Pathway To Nigeria’s Greatness
The United States of America, USA, is a replica of the union of Northern and Southern states together to form Nigeria, in 1914. We shared common similarities a lot. Much as the USA is made up of 500 tribes, Nigeria is composed of 371 tribes, speaking diverse languages, as well. The New World fought a civil war, in 1861, for their survivals, led by Abraham Lincoln, on the other hands, Nigeria battled hers, in 1967, under Yakubu Gowon, and remain united equally. In spite of being shaken by storms, both remained united, stronger, and determined to book their places in history as two of a kind. Thus, outsiders have not ceased envying these two wonders of the world!
Nigeria is a unique nation with a great people. All available facts and features point to this assertion. Topography such as lands, rivers, mountains, and rivers perfectly positions her to such elevation as a blessed nation, not just a run-on-the-mill republic of the world.
The abundance of arable soil for growing any kind of crops stands her out as a destined nation state for growing what she eats and consuming it at the same time, which is very rare in other climes.
Looking to the North and South, we are blessed by huge natural resources including palm oils, oil, petroleum, gas, coal etc. Coupled with this, the Mother Nature suffused her with immense human resources (that are youthful and greatly talented population), capable of standing side-by-side with their peers anywhere in the world, without feeling deprived or disadvantaged.
Fortunately, while geographical locations and land masses of other regions are threatened and constantly attacked by nature, on the other hands, Nigeria have been exempted from disasters such as tremors, earthquakes, landslide, harsh seasons, cyclones, typhoons, hurricanes etc. except occasional flooding that is always immediately brought under control when it occurs.
Having led peace-keeping roles in other West African countries, to restore democracy to countries including Liberia (in 1990), Sierra Leon (in 1997), and Gambia (in 2017), Nigeria has, however, earned a place for herself in the world as truly a great country. Little wonder, we are regarded as a ‘Big Brother’ in Africa.
This is readily affirmed by other inhabitants, outside this shores who regarded Nigerians as a rare race wonderfully molded and united by design or chance to be the vanguard of the entire black race.
Historically, moments after independence Nigeria was hyped to high heavens alongside its counterparts like India, Malaysia, Singapore, and other similar countries who gained self-ruled during the same period as belonging to those to take over affairs of their continents respectively. However, this was not unconnected to its visions and a strong currency that was at par with the Great Britain Pounds and slightly stronger than the Dollar.
Unfortunately, as time passed this was not to be due to lopsided activities we handled our affairs over the turns of decades.
So, what could have made her be far behind her contemporaries that they took off together to have edged her out of becoming an Eldorado?
The answer is not far to seek! An African proverb said, “A pack of Lions led by a Sheep would always be defeated by a herd of Sheep led by a Lion.”
The truth is, since independence, Nigeria has been led by Hyenas and Jackals who cared little for the Sheep and Goat — masses, with only a few exceptions.
Such power drunken reckless scoundrel saw services for the fatherland as self-seeking contributions to profit themselves and their cronies, at the expense of the helpless and hapless masses whose back they rode to prominence and power.
This was underscored and brought to light by a former Central Bank of Nigeria’s Governor (now Emir of Kano), Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II, summarized the problems of Nigeria as largely ‘a vested interest’.
The truth behind the nation’s nightmares has further emerged two years after General Mohammad Buhari assumed the leadership of this great nation that the buck stops at the doorsteps of the parliamentarians. The humongous unnecessary commonwealth appropriated by those we elected to serve us at the green chambers is really alarming and painful.
Therefore, where do we go from here amidst all these dead weights that are staring us in the face from realizing all our true potentials?
The late former Prime Minister of Singapore, Yuan Kun Liu, said in his book titled, “From Third World To First”, that much of the successes recorded in his over 30 years rule was attributed to the literacy of the led — masses and his cabinets that insulated them from being a victim of con politicians of vested interests.
Interestingly, his government was able to build a formerly divided and war-turned nation, composed men of different nationalities and religions, from ground up to stand side-by-side with any advanced western worlds. Furthermore, Singapore, prior to non-exist natural and physical resources whatsoever, they creatively harnessed their human resources potentials to be one of the Four Asian Tigers in the Eastern Continents.
Thus, they were no longer rated Third but First World!
