I tried looking into the future of a country that once claimed to be the giant of Africa and all I see is darkness. I always try to avoid discussions that have to do with my country because there is technically nothing positive to write about a country that will clock 63 years of age a month from now.
It saddens my heart to see how things keep getting worse in the country, life is becoming unbearable for the citizens of a wealthy country. I was born in the 90s and I can confidently say that nothing has been better in the last two decades in Nigeria.
Nigeria use to be a well-respected country before now around the world but all those things were in the past, and even our neighboring countries see the nation as nothing.
We don't have good infrastructures, and citizens aren't safe due to the high level of insecurity in the country, terrible power supply, poor education system and all these things make me sometimes ask why we are the only country going through all these problems in the world.
This might look like an exaggeration but Nigeria is going through a lot at the moment, things are not well and I don't see any miracle happening forever and forever.
I am not saying this with sentiments, Nigeria as a country is not going anywhere due to many reasons and I will point out a few of them with solutions.
No transparency in government.
The Nigerian government lacks transparency and that has wrecked the country, the people we put in power aren't sincere with the people who put them in power and it is the result of the country's financial crisis at moment.
Mismanagement of funds, Fraud, and Embezzlement are what they do up there and they just give us lies. If there is transparency, nobody in power will be eager to steal because they know that somehow, their secret will be exposed and they don't want to be dragged into the mud.
Have you ever wondered why people are always spending millions on election campaigns, bribing, and doing other illegal things while contesting for the seat of power?
The reason is that they see that place as an opportunity to make money, they lack the understanding that they are meant to serve the people and not the people serving them.
For over a decade now, we have been struggling with terrorism. One group has destroyed lives and homes, the government keeps pumping money into the country's security and yet, there are no changes or improvements. The government claim to be spending millions on weapons and these groups keep getting stronger day by day. The truth is that there are no weapons anywhere, they just endanger the lives of young soldiers and all these wouldn't be happening if there was transparency in the government.
The citizens should be carried along in whatever is happening but this would never be possible because people only duel for power just to steal and nothing more.
Politicians and some citizens are bigger than the law.
How do you expect someone to behave when they know that they can get away with anything they do?
The only time Nigerian politicians face the heat of their crime is only when they are opposing the people in power and as long as you are with the ruling party, your sins are forgiven.
Laws were made to keep the country in shape but we are living in a lawless place where anyone can get away with shit, growth can't happen when people don't abide by the law and this is one of the things that will hinder the positive growth we are expected to see in the country.
On the 20th of October 2020, lots of Nigerian youth were killed. The soldiers who carried out the operation and the person who made the call haven't been brought to book till today, the case is buried.
How do we expect a good future when people can do these things and get away with them?
Bribery
The issue of bribery involves everyone and not just politicians, I doubt if half of the Nigerian population except kids haven't bribed before.
The people bribing and the ones receiving the bribes aren't doing the country any good. We all have a hand in this and until we all see it as the wrong thing to do, I can assure you that the nation will remain stagnant.
Misplaced priorities
The students have been home since February due to the ASUU strike, it would interest you to know that the government pumps out money every day to support their aspirants, our president is making donations to countries to support them while the same money can be used to solve the cause of the strike.
I read about the president saying that the Abacha loot will be used on infrastructure and I wonder why the students aren't considered first. Do you know why?
They don't want to build future leaders that would challenge their authority and they have nothing to benefit from meeting the ASUU demand. If they choose to spend the money on infrastructure, they will make money from it because they will be able to change figures but with ASUU that's not possible because the organization will tell the public how much was given to them by the government.
I give up at this stage because none of these things can or will be rectified in Nigeria since power keep rotating among a group of people with the same orientation. I see people fighting one another because of their favorite candidate for the presidential election and it makes me laugh because nothing is guaranteed. The man you trust most can end up doing nothing just like our current president who has done nothing except the opposite of fighting corruption.
My fellow Nigerians, no one knows how much we are feeling. Guard your heart and life as much as you can, don't let good opportunities pass you by, and never stop praying for yourself and your loved ones, praying for the country is a waste of anointing.