By Onyekwere Akym Uche
As Nigeria celebrates democracy day on June 12, the country must be careful not to continue on the path many now believe, leads to nowhere. Nigeria is drifting, no doubt, and this remains a major cause of concern to her citizens and even the international community because of the country’s position in African and world affairs.
Onyekwere Akym Uche
Interestingly, this most populous African country once held great promise at the beginning. For instance, at independence in 1960, Nigeria was widely recognized as Africa’s hope because of her size, great human resource and huge potentials. Today, Nigeria has not only lived below expectations, it has also betrayed that hope. The country has also not inspired the much needed and anticipated optimism and faith among people of color all over the world for obvious reasons. Those who continue to look up to Nigeria despite her never-ending challenges must be commended for their abiding faith. It is unfortunate that Nigeria, despite her experiences, has refused to learn from history. Even as the country celebrates the return to civil rule in 1999 this week, many of her citizens are not in any celebratory mood because there is absolutely nothing to celebrate. Nigeria is still far from what she should be, mainly because of poor leadership and the many contradictions associated with it.
Unfortunately, Nigeria is now derogatively described as a place where dreams die. Apart from the fact that many people are not operating at their optimum, there is a belief that state failure and incompetence make it possible for people to fail in whatever endeavor they find themselves. For those who are courageously facing the Nigerian reality, opportunities seem to dim by the day because every day, things move from bad to worse in a country blessed with enormous human and material resources. In many parts of Nigeria, life feels hopeless. This is further exacerbated by increasing social inequalities and absence of solutions. Every day, avoidable deaths on account of insecurity is recorded in different parts of Nigeria. And the outcomes of the on-going political merry-go-round and ill-informed official decisions by government continue to confound with each passing day.
At a time like this when international cooperation and commerce are developing around the digital space, our country suspended Twitter, boasting and threatening to do and undo. The Attorney-General is also bullying and promising to come down heavily on anyone who uses Twitter for any reason. So, Nigerians who maintain their presence on Twitter by bypassing all government’s hurdles stand the risk of being charged to court. This is where we are at the moment.
Those in government must learn, and quickly too, that this is a digital age and we cannot afford all these embarrassing government policies that are beginning to define us. The growing intolerance to differing views is not only unacceptable but also a major threat to our fledgling democracy that is yet to bring the needed dividends and hope. Also, it should be seen as a breach of the people’s fundamental right, freedom of expression as enshrined in the constitution.
But, for the fact that Nigeria is still a united country in spite of all the convulsions is something to celebrate. This brings hope despite the gloom.
Another thing to remember as we reflect on our country is the over two decades of continuous civilian rule, the longest since independence. This is no mean feat.
However, Nigeria’s pains still remain undeniable. If public service is for the public good, then public officers in our public space have failed woefully. The failure is noticeable in every area of life: from citizenship and nationhood to the conduct of public affairs and management of public resources and infrastructure by people in power. The most tragic part of Nigeria’s modern reality however, is the complicity of its elite and political leaders in all the challenges facing this country; a place that was once a destination of promise, innovation and growth. Anytime the world hears about Nigeria’s demons, like herdsmen attacks, lack of inclusion and participation, banditry, kidnapping, incompetent leadership, Boko Haram, ethno-religious conflicts and more, there is always a direct link to leadership failure and this is the most troubling part.
The most unfortunate development is that citizens now openly accuse their leaders, especially those in the executive arm of making policies that favour only one part of the country at the detriment of others. Naturally, favoritism breeds disenchantment, lawlessness and anarchy. And since there are no consequences for selfish and unpatriotic actions, this may just be the beginning of our nightmares. So, everyday, herdsmen, bandits and kidnappers kill and maim. Daily, school children are abducted, public infrastructure razed and villages sacked by an invincible force now referred to as unknown gunmen. No day passes in Nigeria without horrendous news of deaths and arson.
But there is good news. In the midst of the storm and carnage, some people (the youth) are strong and courageous, that is the encouraging news for us at the moment. This growing and active youth population who are using technology to chat a new path and a future for their generation is making all the difference with their actions. Now, they are challenging their country’s “Gerontocracy Leadership” that is not only old but also out of tune with modernity. On a daily basis, they challenge the status quo with the belief that the risks and challenges of today would lead to freedom and opportunities tomorrow.
So, as Nigeria ‘celebrates’, the people must spare a thought for the youth, children, women and all vulnerable Nigerians who bear the burden of poor leadership across all the tiers of government. As one of the countries with the largest youth population in the world, the Nigerian youth must also come to terms with his or her enormous powers in a democracy. Therefore, they should get involved in politics and be counted because without active participation, they can never make that needed difference and genuine change that we seek.
That is also why I have made them the centre point of my mission in government. Young people remain an integral part of our dream and adventure in public administration because the future actually belongs to them, not the old and ineffectual people holding them down. We are not just offering the youth hope and a better tomorrow by making education free and compulsory; we are also creating the necessary atmosphere that would engender empowerment and participation in government.
Young people, no doubt, own tomorrow and they must take it today. I know what they can achieve in an enabling environment that is why we are taking them very seriously. Since they are the hope and the future, we ask them to partner with us in Abia State as we begin this journey of revival and restoration for the good of our people in particular and humanity in general.
A great and united Abia State is still possible if we believe.
Let’s keep hope alive!
Happy anniversary!
