WHICH WAY NIGERIA, WHICH WAY TO GO!
October 22, 2020 | News
“Which way Nigeria, Which way to go, I love my father land, I want to know. Yes, I want to know, I love my fatherland, Which Way Nigeria is heading to?” Those were the lyrics of a very popular song by one of Nigeria’s finest, Sunny Okosun, which was released in 1985.
WHICH WAY NIGERIA, WHICH WAY TO GO!
“Which way Nigeria, Which way to go, I love my father land, I want to know. Yes, I want to know, I love my fatherland, Which Way Nigeria is heading to?” Those were the lyrics of a very popular song by one of Nigeria’s finest, Sunny Okosun, which was released in 1985. It has been 35 years and still counting, yet the lyrics of this song is still very much relevant in explaining the abominable things happening in present day Nigeria. In fact, hardly can anyone think of the seemingly intractable tragedies of the Nigerian nation nowadays without a deep-seated anger, frustration, hopelessness, and prolonged lamentation. All of which make one to ask that question again – which way is Nigeria going?
Other verse of the said song read: “Many years after independence. We still find it hard to start. How long shall we be patient till we reach the promise land. Let’s save Nigeria, So Nigeria won’t die…” As real and sad as the situation then in the country when this song was released by Sunny Okosun, that is still the same story today in Nigeria, and of course worse. Fela Anikulapo (Ransome) Kuti songs were great pointer to the sad realities of the Nigeria deplorable situation. One of which is the fact that Nigerians, have become a people who are “Suffering and smiling” in the midst of everything wrong in the country. Fela was a Nigerian musician, political activist and Pan-Africanist. Most of Fela released music albums were all about urging for ‘good governance’ and speaking against the social injustice and the wrongs in the Nigerian society, and indeed the entire Africa. These men were musicians and great thinkers who saw the tomorrow of Nigeria, and were bold enough to have condemned the political leaders for being responsible for the poverty, backwardness, underdevelopment and sufferings in Nigeria.
With the space between the rich and poor, the Government and the Governed, the haves and the have-nots, and the now Public Masters and the Public (Common masses) – increasing daily, we would not be wrong to say that Nigeria is being pushed to the verge of becoming a tragedy as a nation, or as a failed state.
if it is possible for us to sit down and calculate all the money recklessly/inappropriately spent by the Nigerian Government at all levels, in their so-called ‘Governance Activities’, within the last 21 years plus of our democratic dispensation, the results will not only be shocking and quite revealing, but it will also not be commensurate with the deplorable status of the living standard of the common masses and the country which they are expected to govern effectively in the first place. Rather than the “high cost of governance” to reflect on improving living conditions of the populace, it is only reflected on some “selected public holders” and those in and around government, leaving the majority of the population in perpetual want, poverty and need.
It is very disheartening to note the way our supposed “Public Servants” have turned to “Public Master” who misuse/misappropriate/mismanage and waste public funds in the name of doing ‘government work’; while the ‘Common Masses” they are supposed to ‘serve’ are left to wallow in abject poverty. It is only in this country you will find most public officials living beyond their legitimate means of livelihood.
As noted by Dr. Israel Nonyerum Davidson of Newcastle Business School in the United Kingdom, that Associate Professor Chionu, raised some points about the make-up of Nigeria’s political arena, and leadership, when he said; “IN NIGERIA, IT IS EASIER FOR DROP OUTS, THE INCOMPETENT, THE INEXPERIENCED, THE CORRUPT, AND MEN OF ILLEGITIMATE AND UNMERITED WEALTH TO SECURE GOVERNMENT APPOINTMENTS AND POLITICAL POWER”. Consequently, our politicians are acutely sick - meaning: Selfish, Incompetent, Corrupt. A cocktail of these three evils, delivers nothing but a failed state. Now watch this, for their incompetence, insensitivity to the plight of majority of Nigerians and lack of patriotism, they compensate themselves with extremely generous salaries and pension scheme beyond the reach of the leaders of free and prosperous economies like the US, UK, China, Singapore and United Arab Emirates. Yet, you remain silent! Suffering and smiling! Why?
