The Travails Of Nigerians

BY NIYI ABORISADE

“General Officer Commanding (GOC), Situation this sector is definitely out of hand if not hopeless. Not a single round of ammunition held while enemy pressure continues ceaselessly for the past 48 hours. We intend to stay on and make the supreme sacrifice. Please help before it is too late. We who are about to die salute you.” – Colonel Akhaga, Biafran soldier. Culled from: The Nigeria Revolution and the Biafran War. –  Major General Alexander A Madiebo.

Nigeria is a land flowing with milk and honey and should have been one of the best countries in the world, if properly managed.

The Independence of Nigeria in 1960 was to herald what should be the rise of all black people on the surface of the earth and all eyes were set on Nigeria to lead the new generation of black and restore the lost glory of Africa.

Alas, 58 years after, Nigeria is regarded as a failed State and the world capital of poverty.

Nigeria was voted the most happiest people on earth as recent as 2003, I do not know the criteria or yardstick that was used to measure the depth of our happiness then; probably our absolute faith in God or gods, untiring endurance, perseverance and our hope and dream for better tomorrow.  In any event, whatever made the world to pick us as the happiest people on earth then has disappeared.

Poverty is reigning supreme in Nigeria today. Hopelessness and gloominess has covered the face of the people. Never in the history of Nigeria were workers owed eight months salary, never in the history of Nigeria was insecurity of lives has been pronounced the way it is today. No food to eat, no money to spend, pipe borne water has been confined to history, anyone who is lucky to build a house has to sink borehole or dig well to get water, no adequate medical facilities, the rich and the top politicians are always travelling abroad for medical check-ups, kidnappers are on the rampage, the politicians’ ritualists are always looking for people as prey for spiritual empowerment. Individuals are richer than the States with no apparent sources of wealth. People are dying of hunger and starvation.

It seems we have reached the same kind of situation that made Colonel Akagha of the Biafran Army during the civil war between Nigeria and Biafra to send the above captioned signal to his General Officer Commanding (GOC) when he was surrounded by the federal troops and the situation looked hopeless. Miraculously, they escaped and survived against all odds. I strongly believe that Nigeria will survive her travails but we must act and act fast.

The current core of politicians and our leaders have no core political ideology and offer no solution to take the country out of the gloom and doom.

The people are like sheep’s that have no shepherd. The country is at the verge of liquidation to its Creditors. Our debts have never reached this level in the history of our beloved country as we keep on borrowing. The return of the stolen funds has been in vain as the money are disappearing again without any trace.

I salute the courage of my people to carry through at this period. I believe that our case is not hopeless, certainly, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Nigeria will rise. It is the oppressors that will never be seen again.

However, all hands must be on deck to steer the ship of our country to the promised land. Coming together is a beginning, keeping together is progress and working together is success.

It is high time to rise up as a people and reject all those who are afflicting us with poverty. Let us stop hailing them, let us take the destiny of our country into our hands. Let us make a choice between poverty and abundance, security for insecurity and joy for sadness. Let us use our votes wisely and let us vote for credible candidates.

When they come with their money and bags of rice, chase them away with stick or stones, reject the entreaties of the oppressors and take a stand against impunity.  Remember, the deliverance of our country is in our hands.

Niyi Aborisade is the President of the National Movement for Positive Change (NMPC) Worldwide.