I think the problem with our Nigeria is that many of us are just too obsessed with material things and desire power at all cost. This has allowed evil and nepotism to take its roots. The problem is a hydra headed one.
Our taste for expensive things is just outrageous. Many of us don't have value for things, work and people. That is why people with money are exalted without questioning how the money was made. That is why many thieves have become chiefs, that is why criminals have become occupants of front seats at occasions and sadly even in some churches. That is why there is now a rise in membership and number of occultic groups like never before.
As an example, it is common to hear a person back home call mid-range or low-end priced mobile phones "pure water" to make it look common when such a person has no work and cannot afford to buy such phones. The people who live in countries where these phones are made are contented with a phone as long as they are able to make their calls and send text messages.
Surprisingly, this group are the ones who will want to have the most expensive stuff because they feel that is what make them the "happening person" if I may borrow another of their slangs. Not until we begin to criminalize those who have made their money illegitimately, things will not make a turn-around.
Corruption and cheating is rife in our society because many in our country lack the courage and moral strength to say "NO". Many have become professional sycophants because of money. The institutions that used to question illegality are now at the fore of promoting it. Many of those who have been abroad are even worse-off, because they come with an attitude of superiority and are not able to influence the orientation and attitudes of the people positively.
These "I don go oyinbo landers" are seen frolicking in extravagant parties, blaring loud music in their cars, devoid of basic respect and other positive local values they used to embrace before "dem travel". They are not quick to give the real perspective of life overseas and what those desperate to leave should really know before leaving. They are not quick to share the positive values they have experienced abroad: the attitude towards time, appreciation of honest work, appreciation of environment, well developed infrastructural system, good tax system, functional upright justice system which largely do not give preferences to "sacred cows"...
Nigeria will truely change when we all decide to change and not compromise on any issue no matter who is involved. It will change when our attitude to money and material things change. Ideally we should control money but it is sad that it is the other way round for many of us. This die-hard quest for wealth has driven many a heart ice cold and insensitive to how their actions will impact the lives of those at the recieving end. Rather than solve the problem we try to get around it. The governors and others in power are buying expensive 4X drive vehicles to cope with horrible state of the roads rather than fix the roads...what a mentality.
The solution is simply choosing that which is right (not to our greedy selfish part) and following through in action. That is simply the key because if we don't first change, there is no way we can change our country.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
RE:NIGERIAN ELECTIONS:IDEALISM, FACTS & REPORTAGE
This is a response to the article posted on the Nigeriaworld page on 26th April 2007, by Leonard Karshima Shilga an Asst. Prof at the ABTI University. It would be ideal if you peruse that article as it will give you a better understanding of this posting.
http://nigeriaworld.com/feature/publication/shilgba/042607.html
I will start off by stating that someone like Umaru Yar´Adua winning the election is not the question, he stands among the few whose credibility and integrity leaves little for questions. Buhari sold out when he tried to play the muslims against the Christians (a true leader unifies) and Atiku has personally not been able to proffer convincing explanations for his massive wealth just like many other Nigerian politicians.
However, the problem comes down to how the elections (Presidential and otherwise) were conducted. Prof. Shilga seems to be of the opinion that Nigerians are unintelligent and immature to make informed and independent decisions of theirs thus suggesting that we have been brainwashed to believe what is fed to us by the international community or the local press without our own critical assessment of the reality.
I do not know the source of his information but reports from across Nigeria originating from Nigerians and witnessed by Nigerians clearly prove otherwise. More than 250 lives were wasted during the last elections, serious harassment of candidates and voters took place, properties worth millions were destroyed apart from the electoral fraud outlined above and yet it beats my reasoning why Prof. Shilga would want to make Nigerians believe that it is the International community that is prompting us to believe that the elections did not go well.
Sir, "have you followed the French elections or the just concluded Finnish elections?" These countries both make electioneering process very alluring and beautiful, not the sham elections we had. It made you feel proud to be a part of the electorate in these places because your vote COUNTED. No one can tell you "whether you vote or not, I will get the ticket."
