If as the old proverbial axiom goes, “a fool at 40 is a fool forever”, what about one at 50?
Since 1960, when Nigerians seized the reins of power to control the affairs of their own lives and probably to give the “masses” total “independence”, the youth have been the most neglected segment of the country, benefiting from nothing more than being cheated. and ripped off by the ruling class.
The story goes that at a certain point in the corporate life of the Nigerian entity, young people had been given access to a good life, evidenced in free education, cheap health facilities and waiting job opportunities, to name a few. We are even told that government parastatals and private organizations hired young people who were still in school to offer them jobs.
Ironically, these are the same people who rule us today. Some of them, in fact, were sponsored by the government to higher institutions abroad, with all the provisions, including reading materials, food and clothing. Given that background, one would have expected that the recipients of such benevolence, who had benefited from so many privileges from the colonialists, would want to do better than their predecessor in developing their ONLY homeland and its people.
But alas! Fifty (50) good years have only seen the recycling of people who did not know how to retain in their heads and hearts, the beauty of loving and being remembered for the good they do for their country. They are remembered the same, for the bad.
We are also told by those who were old enough to have understood the scheme of things, that the time between 1969 and 1973 saw a certain man named Yakubu Gowon emerge to rule the country with genuine love and the intention of uplifting the common man, regardless . of geopolitical, ethnic, or religious affiliation to an appreciable state. Other than this, in fifty years, everyone else has only taken us four steps back for every one we’ve taken forward.
Controversial statement you say? Especially as the slideshow of our “heroes past” reeling in your imagination features such wonderful images and names as Obafemi Awolowo, Namdi Azikiwe, Ahmadu Bello, Shehu Shagari, Ibrahim Babangida, Mohammadu Buhari and Olusegun Obasanjo to name a few. . Well, you’re entitled to your opinion just like everyone else.
Those personalities undoubtedly contributed greatly to the corporate existence of the country Nigeria and also contributed immensely to our current state, good and bad.
For example, the sectionalism that plagues us today, the history books say, emanated from petty squabbles between our pioneering leaders of eastern, northern, and southwestern extractions, as demonstrated in their partisan politics. So we can say that they took power out of the hands of white people who were foreigners who were fighting over our resources (but had better intentions to develop us), only to gore each other to the detriment of the younger generation of fellow Nigerians.
Do not misunderstand this to mean that we advocate the return of the colonialists; never! We only deplore the unfortunate fact that in fifty years we have not had among us any messiah as capable as those “exploiting slavers,” none as honest as the “dubious” white man who left his own home to come “steal” what he It belongs to us. However, we have had a thousand who stole more than the colonialists.
In 50 years honestly, can we boast of one, no, two (for we can already mention one who was different) men who have had the good sense to remember the days of their own youth, how they enjoyed the fruit of the land? Have there been two that have therefore made a genuine effort to present the younger generation with something resembling what they enjoyed in their own time?
This does not imply that in 50 years our leaders have not been good at anything; rather, there are fields where they, together with us, have broken records.
To cite examples: it is well known even by children that the name Nigeria is synonymous with “being smart”. Yes! When you get to where order is required, be smart. If what is needed is justice, be smart; When the world around you is starving for honesty and moral consistency, even if you have what it takes to make a difference, be smart – this is how to be a true Nigerian. without that, without scratching anyone’s back, without faking your age, take off because your type is not here; he won’t even get a job when he’s young.
And if the United Nations or Transparency International dare to raise an eyebrow, call Jerry Gana’s to sugar coat or Akunyili’s to help us rebrand ourselves so that our black letters are sent in white envelopes.
Is this fault finding or pessimism? I would call it being realistic. It’s not just about complaints, let’s now also mention some of our best achievements:
If you were a fifty-year-old man with children and grandchildren, wouldn’t you smile if at least 65% of your household, especially the happiest, would smile if at least 65% of your household, especially the youngest and most energetic Are they unemployed?
