When Livingstone set out for England in 1856, he determined to take with him Sekwubu, the leader of his African excort.
But when the party reached Mauritius, the poor African was bewildered by the steamers and other marvels of civilization that he went mad, threw himself into the sea and was seen no more.
Excerpts from Faces In The Fire and other Fancies by Frank Boreham (pg18)
Without much doubt, our backwardness didn't begin today.
70 percent of Nigerians today don't know anything about our past. The few who are concerned about it are mostly the tribal jingoist who are more concerned about the interrelation their tribes had with other lesser ''tribes''.
This isn't a debate about African civilization. It's a call for a sober reflection on the supposed gains and strides we've made since independence as a country and continent.
Legend has it that centuries ago, the gods sent a box to Pandora. She was instructed not to open the box no matter the circumstance.
Out of curiosity, she opened the box and great evil came upon mankind.
Like most legends, the vericity of the above story is doubted yet it's morals is unmatched.
I personally believe that the box was opened by Pandora on the African continent.
Recently I had a conversation with my dad who is in his sixties. I was boasting about the great future ahead of Africans and Nigerians especially.
He simply winced at me while shaking his head.
He replied. ''Gone are the good old days where you won't have to struggle to get jobs. Your degree or knowledge of any craft was just what it took to get a job''.
Recently I have been clamouring for my friends on facebook and elsewhere to get their PVC (permanent voters card).
Reading some scholarly exposition and dissertation on the political experience of Nigeria has spurred this little piece.
No matter who we get into Aso Rock, the person will be no different than other leaders we've ever had.
This is because our problem has always been congenital.
The ethos in our political system has always been a proclivity to get wealth and more wealth.
An example is a tale of two men who were impecunious while seeking for the number one position in our country. One claimed he once had no shoes to wear.
The other bemoaned his inability to get the presidential form.
These two men drifted far from their promises after they got the position they wanted.
Our educational system is one that is Luddite in nature.
With an amazing population of engineers and science students (not Olamide kinda), we still find it difficult to get roads tarred without defect for a good number of years.
Nigeria needs a leader with no ethnic or religious affiliation. A politic with an unselfish aim to curb the continuous turning of Nigerians into cardavers in their own land and outside.
As a Christian, I haven't really heard or read about any notable impact by a Christian leader save for Dora Akunyili.
This shows the level of our followership of Christ and his precept.
The righteous man often times gets his hands soiled before he gets to the top.
Like the drum beats control the dancer, he moves according to the order of his cohorts......
To be continued.