AmanaOnline

Nigerians cheer each other with accolades and recognitions for those who simply get to the top by luck, instead of the din of their hard work.

We convene in big halls to remind ourselves of long forgotten plans that were never implemented so that some of us can use their newfound knowledge to show-off their paper achievement. Most will be clapping robotically, and many others will watch to see who the big honcho is, who will be recognized to leave the Venue first.

Thereafter, we will pretend ‘awe’ at the dumb urchins who use force and intimidation to keep us in check, while they flaunt our commonwealth as their own. We scurry to every Venue that a UN, or a WHO, or any similar international exploiter Organization, (NGOs), who come with hare-brained programs, that forces us to focus on silly issues, but never come with plans for Nigeria’s industrialization.

They have loans for us, only to be spent as they see fit, but they never bring loans to rebuild our villages, and roads, or nuclear power stations; (ok Chinese are trying), because the loans are only large enough to pay for their logistics and a also pay a few of us who are willing to condemn our local systems, and our education, for theirs, which is alien and unfit for us

Those of us who should know better are usually quick to throw out the totality of our knowledge for their “Ghana must go bags” of Naira and a briefcase of dollars. We have no spine, never standing up for the right things that will benefit all Nigerians. We must begin the journey in earnest. After all of us acknowledge that we the people are the genesis of all our problems!!

A cursory examination will confirm to the world and those of us paying attention that we live in a country where there is virtually no middle class. Leadership has a role to play in building a virile society. Nonetheless, the absence of a strong middle class is the result of our own doing. We instinctively enjoy glorifying thieves and extortionists who rob us in broad daylight and sprinkle crumbs for us to wrestle and die over. Yet, it is clear to all that without a safe and secure middle class, you just cannot have a genuine political advancement and social development.

The extremely poor are busy surviving and the extremely wealthy are busy protecting their assets. Nigerians must accept and work hard to build a vibrant middle class, because a large and stable middle class is the key to a modern society. Our laziness must be defeated, and hard work embraced. There is no legitimate quick way to become rich. But there is a defined comfort for those willing to work hard and use their brains and skills for the benefit of all.

They say our election are violent, our politicians are dumber than door knobs, and the general electorate are ready to sell every vote for about N500. But my question is, why are you surprised when the education system is rote-based; a system condemned to study books and theories formed back in the 1800s? It does not encourage much creative expression.

The number of people whose thinking or analysis has stop at a fixed point is astounding.

Primary and elementary education is a mirage because we do not invest in those schools anymore. Secondary schools are less equipped than prisons, and the atrocious ‘school feeding’ ensures that no pupil can learn anything with a hungry stomach.

Our education is now left in the hands of thieves who steal our money, build their schools, charge us an arm and a leg and then take their owns kids to schools outside of Nigeria to study.

Then politicians show up! They are ignorant of who we are. They do not cultivate, study or try to understand why Nigerians are reticent to challenge the status quo. They do not question whether that is family customs, religious restrictions, or social mores, they do not spend the needed time to fill in the blanks as to why Nigerians will bend over backwards to accommodate and please others even if it means remaining stuck and unhappy.

They just come down here full of disdain for those opposed to them, because in their small inconsequential circles, they are rarely challenged. They insist on challenging the decision of the majority of Nigerians, and insult them by saying they know better than all of us. They will fail and leave many invested with life and limb only to be left in a leaky boat in the middle of the sea. We have seen them before. Only the names are different.

As far as inviting ALL Nigerians to contribute towards national development, our women are left out because Nigerians respect the unspoken misogyny. In many parts of Nigerian, the absence of women in all spheres of life guarantees the disadvantages in economic development, for a sustained improvements in our standard of living. The exclusion of women is an impediment to moving forward. Women get stuck, and our society remain stuck in perpetual penury. Culture must acknowledge this shortcoming and push to change it quickly.

I laugh when I hear many cheering our Democracy, (without the solid foundations, the systems, and requisite behaviours needed to practice it well) . The west will never allow a truly democratic government in Africa, that is truly independent, Nigeria Included. Let’s face it, imperialists have always supported tyrants at the expense of democracy. This has ruined country after country, with effects that can last generations. African Governments of today are the by-products of tyrants that enjoyed the support of western powers while they fleeced our oil and gold.

Nigeria still does not know how much oil we drill from the wells. They do not employ us in the jobs that will remove control from their purview. They bribe the top 0.1% so that the status quo is never threatened. They also help our thieves hide our money in their banks so that we are denied the use of the stolen money. Yet we cheer that they are looking out for us when they speak their ‘pretense’ in the open, and demand their national interest behind closed doors. It is sad we never learn. So, Insult and disparage us all you want. Those aiming for the moon cannot start the journey from Mars.

My sense is that while a lot of forward movement quickly deteriorated, the chaos of those years will be good for a RENEWAL of energy and deep analysis of our predicament as a people and a nation. Nigeria is full of vibrant and good-hearted people who are systematically misinformed, misguided, mis-educated and misrepresented.

Religion divides us, Ignorance controls us, Truth scares us, And Politics impoverishes us.

We can’t change that with a threat. Respect the few of us who tell you the truth even if it is at our own peril. Now we are told, no one can criticize the unelected leaders of a democracy built to serve only the elites and their families.

(Ohh, and by the way, Aminu is not a criminal)

Hf Dauda MoiSoro

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