“Life has taught us
that love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking outward
together in the same direction”…Antoine de Saint
Reminiscence
I consider it a privilege to having been one of the
fortunate Nigerians that grew up to see such a great nation with unmatched
potential, untapped resources and admirable innocence (apparent naivety) during
the 80s. Although even at that time, Nigeria’s young democracy was constantly
threatened with different bouts of military rule, yet essential commodities
were available and affordable, there was minimal crime rate and there thrived a
relatively conservative lifestyle, at least compared to what is obtainable now.
Perhaps Nigerian’s are not particularly interested in their
own history, they are circumstantially ignorant or the prevailing circumstances
of poverty, complacence and lack of motivation just discourages us from having
the required appetite for life or we just simply forget, altogether ignoring the
implications of ineptitude.
The 80s was a period of major awakening all over the world,
an arousal in sports, music, policies, inventions, branding, public relations,
motivation and so much more. Nigeria was not left out in the global bug
infestation perhaps due to our anti-xenophobic interaction with the
international community through travels and media. Yet, it was obvious that
with the great potential that Nigeria had, there was still massive room for
improvement, especially with the presence of the opportunity to project a well
planned trajectory in order to be equipped and prepared for the future which
naturally was to inevitably welcome a huge population explosion on our very
fertile land.
“I can’t change the
direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination”…Jimmy
Dean
Remember the song ‘Which way Nigeria?’, well, it was composed
and sung by Sunny Okosun, it was released Feb. 1983, and in the United States
on 1984 two years after Sunny Ade’s Juju Music hit the shelves. The song was
described as a smash in its time; it addressed the issues that plagued
Nigerians and her teeming youths. The empty promises made by the leaders and
the dashed hopes of the children who were always told they were leaders of
tomorrow but never got a chance. The song asked the relevant question – How long
shall we be patient before we reach the Promised Land? Decades after independence,
a lot seems to go unchanged. Sunny Okosun passed away in 2008, he was one of
the leading Nigerian musicians from the late 1970s to mid ‘80s and was a man
who dared to question the ills perpetrated by the powers that be.
“We are just
ordinary people, we don’t know which way to go”…John Legend
Forecasts
From past occurrences, it is on record and legend that
history has a way of helping us predict and project into the future. We all instinctively
make decisions based on our perception of the past about the subject we choose
to deal with. It kind of relates to brands and images, for instance, if you
were asked what nike stood for, you’d in a split second conclude that nike
produces quality sports wears and gears. Ralph Lauren Provides luxury clothing
apparel, Apple Inc. offers high-end phones and computers, Mercedes is synonymous
with classy automobile, Bob marley made fine reggae music, James Bond is a
fictional spy detective, Messi is a gifted soccer star, Dogs bark and bite,
bees sting, jazz music invigorates, and the list goes on as many more insightful
features gives us a surround perception, sense of belonging and decision.
“The challenging time of life will teach you two things, History: where did I get it wrong? And future: How will I get it right?
Having the power of discernment in mind as a guiding
principle, now close your eyes and then honestly summarize your view about
Nigeria and what she stands for, either singly or in terms of comparison
perhaps with a developed nation like the United States.
Nigeria has a generalized notion of being corrupt,
fraudulent and lacking political will to execute very simple projects that can
translate into the lives of the citizenry, while the United States is being
noted as world power in terms of military might and intelligence, gigantic
stakes in manufacturing and other productive industries thereby employing
massively, generating loads of revenue through tax thus growing tremendously economically.
See? There is a difference in brands and thus perception, thus you can easily
predict how each nation can end up in the nearest future depending on the
actions and decisions they take or what they are generally recognized to boldly
stand for.
Sadly, it is usually difficult to truthfully x-ray a
person or a nation in their presence when they are doing the wrong thing, but
they like to be publicly praised when a glimpse of good graces across their
paths.
Gary Webb was an American investigative reporter who
caused a big stir in the US government when he did an article ‘Dark Alliance’
which revealed a link between the CIA and drug lords to use drug money to fund
a war. Gary was discredited for his work for lacking merit due to lack of evidence.
He was found dead as a result of gunshot wounds to his head about seven years later;
ironically the CIA released a publication which proved that Gary was right.
Even Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated for standing for what is right and just and necessary and beneficial to the dark skinned race and eventually to the entire world. Same fate went out to Malcolm X for leading a civil rights movement, same thing happened to Abraham Lincoln perhaps for ending slave trade.
Several politicians have equally been lynched here in
Nigeria for being obstacles to the political ambitions of desperate
opportunists that are better placed financially and influentially. It just seems overall that anybody that wants to be good and make a difference is literrally sticking out his neck for the gallows or the guillotine.
In Principle.
I am probably an ardent and incurable fan of principles and systems, perhaps because its like a set of rules that govern the earth, fervently warning us that if we dared go against them we would get burned.
Anyway, as only the test of fire makes fine steel, so it is obvious what is deposited inside of us as the stuff we let go off when under pressure is what we're actually made of. And even the holy bible says '...for of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks'...Luke 6:45.
My point is that despite the age we currently are in, we have somehow refused to recreate ourselves to meet up with the new demands that requires us to properly function together with rest of the world. Complacence, cowardice, dishonesty and corruption have really blinded us so much that it has virtually become our stereotyped mojo, so to speak.
We are still sadly at an all time low, so petty that we stigmatize the poor, exploit the illiterate, mislead the lost and lack emotional intelligence for the mistaken, compounding the problems by not making the much needed sacrifice for the future of our children.
"The eyes that are calm will see the nose"...Yoruba proverb
A certain lady got really ill sometime ago and her kind husband took her to everywhere she could possibly get well again. Hospitals, clinics, counselors and even the church. It was in the church that she eventually confessed that she actually didn't want to get well because whenever she was unwell, her husband became very caring and spent time with her, crazy right?
By implication, terrorism is a money spinner for some people, they profit from the misfortune of others, so it is quite logical to conclude that we all have the tendencies or potential to create a market for ourselves by causing some people pain.
So it is however plain to see that our problem is not the problem, but our attitude towards the problem, and whether we are truthful enough to really have the intention to solve the problem.
As Nigerians approach the poll to make a bold statement, which direction are we really going?
Thank you.
Akin Abimbola (akinzogee@gmail.com)
Sources: Google
Allafrica.com
World News
Daily Independent
Rhythm Connection
