Nigeria at Fourty Two (42): Which Way Forward?
By
Mrs. Halima Shehu Rimi
On October 1st 2002 Nigeria celebrates her 42nd (fourty second) Independence from Britain, for the average Nigerian, worker, business persons, student and seasoned observers, the resounding question remains :- What are we celebrating? What can Nigerian leaders ( past and present) seriously show the International community as reflecting objectives, indicators for raising their standard of living? Why are our country's leaders not doing better to soothe the ethnic Islamic Shari' a and other religious conflicts which have heightened economic and political instability? As Nigeria staggers into the 21st century it is a time when Nigeria requires Leadership not dealership, sacrifice not sanctimony, serio - comical charlantry, accountability rather than the serial financial thuggery, and decade of vulgar carnibalization of the country's once promising destiny put asunder, principally by Nigerians and a contingent of dishonest foreigners and contractors.
With this anniversary iam sure Nigerians continue to wonder if they have not just been through yet another decade of unchecked kleptocracy rather than democracy of promises unfulfilled and squandered dreams.
From my research of Nigerian's political economy, despite some progress at 42 the quickest historical numerical comparison for Nigeria is that of Ali Baba and the fourty thieves. If only Nigeria had just 40 thieves in fourty years of it's so-called political "Independence". But no such graces and reprieve do not exist for my country of origin. It all seems like fourty thieves a day in Nigeria.
Iam sure many Nigerians will join me to ask the question:-Where are the so- called dividends of democracy they were promised by the democratizing Government of Obasanjo? Again FOLKS, no domestic Infrastructure.
At this point all enlightened Nigerians will agree with me that our country ranks among 10 (ten) producers of oil in the world, but Nigerians sometimes have to park their cars at petrol station overnight, on lines stretching almost one half a mile or more to get Fuel/Gas/Diesel, yet Nigerians leader President Obasanjo continue to blame the late dictator Gen. Abacha who died three years ago for fuel shortages in the country. How about water supply? Our water pumps hardly cough out enough to fill a bucket. What about our power supply? Nigerians hardly have 500 minutes of un-interrupted power supply. Talk about our Health sector and our standard of Education. Many are dying over common illnesses that can be easily treated, and the student are always at home because of strikes or riots. Our so- called democracy has no effects on these aspects To complicate issues since our democratic President resumed power he has broken all records in foreign travels by any Nigerian or African President therefore becoming a "FLYER PRESIDENT".
Therefore my advice to my fellow country men and women is:- "to choose /vote for leaders who can serve Nigeria actively and attentively, who can ignore self interest and attend to Nigerians domestic infrastructure, we know the folks they say before resuming power it is hi-time we shun such folks".
Mrs. Halima Shehu Rimi
Katsina