Yes Democracy Supports Good Leadership in the Interest of Nigeria (Part II)
By
Mallam Sani A. Aliyu
Awake Nigerians! Slumber not else our struggles till date will
be in vain. Of what meaning is life in Nigeria without the east,
the west, the south or the north, what else would have become
Nigeria? Aha! Beauty is said to be in the eyes of the beholder,
how long would it take to register in our minds that we all
depend on one another? For, the question of origin (TRIBALISM)
has so bedeviled our sense of nationality, regardless of our
intimidating status in Africa. How strong a nation we would
have become? Taking the advantage of our differences and nurture,
them well. Oh! You do not know how it would have looked like,
I guess. Considering our population and our beautiful geographical
features coupled with lots not mentioned here, I supposed, that
earned us the position we occupied today in Africa and indeed
the globe or which order standard do you have in defense to
our status as the African giant? Have you not taken into account
the vast arable land in the North, the vegetation cutting across
the West through South to the East? Oh! You must have forgotten
the beauty of the sea in the West sprawling across the Southern
coast and the opulence verdure savannah and the rivers that
our lives so depend on in the North, how great is the masterpiece
of God's own handiwork called Nigeria.
Empty indeed empty is Nigeria without any of its fingers. Amputation?
God forbid! Essential is every part to the body, how dare you
not to recognize that Nigeria is a living body, wicked indeed
you are to think in the least nor plot to dismember any of its
member, for the evil that you are today, of what benefit was
it to those before you? Are you so dullard that you are floating
away blindly in an effort to clench away the mirage, surely
living in limbo you are and certainly not in the least of your
dreams shall it manifest forever. Nigeria therefore is indissoluble.
Nigerians! Charge up to your civic responsibilities, at least
we are forty two (42) yrs old today as a nation; after sizing
up our national integrity at a very tender age of seven (7).
Taken us through most difficult three (3) years in our national
life, not without positive result though, cumulating to better
understanding thereby embracing each other in recognition of
the fact that we truly need one another, as indeed we have no
any other place call home other than Nigeria. Thereafter we
laid down our aggression for reconciliation and forgiveness
thirty-two years ago, how inconsistence to talk bias or worst
still to have a hidden agenda against oneself. Where is the
love? On the other hand, could it be imply that we lack proper
understanding of our resolved? Alternatively, is it that in
our hearts there is no space for one true love? Or could it
be that we do not see the light? That is an understatement of
the highest order, I guess, which I genuinely rebuke, for what
are the worship centers doing? Bewilderment again, when it is
true that the duo dominant religions in Nigeria teaches one
love, brotherliness, peaceful coexistence and justice for all,
where then the lays the problem? Remember! Now that we are
over forty-wisdom age I supposed, indeed we cannot afford to
be fools, for never can we settle at that. Hence, our erratic
approach to national issue has to be examined.
Wise is somebody who has a moment of recap in all his worldly
activities. In this connection, I opine that it is imperative
for us as a Corporate Nation to pause for a while and have a
recap. Well, I have taken it upon myself in my little capacity
as a Nigerian of over 120 million people to pause on behalf
of my fellow citizen for a recap on our political live in Nigeria.
This has become very necessary and of utmost important in view
of the epileptic nature of civil rule in Nigeria, starting from
the very first general election, this I guess would in no small
measure help us to avoid any reoccurrences of the past political
class miscalculations, meanwhile lets put our house in order
with this important memory lane drive.
The first free and fair election in Nigeria was in 1959(please
note that when I say free and fair it means the establishment
of civil rule) by 1960 we became fully Independent. Therefore
putting in place, for the first time in the history of our country
Nigeria an indigenous national government. Whereof, like any
other thing in life with beginning would surely have an end,
therefore the government life span wanes off. The need for re-elections
process began; you know, this time around the taste of power
and the share display by the political class has entice new
players into the scene making it a more difficult terrain. Tight
as it were then and the overweening of one of our political
mogul, who confidently believed in himself taught it easy to
have dominium over other regions outside his. Well sincerely
speaking, for me, I cherished his vision, as he was indeed a
true nationalist for which if he had continued without reclining,
only to resort to petty tribal politics, Nigeria indeed would
not have known anything called tribalism today. Nevertheless,
that not withstanding, they have played their part needless
for us to live within their shortcomings.
The scenario was tensed with impatience generating to altercation
thereby messing up the whole scene as in some parts of the country
it was a do or die affair. Thuggery finds its way as it was
introduced for the first time into our political ambience. Youths
were used, primarily to threaten or eliminate oppositions and
sometimes settling of trivial matters in order to shaking an
opponent, thereby making him to shrink inward but to those who
are equal to the task, they also employed other means to counter
their opponents, thus the beginning of political commotions.
Resulting into military incursion, that spans the period of
twenty (20) years of our national life. Producing four military
Head of States in the process, show casing the honey pot derivable
on that seat of power.
This stretched on and ends in 1979 with yet another free and
fair election given birth to civilian government best to be
referred to as democracy. Believing this time that the political
class had becomes more responsible to occupy the honey pot seat
of power. Yes, indeed the maturity displayed at first was a
positive signal but as the going gets going flamboyancy resulting
to open vices which primarily lead to challenges of new entrants
into the political scene, and those within clamouring for change
bringing back thuggery and hire assassins. Show casing their
inability to learn from their predecessors' mistakes. In the
end after succeeding themselves paving way to yet another fresh
crises that gave the military an opportunity to once again step
into our hard earned political system, a period coincidently
paring with the first that was twenty (20) years.
So it was, came a new dawn in 1999 that saw today's democracy
in place another difficult and indeed hard-earned democracy.
To whom much is given, much is equally expected. Beware, not
to be carried away with the pleasure on that seat again and
sell our pride to your so called western friends, all in the
name of privatization that has no economy impact to the dawn
trodden. These lots are hard earnings of our ancestors who were
made to pay their tasks whether they are earning or not. Their
spirit lives on and indeed shall hunt those who throw away all
that they had sacrificed for while alive.
Care must be taken not to plunge this historical nation back
to its yesteryears experiences due to carelessness and the inability
to learn from the past. Today, our President has so serve the
country that it is expected of him to protect the integrity
and the well being of his people. Sincerely speaking if the
political system is evidently going to collapse because of his
continual interest to serve, I strongly advice him to nurture
his past and present contribution to nation building and respectfully
pave way for the peoples wish. For it was a euphoric experience
when he came on board, he should not allow those sycophants
around him to mislead him and wash away all that he has built,
in his quest to satisfy them or been carried away as usual,
a common attitude with our leaders. His boy was virtually shown
the way out as a result of this same kind of attitude when he
lost his usefulness, this he must not allow to happen to him.
The world is dynamic whether we like it or not, the old has
something useful to offer while the youth has the strength and
ability to actualize it. If considering their inputs in relation
to the prevailing circumstances around the world it becomes
pertinent on the youths to move swiftly in the application of
such inputs. So rather than weakening the strength of the youths
to serve, it is imperative to our elders in government today
under their strong guidance to put in place an able machinery
to handover the leadership of this country. As displayed maturely,
by some civilized countries in the world today.
Lets not get the system unnecessarily overheated again, for
we would only succeed to ridicule our integrity before the comity
of other nations in the world. What donkeys we would make of
ourselves if democracy fails out of share greed and selfishness.