Right from the genesis of Biblical history, God has always given ample opportunities to make choices. From Adam wrong choice of apple, Abraham’s choice of sacrificing his only son hoping that god would raise him from the dead, and Noah’s seemingly foolish choice of building an ark when weather forecasts never gave indications to rainfall. God has always given us free hand to determine the outcome in many situations when we expected him to make the decisions for us. As God does to individuals, so also he does for nations.

When the founding fathers of the developed countries of the world set out in the advancements of their national causes, they met challenges, temptations and several contending situations that pried on their personal lives but in spite of these trials, they set their priorities. Take the United States of America for example.

When Christopher Columbus discovered America, there wasn’t any concrete structure of governance on ground. He and subsequent American generations envisioned, imagined, dreamed and hoped for a democracy that would be the envy of other nations of the world. They did not stop at the dream level but worked tirelessly putting the country above ulterior motives. They did all they could and to test how commensurate their seriousness is with their dreams, God, in his infinite mercies, gave them an opportunity to change their fortune forever by paving way for the general elections that brought in the various leaders at various levels. He tested their prioritization, personal ego, self aggrandizement tendencies, selfishness, self-centeredness, love for the nation and several insidious qualities that are vital in nation building. In all, they stood God’s test which showed that they are really serious and in return, God also took them serious. He gave them a democracy that all believe in and would go to any extent to protect. He laid the foundation, with their seriousness, of the democracy that has produced great men like George Washington, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. In Nigeria’s case however, we are fast becoming a waste of God’s time.

Nigeria has a uniquely advantaged position not only in Africa but also in the world. With a population that is second to none on the continent, a fairly stable history when compared with the other African nation, bountiful natural resources, internationally acclaimed technocrats coupled with unbelievably fertile soil and citizens. The nation is void of disasters and terrorism and has kept itself in the good books of many institutions, agencies and developed nations. The contributions of the Nigerian Army to peace and security on the continent cannot be overemphasized, the efficiency and abilities of the serious integrity-driven Nigerian Police cannot be underestimated (ask Ahmed Tijani) and the hope of the average Nigerian is second to none. Amidst all these, we still find ourselves in deep sea. It may seem to be an African cause but it doesn’t seem to be affecting other countries like Kenya, South Africa, Egypt and the new-kid-on-the-block, Ghana. What’s our problem?

Every time I open the dailies and read the accounts of the gentlemen-of-the-press, I get a clear picture of what is wrong with the nation but the problems still persist. We read of police extortions and accidental discharges, PHCN’s performance, politician’s financial misappropriations, INEC’s inefficiencies at conducting credible elections, and the now familiar president’s slow and steady pace with the 7-point agenda, amidst other Proudly Nigerian problems. The problem is not that of awareness but that of inertia, inability to change.

When God gave Nigeria the best shot at good governance, the Prof. Nwosu-led National Electoral Commission did its part planning, strategizing, organizing and conducting the best free and fair elections ever in the Nigerian history; the Nigerian citizens did their part by trouping out en masse to cast their votes; the international community did its part by providing all necessary supports, the Nigerian Police did its part by ensuring security of lives and properties. God also did his part by ensuring a good weather and a peaceful atmosphere for electoral conduct throughout the nation and we all thought that the devil has lost Nigeria as the country, for once in recent times apart from soccer, was unanimous in the quest for democracy. We however got the shock of our lives by the aftermaths of that election. I can only imagine how angry God was with the perpetrators who wasted his precious time.

Being a unique country, God still gave us democracy which would have been a point of reference for the sacrifice of June 12, 1993. With how we’ve faired so far, those at the helm of affairs are not serious, yet.

South Africa had worse battles with apartheid and racial segregation. They had every cause to understandably fail without others raising eye brows but they didn’t. Ghana also demonstrated that the problem is not with West Africa but Nigeria’s by organizing an election that wasn’t contested at the tribunals.

