WHICH WAY NIGERIA?

“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