To say that we aren't backwards in most African nations would be a lie. Every aspect of life in Africa needs a breakthrough. It is even funny how we try to copy systems that do not suit us in any way. We say we have gained independence, but are we really free? What we have now is neocolonialism. It is even worse than colonialism in the sense that many people do not want to admit its presence because they believe we are truly free.
Are we really free? The white people may no longer be physically present, like during the colonial era, but many of their activities still exist through NGOs across Africa. A lot of these organizations were supposed to bring relief, but in reality, many have not truly helped as expected.
Let’s talk about our leaders first. They are among the worst when it comes to decision-making. They tend to copy what European nations are doing but fail to implement it properly. It is a shame that a nation like Nigeria can not boast of 20 hours of electricity daily. Isn’t that crazy? It is even laughable when government houses opt for solar power because electricity has become too expensive. Is that not a joke of the highest order?
At times, I ask myself who bewitched or cursed us in Africa, especially in our nation, that we find it so difficult to get things right. Imagine the current president turning the economy upside down while world leaders claim he is doing the right thing. He widened the tax system and removed fuel subsidy without much to show for it. He said we were only going through the baby steps of pain, I think that was two years ago when he removed the subsidy, and the government received a huge amount of money from it.
However, it is shocking to see the government still borrowing billions of dollars, and I wonder if we truly know what we are doing at all. It is only when godfatherism disappears that we can survive in African politics. The system of bringing leaders into power is deeply flawed, and power has been taken out of the hands of the masses. Only a few people dictate what happens in this country.
Many people now see relocation as the better path to making money because jobs or opportunities they could not do in their own country, they are willing to do abroad without hesitation. During colonial times, people were taken away as slaves, but now many willingly sell their properties to pursue relocation, and once it works out, society quickly celebrates them.
Can we blame them? The truth is that relocation is part of human nature. People are bound to move from one place to another. But when almost everyone begins to associate going abroad with success, then it becomes a serious problem.
If I had the opportunity, I would also relocate, but I do not support the idea of selling everything just to travel abroad. Besides, what can most people even sell today to raise the amount required to relocate? It is already too expensive to begin with.
How do we rescue our nation and Africa at large from the grip of imperialism? When are we going to get things right in this country? Will we ever truly get there? When will Africa be blessed with revolutionary leaders who do not care about what the Western world thinks?