ARE YOU GUILTY? By Muyiwa Afolabi Sometime ago I was opportune to attend a business meeting with a former president of the federal republic. Incidentally I had an informal session with him and we began to discuss and share on the various issues confronting the nation and the youth of this nation. We talked at length about the various previous plans to put Nigeria on track and on a progressive course several times over; all the development plans of the past and how many of them failed in delivering on expectations. Of particular interest to me was the National rolling plan of 1990 which in my opinion is one of the best National development plans put in place to develop Nigeria, I was actually interested in why it failed and how subsequently, our national and economic well-being continued to deteriorate. According to him there are several endemic factors frustrating any development plan in Nigeria and the Rolling Plan of 1990 was no exception. He stated many issues and factors but critical for me was his opinion about how even the youth have in some ways failed the nation. He said to me, Muyiwa in those days as young as we were in our twenties and thirties we already had a sense of duty, direction and responsibility. Many of us had illiterate parents who didnt and couldnt understand what it really meant to be a nationalist or be relevant at the national level. In our days, education was still fledgling; very good teachers but not so many students who were willing to go all the way. Many stopped after primary school and some after secondary education. Only handfuls were willing to go to the university and were very educated. Many around were uneducated and to get them to subscribe or buy into a national concept, ideology and collective progression wasnt a piece of cake. In our days we didnt have the computer, the internet and this quantum of information and knowledge at our finger tips but believe me we spoke better English, wrote better reports and letters, many of us even authored books, read and respected worldwide that most of the youths today cant fully understand nor comprehend. Many young people today keep talking about we the older folks having better opportunities but the truth is many of us were just a generation away from the bush. But, we took our destinies in our hands; we were bold, courageous and daring. We encouraged ourselves and became outstanding through hard work and superior intellectual prowess. Many of us in our twenties and early thirties were already national figures managing key public offices and taking on national responsibilities, it wasnt handed to us, we earned it, we were brilliant, intelligent and many of us earned respect and awards in the various foreign military or civilian academies we attended abroad. We were a brilliant bunch; we were beacons in the midst of a large congregation of not too educated or exposed masses. We had to manage their sentiments, cultural and regional affiliations and hold Nigeria together despite prevalent immaturity and ignorance. Many of us risked our lives; we still carry scars and bullets in our bodies. My son that is courage! We made mistakes no doubt, many mistakes, but we were inexperienced, we had no one to teach us, we had no one to learn from, we were just doing all we knew how to. We looked forward to a generation of better, more brilliant, more intelligent and courageous guys to take over but unfortunately, we have birthed a generation of youth much weaker than we were. These are young men and women too afraid and self-centered to stake anything. Most are fearful, ignorant, laid back, indolent yet full of pride. They want everything to just happen for them without their lifting a finger. At age twenty something, thirty something and even forty something, many still depend on their parents, an uncle or a big shot they know to solve their problems. They lack a sense of responsibility, duty or charge. They lack self-definition; all they are after is personal gain, benefit or reward a position or office can provide. They have no knowledge on how to be effective in that office or to bring about a good change. You give them a contract, they mess it up, you help them with employment they wont work; you help with an appointment all they do is steal. They dont believe in delayed gratification, all theyre after is now! Now!! gain yet they lack the capacity, intelligence, courage and hard work required for early success in life. They keep blaming us, criticizing us and cursing us, but you know what Muyiwa, Im more afraid for their children and what their own children will do to them. We didnt know what to do or how to do it, we were not so experienced, yet one of us was president at age 32 and was courageous, intelligent and hardworking enough to rule for 9 years and even manage a civil war. Muyiwa, many 32 year olds today cant manage a poultry farm successfully with all the internet and information available today. Chinua Achebe wrote things fall apart at age 28, many 35 year olds today will need the dictionary to understand many words in that world class literary expression. Let them keep blaming and criticizing us, we are already on our way out, instead of taking responsibility and focusing on building, developing and making the younger generation stronger and better, they are blaming, cursing and making us the excuse for their indolence, ignorance and timidity. This generation has got tremendous opportunities we never had, yet they keep looking at what is not working, they keep blaming us for what is not working. Unfortunately many young Nigerians are not students of history and are not even interested in their own history. All you hear them talk about are the good things about the old days forgetting all the bad. Muyiwa we fought, we struggled, worked hard, we were oppressed, intimidated, harassed, we cried, we risked our lives, we mourned we were afraid, yet courageous but we kept hope alive. Even in those days, ethnic and tribal violence was prevalent, senseless killings, execution, incarceration, betrayal, Muyiwa there was a war! It didnt just happen it was a consequence. Hmmm. Dear friend is it true, is it true, that many of us are fearful, indolent and laid back. We still run to daddy and mummy for things we ought to be handling by ourselves now? Is it true that many of us cannot speak very good English even though were graduates and our own parents were graduates? Is it true many cant write a book as powerful as things fall apart because we lack the intellectual prowess even at age 30? Who actually did your project in final year, who wrote your thesis, you copied or paid someone to do it? Did you pay for your grades, did you buy your result, or youre today buying jamb and GCE result for your children? Is all you know how to do on the computer social media? BB, Facebook, twitter and the likes? Do you know what Amazon.co.uk is all about? What do you know? What are you risking, what are you staking, what are you sacrificing for your life and Nigeria in whole to become a better place? What constructive initiative are you thinking of establishing? Do you really care enough to do something or youre just a master in criticism. Frankly Speaking with your double MBAs if youre called upon to rule Nigeria today can you? Do you have a copy of the last appropriation bill? Have you read it? What does a development plan mean? You may say its not your line in profession but guess what as a citizen, youre a stake holder you should know, you should be interested, if you dont how can you be relevant, useful and effective. If you say or think all that is not your business then its better to stop complaining and accept whatever youre offered. Dear friend we cant keep talking, its time to act and contribute, its your future, your childrens future. One day they will ask you what you did about the state of Nigeria. One day they will surely ask you. In my opinion we have too many old babies in Nigeria, waiting to be spoon-fed; rejecting responsibility, chasing personal benefits. Please make no mistake Im definitely not an apologist for anyone or any generation, but I must confess Im afraid for this generation of Nigerian youths. Please I appeal to you, perform your work well, improve yourself, pursue excellence; be committed, passionate and responsible. Our collective challenge is an outcome of our collective negligence. If you do the right thing and I do the right thing, Its a matter of time we will begin to see the right results. Dear friend, youre not handed responsibility, you take responsibility. Are you guilty? Enjoy your day.
Posted on: Sat, 29 Nov 2014 05:40:02 +0000
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