Looking at the crystal ball, we see the three major setbacks facing Nigeria namely political, economic and socio-cultural (tribe and religion). Nigerian citizens cannot breathe or move freely as citizens of the world. Nigeria is notoriously known all over the world by its intimidating position in Africa and her serpentine way of governance. Since Nigeria got her independence from the British, Nigeria has never made proper use of the interminable resources the British left behind untapped. Nigeria jumped into wealth and does not know what to do with the wealth. Those in power did their shopping in London because money was in abundance and it is the same money that is far away from her citizens. The same money is in the hands of the present politicians who govern the country. One does not need to have a prophet to mention the condition of Nigeria and her citizens now. Funny enough, whatever is negative but has monetary value, Nigeria steps into it.
Nigeria is seen as a terrorist country by other nations due to insecurities caused by the activities of bandits and Boko Haram and yet Nigeria calls the citizens clamouring for liberation; terrorists. The government has been promising and renewed her promise again that banditry and terrorism would end in December, according to Daily SUN of September 6, 2022 which may raise eye brows to skeptics. It creates cautious optimism. We applaud the federal government for taking a step to eliminate terrorists but we all know that these insecurity elements can’t disappear in a twinkle of an eye but would be gradually phased out in Nigeria if peace and unity return to Nigeria. Otherwise many will be feeling as if they are expecting a pie from heaven. Without cooperation to make it happen, it could become another fairytale! Our greatest problem in Nigeria is the polarization of Nigerian politics. It has to be cleared with sincerity of pure politics and not polluting the minds of the citizenry because what we have been experiencing now is making us to be future oriented with these experiences.
We have noticed in the past that ethnic politics has led us back and we need extra sensitivity to examine what has led us backwards in order not to repeat it again. Politicians have used ethnicity to achieve their goals. The American president; Joe Biden has discovered the politics of disunity and extremism through racism and how to empower the low income earners in America and lift the American economy. This politics of extremism tends to destroy democracy in America. Since he has been battling with these, his approval rate is increasing. Many Americans feel there is hope for the future. That is what we need to clear the political and economic disaster debris that have enveloped the Nigerian economy and kept us in dark perpetual struggles thereby deforming us in the global map. By Biden’s intervention in the social world today; we can see America as the father of the world. See how the president makes life better for his citizens. By sober reflection, I have not seen any poor man who struggled to go to America and returns home poor! Those who come back from America maintaining the rules, develop their towns.
By so doing America helps them to develop their own place too. America tolerates so much because it is the home of Immigrants. Look at Mexico; it is an exit to America. Even though some past American leaders that came to power may not have polices that can accommodate people coming to America like Trump banning Muslims from coming to America. Some have human heart and come to know that America is a home of immigrants. In Nigeria the leaders must try to know that leaders are servants of the people and should serve them well in order to receive their cooperation and loyalty and bring out the best in them. In a place like Nigeria, we need leaders that can solve our innumerable problems irrespective of our religious and ethnic divides. Nigerians have learnt their lessons of ethnicity and should not repeat it again. Imagine former American President; Barack Obama coming from Kenya becoming the president of the world power; America. What is wrong with Nigeria? Choice of leadership, where we come from poisons our choice. That is the person who is not from our clan. What we need now is transparency, how to deliver and understand our Nigerian problems not to bother about where you come from. That is the quest for all Nigerians. Nigerians should decide well at the forthcoming 2023 elections to make a difference!
• Very Rev. Monsignor Livinus Ukah is a Catholic Priest, Author of many books and a Social Justice and Peace Advocate