Justifying the results of the elections by the fact that it was accepted by SA election commission and the governors forum does not in any way hold water. Most of the governors in Nigeria in the first instance lack any credibility and as such have become "YES MEN" in an attempt to protect themselves from the onslaught of OBJ. The fact that Nnamani said that the elections were rigged was nothing but the obvious truth, though one would say it was a "diplomatic mistake" but he did have the guts to come out and say in unequivocal terms that our elections was dubious.He can´t be crucified for that.
We seem to be quick to blame all our problems on the colonial masters. When leaders steal money, it is colonial masters that takes the buck, when there is religious crisis it is the colonial masters...... it is time we wake-up and accept responsibility for our irresponsibility, poor leadership and total squander of opportunities. We have had our independence for over 45 years , we need to grow up. I can´t even imagine why we could not even print our own ballot papers and have to contract it to a SA firm!!!!!!!!! I am ashamed that Malaysia we assisted in setting up some its oil plantations, as an example, has long made a head way while we continue to grapple with the very basics. It is time we stopped deceiving ourselves. We are our problem.
http://nigeriaworld.com/feature/publication/shilgba/042607.html
I will start off by stating that someone like Umaru Yar´Adua winning the election is not the question, he stands among the few whose credibility and integrity leaves little for questions. Buhari sold out when he tried to play the muslims against the Christians (a true leader unifies) and Atiku has personally not been able to proffer convincing explanations for his massive wealth just like many other Nigerian politicians.
However, the problem comes down to how the elections (Presidential and otherwise) were conducted. Prof. Shilga seems to be of the opinion that Nigerians are unintelligent and immature to make informed and independent decisions of theirs thus suggesting that we have been brainwashed to believe what is fed to us by the international community or the local press without our own critical assessment of the reality.
He stated, " Neo-colonialism simply means mental colonization. Many Africans are still suffering from this. Self-doubt and foreign-reliance even for littlest of processes like democratization, is a symptom of mental colonization."
I STRONGLY disagree with his stand. If the truth be told, We do not need any foreign body or political analyst to tell us that the strategies to sabotage and tilt the scales in the last elections was preplanned, rehearsed and executed by PDP. Even the least informed Nigerian knows that. OBJ personally accepted that the elections was flawed, so did ASUU, Gani and many other Nigerians (organisations and individuals alike). Are all these people and organisations wrong?
How would Prof. Shilga explain the situation in Ondo state where PDP won a seat in a constituency in which they never fielded a candidate, the announcement of a victor in Delta when some of the electorates were still in the queue to satisfy one of their most important civic duties? How would the Prof. explain the outright snatching of ballot boxes or the announcement of a winner where elections never took place...?
I do not know the source of his information but reports from across Nigeria originating from Nigerians and witnessed by Nigerians clearly prove otherwise. More than 250 lives were wasted during the last elections, serious harassment of candidates and voters took place, properties worth millions were destroyed apart from the electoral fraud outlined above and yet it beats my reasoning why Prof. Shilga would want to make Nigerians believe that it is the International community that is prompting us to believe that the elections did not go well.
Sir, "have you followed the French elections or the just concluded Finnish elections?" These countries both make electioneering process very alluring and beautiful, not the sham elections we had. It made you feel proud to be a part of the electorate in these places because your vote COUNTED. No one can tell you "whether you vote or not, I will get the ticket."
Justifying the results of the elections by the fact that it was accepted by SA election commission and the governors forum does not in any way hold water. Most of the governors in Nigeria in the first instance lack any credibility and as such have become "YES MEN" in an attempt to protect themselves from the onslaught of OBJ. The fact that Nnamani said that the elections were rigged was nothing but the obvious truth, though one would say it was a "diplomatic mistake" but he did have the guts to come out and say in unequivocal terms that our elections was dubious.He can´t be crucified for that.
We seem to be quick to blame all our problems on the colonial masters. When leaders steal money, it is colonial masters that takes the buck, when there is religious crisis it is the colonial masters...... it is time we wake-up and accept responsibility for our irresponsibility, poor leadership and total squander of opportunities. We have had our independence for over 45 years , we need to grow up. I can´t even imagine why we could not even print our own ballot papers and have to contract it to a SA firm!!!!!!!!! I am ashamed that Malaysia we assisted in setting up some its oil plantations, as an example, has long made a head way while we continue to grapple with the very basics. It is time we stopped deceiving ourselves. We are our problem.
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