The failed state of the Nigerian government is annually shown by the number of Nigerians applying for the US Diversity Visa Lottery, results of which would seen be released, daily by the crowd that beseech embassies, including those of the countries that Nigeria sounds better than. Recent visits to the embassies of Mali, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe and Iran confirmed these. And every time by the frustrations and angry outbursts of the common man.

Nation building is in phases. The first phase takes care of the primary needs of the citizens- food, clothes, and shelter; the second takes care of citizens of other lands while the third takes care of the future generation. The Nigerian government has not ensured food on the table of every citizen by providing good jobs, good clothes by paying good salaries and shelter by making the nation conducive for such by providing adequate life and property security. In essence, we’ve not started, but we love to dream, a lot.

Dreams are synonymous with Nigeria. Right from the military regime, we’ve had numerous dreams, operations, programs, and visions. They include Operation Feed the Nation, Operation Farewell to Poverty, Family Support Program, Abacha’s Vision 2010, MDG’s Vision 2015, Vision 2020... The list is endless. While other countries are serious with theirs, we our own seriousness stops at the ceremonial signing ceremony. Past and present Nigerian governments have signed almost every meaningful agreements and Memoranda of Understanding but how many have we fulfilled? I think the international community should ban Nigeria from signing any memoranda and the likes; we are just a waste of their time.

Nigeria is now filled with rituals. As expected, there will be several calls for declaration of June 12 as a national public holiday which I’m totally against. What Nigeria needs is not another holiday to present us as a lazy nation, in fact, we have more than enough, but a re-awakening.

The president, like other political officeholders, needs to realize that there is a lot to accomplish in such a little time. The problems of Nigeria are very popular that every toddler is aware of, making it a waste of time and space mentioning them, and numerous that there is no time to waste. There are perfect examples of countries that were like us before but rose up to become enviable and internationally acclaimed. Mentioning them also would also be a waste.

When Nigerians, both old and young, went to the polls in the wake of June 12, 1993, they went with the zeal and enthusiasm that characterize any nation at the nick of taking critical steps. They believed in their readiness to advance the course of human hood by making a decision that generations to come would look back at and relish the memories of the past generations that placed the nation on the right track.

In the process of these, many were destabilized, rendered homeless while some paid the ultimate price with their lives. When such heavy and grave sacrifices are made, results are expected. When Martin Luther King Jr. led the campaign for equity for all Americans, he lost his life in the course of the struggle but didn’t die in vain. Years later, America listened and hearkened to him. What about Nigeria?

M.K.O. Abiola and several Nigerians lost their lives, properties, visions and comfort to the struggle for a better Nigeria. They laid the foundation for the vibrant Nigeria where freedom is ubiquitous and not the privilege of a chosen few. They instilled the confidence of all and sundry in a better Nigeria and in the process got the nod of God. They did their part, Nigerian citizens are, a demonstrated in June 12, still ready to do their own part but is the umpire, the Nigerian government aware of its part?

There is need for sustenance of democracy, eradication of poverty, corruption and social vices. Corruption and fraudulent activities in high places need to stop so also is the imminent redundancy in government. No public holidays, eulogies, clarion calls and speeches can do the magic or justify the sacrifices of the heroes of June 12. To be a serious nation that deserves a second chance, there is need for action, not agenda which is certainly a waste of God’s time.

Robot  # 1 | 12.06.2009 05:10

Right from the genesis of Biblical history, God has always given ample opportunities to make choices. From Adam wrong choice of apple, Abraham’s choice of sacrificing his only son hoping that god would raise him from the dead, and Noah’s seemingly foolish choice of building an ark when weather forecasts never gave indications to rainfall. God has always given us free hand to determine the outcome in many situations when we expected him to make the decisions for us. As God does to individuals, so also he does for nations. When the founding fathers of the developed countries of the world set out in the advancements of their national causes, they met challenges, temptations and several contending situations that pried on their personal lives but in spite of these trials, they set their priorities. Take the United States of America for example. When Christopher Columbus discovered America, there wasn’t any concrete structu...Read the full article.