If at 50 years old Nigeria boasts of congressmen who break their jaws with clenched fists for money in the same way that European colonialists swooped down on our land and resources (although they didn’t kill each other); if indeed at 50, with grandchildren old enough to be grandparents, Nigeria can boast of having what some have called “spare parts dealers, money loses its way” in decision-making positions, while professors and honest men and women are only fit to be his “special advisers” and “personal assistants.” If money really is in your pocket (regardless of what you do to get it), it matters more than your intellect, skills, and strength of character. So shouldn’t we agree that the motherland has come a long way in both age and achievement? Therefore, we should be saying “bravo!” and celebrate, not complain.
However, I, as well as anyone who cares, would love to be shown one person (other than those sharing the cake) who is happy with the state of things in Nigeria. As the masses suffer, the rest of the world jokes and marvels at how far behind we are with most of the natural resources the creator has chosen to bless us with.
Youth! So where are you? Is there a country you call your own outside of Nigeria? Are you reduced to an escort for others on this journey? Have you forgotten so soon the money you had to pay to enter a higher institution? And now that you have managed to graduate successfully or not, aren’t you unemployed just because you don’t have N250,000 to pay?
Don’t you know why? Because the unproductive old man who was sponsored with his resources a long time ago, to train abroad has long since retired, but was left behind on “contract basis”, so there is practically NO VACANCY.
And don’t go expecting him to die soon because if he dies, there are people somewhere who have been collecting the salaries of the other man who died 10 years ago, as if he were alive and working. I pity you because these are not relatives of the deceased. Nope! They are the ones above.
Frankly, they have suspended the family of the deceased from receiving their rights for their years of meritorious service to the nation. While she was waiting, the wife also went to meet her husband at her grave and her eldest son is too young to claim anything. As you can see? The “big shots” have at least 10 more years to dance on the grave of the deceased before declaring him dead enough for his family to start proceedings to collect royalties from him.
So what are you going to do but wait as usual anyway? After all, with all his intellect, talent, youthful strength, and academic qualification that he now wields, isn’t he “boy boy” to some opportunist to earn his food?
Once upon a time there was an old man who was a little retarded upstairs. He would pass the feces around his house, leaving only a narrow hallway to the door. This irritated the neighbors so much that they stopped bringing him food so he had to go from house to house in search of food. After a meal, he would thank the landlord first for the food and then for the house, saying that his house didn’t smell as bad as his.
One day when he said this, a boy disowned him, saying that he was a fool for dirtying his house with feces and advised him to clean the house so that it would stop smelling horrible.
Similarly, Nigeria seems to prove to the entire world, including the youngest and poorest states, that experience can come with age, never with wisdom.
Like lunatics, Nigerian leaders have enjoyed life in the United States and Europe for 50 years when they flirt there to hide stolen money or to dance and celebrate other people’s achievements. They often tell stories of how beautiful, organized and comfortable these places are, including how civilized the people are who leave them in perpetual darkness.
Once again, we repeat that the leaders of other countries have not necessarily achieved more than those of Nigeria. For example, Nelson Mandela of South Africa is known throughout the world for his love for his country. He was never a military leader, but he spent almost half of his life in prison fighting for his people. Upon his return, THE PEOPLE made him president, a well-deserved response.
Here in Nigeria, we have a general whose only war we know of was the “legitimation” of corruption. While the former resisted genuine requests to remain in power as president, the latter, as well as everyone else who had had a chance to be at the forefront of affairs before (except, of course, the one we already recognized as different), they’ve suddenly realized they didn’t do enough damage during their early mission trips, so now they’re working desperately to get back to Aso Rock (recycled, vintage wine as they can be); either to “right the wrongs” they have done or, most likely, to right the little good they have done.
In conclusion, we can say that our golden jubilee is well deserved, a celebration of achievement in both directions. But we must admit, nonetheless, that when compared to ideals, our leaders have defended leftism for 50 years, while those of other countries have done well to develop their countries, especially their youth.
So young people, if you’re thinking of depending on the government for something, you better change your mind because if those guys over there have been 50 years and we’re where we are, it means why wouldn’t they go, we’re going to be here longer. God forbid!
But if you think this is being unfairly pessimistic, I’d say; You are as entitled to your opinion as I am.
