OUR COUNTRY, MY COUNTRY, YOUR COUNTRY Nigeria is polygamy; a cacophony of ethnicity; and people conversant with the matrimonic variance of the word have unsavoury tales to tell about their experiences. Be that as it may there are also some unusual tales of bliss too thereof. This aptly depicts our beloved country Nigeria. Those that fall under the former categorization have even mouthed the need for a revolution.I was convinced that revolution was impossible in these times; given the strengthened nature of the modern State and its instruments of coercion. But the Jasmine Revolution propelled from Tunisia has dispelled such notion. Agreed the spring in the Arab Africa got impetus from the homogeneous nature of these states; in Nigeria it a nullity to envision such for reasons too obvious.� I am not a sage-but nevertheless trust me!In as much as we cannot tread this path, nor the erstwhile Soviet Union�s trajectory; and given our shared experience with the Americans, We as a people should pronounce and accentuate the positives of our shared experiences. Our country, my country, your country has a chequered history replete cite-able instances to buttress. Yes our leaders have under- performed.� �Yes without doubt our elites have collectively failed. Among them we have children of the very poor. Of course there are the very few from prosperous families. But the bulk of them are from indigent backgrounds. By this I do not mean to disparage or offend sensibilities but to sound-out that they should have done better given their backgrounds. They ascended on the magnanimity of a functional system; but regrettably, once they become ensconced in their new found status-what did they do? They removed the leader! And made it an exclusive preserve to which they alone have the prerogative. They crippled a vibrant system that prodded them up. Their children now school abroad, they now hospital abroad - a collective shame, we need to bring them to their past - a beneficial past they have destroyed - out of a non- strategy.Our resolve therefore should be that our elite needs to reconnect to their roots more, they need to re-strategize from their negative intent. They cannot live in isolation, despite their pretences; they are from these climes and must live by the dictate of the circumstance rather than those they have crafted.In this malaise, we also have a culpable followership, what we have done as the lower rung reeks of unforgiveable acquiesce. We cheer at an opportunity of a meet. We must stand resolute without being overtly abusive of doing the right thing. We should not be the rented crowd when that need arises.When we consceintize our self adequately, then can we begin to look forward to the Senegal, Cote� d�Ivoire, and Ghana, recent political experiences. An incumbent and a ruling party can lose an election based on the people�s conviction.We need to embrace citizen advocacy in it varied forms. This will bring about the much chorused �bottom up approach� in policy formulations.� For instance Nigeria has a pool of talented writers. But like my teacher once told me nobody can write the perfect essay. What am I trying to say? We should not be intimidated by these array- we the reading public- yes we can express an opinion- we must therefore not be restricted by our seeming handicap- we must express ourselves to be heard- this shall form the kernel of our advocacy! If the elite refuse to don their thinking cap, we must help them and if the followership does same - it becomes more difficult- but we must also help them.Now our centenary is here � 14 January 2014, we became 100 years together as a people.� a 100year old amalgamation. No use elucidating on this I assume we all know. The Lugardian contraption however our opinion - has lasted a century! And there is no way you will talk about Nigerian Centenary without mentioning Lord Lugard. It is inevitable, agreed we are variously sentimentalize by the outcomes - but we must not overlook the strategy that brought it about- yes strategy - the Brits wanted an administrative convenience and learning from the financial implication of their experience in Senegambia - they did not want to administer such a large area separately�so we have� Nigeria..Our beloved country! We are here - let�s make the most of it! October 1, 2014 Steve Victor Tosin #NationBuilder National Coordinator Hope Initiative Nigeria @stevetosin +2347066727821
Posted on: Thu, 02 Oct 2014 00:54:51 +0000
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