Ever sat down and asked yourself what Nigeria may make of the coming two decades? Ever looked down the depth of your soul to find answers to a question that just would not quit? Ever thought once how hard it is to find answers in the soul-searching lane? Imagine yourself squatting on the edge of a riverside in a traditional African village. Trying hard to see the bottom of the clean, clear water with fishes coming so close to the surface that you are able to admire the beauty of nature from the surface of the reflective stretch of the water film. The farther you look downward, the more blurred the picture becomes. Transparency simply ceases to take you further.

Ever asked yourself why you find no answer, the deeper you probe into your soul? Questions indeed, that would stretch our minds to the abyss if we try too hard to read tealeaves.

I’ll tell you something though. If you asked me in 1980 what would become of Nigeria in two decades, I bet I would have told you a lot about my dreams and hopes. The paradise I foresee. I would have had no fear. No scare to ponder on.

My projection from today though, is unfortunately characterized by fear and scares. Uncertainties and the apocalypses of man-made dimensions.

I fear the total collapse of social security. The jungle justice of prehistoric humanity where only the fittest survives and the world has no place for the weak and underprivileged.

Nigeria has come a long way to the day of a President with a solid academic drill. Away from uniforms and the exchange of uniforms for the notorious Agbada of status ambiguities. Yes. Today our President is a learned intellectual whose intelligence and love for his country is not dictated by voices from within and hard-earned experiences from prison cells and remote-controlled historical pasts! A president we are proud to present to the world on a plate of gold.

But please tell me. Six months on what does Umaru Musa Yar’Adua stand for? Pardon me? Did I hear you say ‘Rule of Law?’

Well I have tried to look through the river of the rule of law. Fishes swimming close to the surface seem to ooze a stench! But just don’t ask me sir. I guess they stink of corruption. We are unable to pull them out of the clean, clear water. Our hooks are defective. They are tied by the rule of law.

But the President swims quite well in this clean, clear water. Many are swimming along and manage to applaud as well. His predecessor gave him the baton as soon as he reached the shore. He has shown here and there, that he swims differently. His style is simple though. He changes the lane in a zigzag course and it looks real different.

The problem though is that lifeguards should not come to his rescue unsolicited. He swims quite well. There are no ripples in the water no matter how he splashes! The water is still because the President is a smooth operator.

But these lifeguards. They call themselves the supreme guards. They are governed by a different set of rules. They don’t seem to care that the President is causing no ripple. They’ve been pulling swimmers out and even sinking some. Their method is unorthodox. They are not young. They are not dynamic. They want to save the system. But they sank the biggest frigate and are still sinking swimmers. Gosh! The President senses that they may be closing in on him.

He had to cause some ripples. A very mild one though. He has cautioned them not to play to the gallery. Quite rightly too. Because sooner or later they may sink all boats and every swimmer too including themselves. Lifeguard activism!

What will these lifeguards look like in 20 years? Surely these oldsters will be gone. But will they have stabilized the system with this Johnny-gone wild patriarchy? The rules must be revised, fast and now!

The cowries and jewels are managed by Soludo. He wanted our jewels to govern the coastal region. He wanted the cowries to look more than just white and marble and be viewed like gold even at the gold coast. The President said No. He said we have no inflation. He said we should not seek to cure a sickness that we do not have. Jesus! Soludo is not a doctor Mr. President. He did not say he wants to cure any illness. He was looking at Nigeria 20 years from now. These cowries Mr. President. I hope we don’t look back in two decades and say “why didn’t we just do it?” Because this black cowry from South Afr… or what do they call it? Well, well, well!

And down at the bed of this clean, clear river. You know we’d been tapping a lot Mr. President. Its been selling quite well too. Our cowries and jewels! Gosh, what a heap they have made. But President, why did you say we don’t have enough to finance the power sector? These swimmers from Germany that you are calling to our rescue. They did a lot with far less. No please, don’t let them tell you to borrow. This tapping thing is selling well and very well too Mr. President.

And then there are these pirates from the creeks of this clean, clear river. All of these tapping things come from the creeks. They don’t want to settle for formulas anymore. They want it all. You promised a deal and now you seem frustrated Mr. President. Up against intransigence? Well no doubt you have to talk from a position of strength. Fix up the frigates and all the bows and arrows. We should be able to stand up to Bakassi if the need arises. But the creeks are not amused. They fear you want to wipe them off. Now, what do we do Mr. President? Look 20 years beyond. Do we still have the creeks? Do we still have the tapping thing?

