PATRIOTISM, LACKING IN NIGERIA Nigeria as a Nation has not witnessed good governance since we attained independent in 1960. We have moved from one challenges to another due to ethnic dichotomy Some pundit felt that the nationalist should have gone round the country sensitizing the people on the issue of (love) which is the brain child of patriotism according to Christian injunction, two cannot walk together unless they agree. During my days as a student in foreign countries, I observed that in every independent days, children do gather under their National FLAG to observe prayers. Urging God to up lift their Nation. This spirit is lacking in this country. Occasionally, some people go to the extent of subverting the will of the people by doing what they feel suit them without caring what the masses will say. The enthronement of President Goodluck Jonathan as the president of this great country is almost bringing stability and institutionalizing the paradigm of equity, accountability and bringing back the confidence of our people and that of International communities. The recent comment of president Obasanjo describing president goodluck jonathan as tyrant is quiet irritating and absurd in every standard. I think we Nigerians should have the courage to ask him the likes of Joshua Dariye, Rasheed Ladoja, Ayodele Fayoshe, Chris Ngige who were roughly manhandled, despite these people have immunity that covers them, at the same time. It was during the tenure of Baba that chief Bola Ige, Harry Marshal were gruesomely murdered in a controversial circumstances that Baba rose up to say that the incident was an armed robbery related case. The mere fact that Jonathan decides to ignore some of the advices of Baba does not mean that Jonathan is steering the Nation to chaos. Our people should remember that this nation belong to all Nigeria, not to a few that are not up to 2% of the population of this nation that want to hold this country to ramson. For every government that in power they are ever present. The mass defection of PDP house member to opposition APC is completely devoid of any ideology; rather it is cloudily with intention of seizing power and remain relevant all the time. It is only in Nigeria that you see governors who have served two terms without anything to show for, used their financial strength to bulldoze their way to Nigeria senate because of poverty which is ravaging the nation as result of total neglect at some of the states. In advanced democracy which we all pretends we are coping, one hardly see a democrats crossing over to republican, they rather choose to remain in their party, push their ideology until people see reason to toe to their ideology. The funny aspect , are the ways and manner these caliber of person go about this business of change as they continue to sell these unholy ideology to the masses is quiet unfortunate. People like Tinubu who governed and loot Lagos dry for eight years, later imposed his wife Oluremi as a senator, his son inlaw as house member and making his daughter as the Iya-Oja of lagos. The likes of Fani Kayode , the former aviation minister who is doing everything within his reach to extricate himself from N230 million that is hanging on his neck, Tom Ikemi of the Obasanjo, Obasanjo Audu Ogbeh one time national chairman of PDP whom raging fire consumed, Akume, Former governor of benue state, after serving two term, the bug of insatiable caught up with him, then he jumped the fence and identify with ACN, used his financial strength to buy his way to the senate or Bukola Saraki who made Kwara state his personal inheritance, it is highly disturbing to note that our people hardly throw in towels not until death struck. If one take inventory right from the time this nation gained independent, you will discovered that every government in power people are the clog in the wheel of progress of this great Nation and they are the same people casting as person on the person of president (GEJ) we are highly disturb when people said that (GEJ) is not performing, my question is this, what perimeter do they use to adjudge him. Is it our constitution which is a military compendium that is devoured of the masses input! That is why majority of Nigerians were clamoring for National conference which will provide the needed platform for discussion and incidentally help to chart ways forward. People should remember that this country operates a federal system of government with the state as federating unit which implies that the state can survive on their own without shuttling to Abuja on monthly basis to share from the Nation resources. After sharing, we have noticed that larger part of this fund normally ends in foreign banks which breed corruption. A lot is wrong, by the time, the National conference commence, reprieve will surely come, critics of president Jonathan are not that fair to him. The Privatization of PHCN is a gigantic steps the president has taken. Previous administrations were hesitant to undertake this task because of the financial implication, time frame involved before normal electricity will be available to all and sundry. Investigation from countries that have taken this giant step shows that patients were their watchword. Generation of electricity and transmission are herculean task and it was because of the importance the Good Luck administration attached to this project necessitated the termination of contracted agreement which the government had with Manitoba, a Canadian firm, the company charged with the transmission of electricity. Nigerian s easily forgets the problem encountered when telecommunication sector underwent the same transformation. At the beginning, we witnessed the same scenario not until the system stabilized, one will notice the stiff competition amongst various telecommunication companies which have brought down call rates, investment and provide jobs. We are in for the same in electric sectors. Al l these good intentions of Mr. President will come to fruition, if we learn to comport ourselves well. The scene we all witnessed at the day the financial minister presented the budget of the 2014 before the joint house of National assembly does not portray this country well before the eyes of the international communities. A situation where a member of the house of the Representative could dressed down the minister of finance, a highly respected personality because he does not like her face does not auger well for this nascent democracy. We are all mindful of all the dynamic sound we hear this days, all point to 2015 general election. In Fairness there is the wholesome need that all the gladiators to tread softly. The way and manner they all are going about it does not shows that we have learnt anything from our nascent democracy. Politics, should not be a do or die affair, like my late brother of the blessed memories, Alhaji Waziri Ibrahim, who randomly opined that we should eschewed bitterness when playing politics, and it only God that gives power, and he take it whenever he wants. Throughout history, societies that have crossed the threshold of development, have always worked together as one. Development only comes when there is social contract between leaders and the people. David Akano National Coordinator Okigwe Zone senatorial Zone Town Congress.
Posted on: Mon, 03 Feb 2014 11:29:52 +0000
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