.
In all these evil developments, if we all that are affected as Nigerians citizens can come to the drawing table and tell ourselves the hard truth that all the follies are not leading us anywhere then our great and beautiful country Nigeria will regain its glory. Nigeria Good People, Great Nation?
God’s grace!!