I told you Mr. President. I told you. Spread this power properly. Accountability. Change the rules. This zigzag course you were swimming. The applause and all the supreme guards. This unusual Aondokaa whale swimming in a river… Well, well, well…

These guys changing the rules. They ain’t ready yet. I hear they keep fighting over power and leadership. The water on their side of the coast is calmer now. Their ripples have settled. Lets see what they do.

The rough roads on the coast Mr. President. Why didn’t you take them on in six months? At least, a few of them. Some Lagos-Benin stuff. They’re all rough. I told you this before you took the baton. But hear this though: some fear you will show your true color if the supreme guards do not force you out. Between you and I now. I know you’re fed up with the whole thing. I know this whole this pisses you up. But come on now. Take heart.

They rained insults and abuses on your predecessor. They deny his achievements. All those soft landing pads he prepared for you to take the country through. But don’t give a damn though. History will tell what good he has done. But don’t forget. I always tell you that his critics are not mentally sick. They are no fools too. I have regrettably seen through the lens how credible their criticisms are. I quarrel with them because they’re not balanced. I know that’s what you fear. Blind criticism. But you can’t continue like that Mr. President. Take a stand. Cause some ripples. The key is to know where you stand and to show the world.

Nothing you have done so far, is keeping these gangs of piranhas under control. They’re still raging. They are cults. They are wild. They rob and kill. The piranhas.

Mr. President. Where do we stand in 20 years? The piranhas. The supreme guards. The oozing fishes of the rule of law. The fighting lawmakers on the eastern coast. The Aondokaa whale in the clean, clear water. What do they all mean for the next two decades? Remember this guy producing the fishing hooks to clear the oozing fishes? I forgot his name. Was it Riba… something? Well, I see a very bright future for this guy. In a continuation of the present style or may be some uniformed guys empowering him? In twenty years? All these cowries and jewels in the power sector. Something will show for them in 20 years. “Earlier” you said? I doubt Mr. President. I hope all these cowries are not wasted. But come to think of it. Our folks are used to darkness even at noon. No fussing. No fighting. Nigeria we hail thee!

Robot  Villager

# 1 ...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 20.11.2007 15:27

Chief Kalu  Villager

# 2 =Robot;2091821867>...Read the full article. Frisky Larr, in the 80's you saw Nigeria a paradice, nothing should make you alter the beautiful vision you saw. At least then you had a Khaki president, now you have one that is educated and so, should be better. We do not have a total collapse of social security, we only have some teething security problems on our hands. People are still getting employment,we still have hospitals, schools are being renovated, we are paying pentioniers, if you say total collapse then that seems too exergerated. Just as Ette played foul and Nigerians rose to the occassion and shouted until she bowed out, our other numerous problems will be solved, though slowly but definitely surely. In our politics though, it appears its no more the fittest that survives, but rather, the roughest. Nevertheless,I can see freedom day. The day when young men, visionary, will take over the reighns of power, Like the young senate president. Men that will take the cue from Donald Duke of Cross River State that has turned calabar to a resort of sort for all Nigerians. My cousin married last week in Potharcourt and went to Abuja, no, Calabar for honey moon. In building a virile society there is nothing wrong in having fears and uncertainties, they are all part of it, my brother. Six months after, the president have'nt stopped working. Warri, Portharcourt east-west road construction is going on, we only hope that millitancy will not frustrate the work. Rule of law is still the watchward, At least Omehia in Rivers State is out, we are now considering whether Amaechi is the genuine alternative or not. It a bold step in the right direction. The president did not make Nigerians corrupt. We all are part of the corruption stench. The fight is on, a hitch on the way of the fight does not nullify the fight that it is still on. I think that we are only fine tuning the process to ensure that there will be no victims of human abberation of a good and purposeful vision. Corruption has almost become our culture, the president is not a magician. With the collective effort of all, we will surely be home and dry. Posted by Chief Kalu| 21.11.2007 06:44

STTOPP  Villager

# 3 Re: Nigeria in 20 years: A tale of tears and intriguing depths! Thank you for your optimism, with that and all our hands on deck we will surely arrive at the promised land. We are much wiser, smarter and quite aware of what is at stake, no going back to the times of apathy and decadence. STTOPP Posted by STTOPP| 21.11.2007 09:42