Tuesday, October 1, 2013

If a Fool at 40 is a Fool Forever, What is a Fool at 53?

Written by Olumide Abiodun
Today 1st October, 2013 Nigeria would be 53 years. If Nigeria is to be a man in a relatively stable country, expectedly he must have acquired the basic certificate or vocational experience good enough to make ends meet. He must have gotten married and given birth, he must have attain a height such that he would be respected in the community and religious circle, above all be looked up to as a family head capable of shouldering responsibilities and be independent.

 But as it is today, can the same be said about a nation where strike is the only option left for union  workers' to press home their demands, where some set of people derives satisfaction in killing others at ease. Where citizens celebrate a minute of electricity and groan for the next one month. Where millions of school graduate roam about without gainful employment. Where corruption has eaten deep into the fabric of the nation, where hospitals are mere dispensaries, where people lives in abject poverty, where roads are death traps and high ways are steer ways to heaven’s gate, where nothing works but government officials continue to pay lip service and assurance, where the poor are getting poorer and the rich get richer.

 I recall with great concern lyrics off one of Nigeria’s most successful albums by Fuji maestro, Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde K1 where he sang “Africa is my fatherland, Nigeria is my country o . . .” Can we truly call this country ours? How come we suffer so much in a country we call ours without control? How come we live in abject poverty without any help? How do we get to this very precarious situation as a nation? How do we find ourselves in what resembles a “peculiar mess”?

My father ones told me of how his generation enjoyed a scholarship in this country. How commodities were sold at a cheapest price, how health facilities were accessible, how roads were constructed and bridges built, how men married as many wives as possible, how people walked freely without fair or panic, how salaries, wages and arrears of workers were fully paid and on time. How employers of labour scout for final year students in higher institutions and so on. All these in this same country NIGERIA!
What story do I tell my children about Nigeria? If a fool at 40 is a fool forever, then a fool at 53 is what?

The few privileged individuals ruling us in the entity call Nigeria must have a rethink and lead us well. We are getting to a point were people will no longer obey laws and order. A situation where people will wake up to read in dailies how billions of public fund are transferred into private personal account is not only irritating but provoking. Nigerians are getting pissed of been oppressed by the ruling class and revolt may come very soon if care is not taken!  

From today, my radio and TV set is going to be permanently off because I don't want to listen to all these prepared fake assurance speeches from Mr. President and Governors who are practically not ready to better the lot of the people. I take exception to deceptions!
May it please God Almighty to bless Nigeria and change the face of the country for good (Amen).

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