Truth is, we have no other country to call our own but this one. Our political leaders need to be more empathetic and selfless in the discharge of their governance activities. The masses themselves need to be more bold and courageous in demanding for good governance, without selling their birth rights over a pot of porridge or become too sentimental in our judgement of what is wrong and right. “We need to reprogram the mindset of our nation, redefine and communicate what constitutes hard work, merit, quality, world-class performance and wealth in our country. We need to rehabilitate our country’s image, increase national productivity and wealth, and improve standard of living and security for all in the North and South. It is important. For we must restructure this nation to make it locally and internationally competitive. Make it functions better. More productive, more united, and economically, technologically and militarily stronger. Enough is enough! As Charley Boy puts it: “Our mumu don do.” We must reclaim our country. The handwriting is now on the wall. We must all agree now that a new era of hope is possible. Our time to reclaim this country is NOW!”
Zik Gbemre.
October 27, 2020.
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes
“Which way Nigeria, Which way to go, I love my father land, I want to know. Yes, I want to know, I love my fatherland, Which Way Nigeria is heading to?” Those were the lyrics of a very popular song by one of Nigeria’s finest, Sunny Okosun, which was released in 1985. It has been 35 years and still counting, yet the lyrics of this song is still very much relevant in explaining the abominable things happening in present day Nigeria. In fact, hardly can anyone think of the seemingly intractable tragedies of the Nigerian nation nowadays without a deep-seated anger, frustration, hopelessness, and prolonged lamentation. All of which make one to ask that question again – which way is Nigeria going?
Other verse of the said song read: “Many years after independence. We still find it hard to start. How long shall we be patient till we reach the promise land. Let’s save Nigeria, So Nigeria won’t die…” As real and sad as the situation then in the country when this song was released by Sunny Okosun, that is still the same story today in Nigeria, and of course worse. Fela Anikulapo (Ransome) Kuti songs were great pointer to the sad realities of the Nigeria deplorable situation. One of which is the fact that Nigerians, have become a people who are “Suffering and smiling” in the midst of everything wrong in the country. Fela was a Nigerian musician, political activist and Pan-Africanist. Most of Fela released music albums were all about urging for ‘good governance’ and speaking against the social injustice and the wrongs in the Nigerian society, and indeed the entire Africa. These men were musicians and great thinkers who saw the tomorrow of Nigeria, and were bold enough to have condemned the political leaders for being responsible for the poverty, backwardness, underdevelopment and sufferings in Nigeria.
With the space between the rich and poor, the Government and the Governed, the haves and the have-nots, and the now Public Masters and the Public (Common masses) – increasing daily, we would not be wrong to say that Nigeria is being pushed to the verge of becoming a tragedy as a nation, or as a failed state.
if it is possible for us to sit down and calculate all the money recklessly/inappropriately spent by the Nigerian Government at all levels, in their so-called ‘Governance Activities’, within the last 21 years plus of our democratic dispensation, the results will not only be shocking and quite revealing, but it will also not be commensurate with the deplorable status of the living standard of the common masses and the country which they are expected to govern effectively in the first place. Rather than the “high cost of governance” to reflect on improving living conditions of the populace, it is only reflected on some “selected public holders” and those in and around government, leaving the majority of the population in perpetual want, poverty and need.
It is very disheartening to note the way our supposed “Public Servants” have turned to “Public Master” who misuse/misappropriate/mismanage and waste public funds in the name of doing ‘government work’; while the ‘Common Masses” they are supposed to ‘serve’ are left to wallow in abject poverty. It is only in this country you will find most public officials living beyond their legitimate means of livelihood.
As noted by Dr. Israel Nonyerum Davidson of Newcastle Business School in the United Kingdom, that Associate Professor Chionu, raised some points about the make-up of Nigeria’s political arena, and leadership, when he said; “IN NIGERIA, IT IS EASIER FOR DROP OUTS, THE INCOMPETENT, THE INEXPERIENCED, THE CORRUPT, AND MEN OF ILLEGITIMATE AND UNMERITED WEALTH TO SECURE GOVERNMENT APPOINTMENTS AND POLITICAL POWER”. Consequently, our politicians are acutely sick - meaning: Selfish, Incompetent, Corrupt. A cocktail of these three evils, delivers nothing but a failed state. Now watch this, for their incompetence, insensitivity to the plight of majority of Nigerians and lack of patriotism, they compensate themselves with extremely generous salaries and pension scheme beyond the reach of the leaders of free and prosperous economies like the US, UK, China, Singapore and United Arab Emirates. Yet, you remain silent! Suffering and smiling! Why?
Truth is, we have no other country to call our own but this one. Our political leaders need to be more empathetic and selfless in the discharge of their governance activities. The masses themselves need to be more bold and courageous in demanding for good governance, without selling their birth rights over a pot of porridge or become too sentimental in our judgement of what is wrong and right. “We need to reprogram the mindset of our nation, redefine and communicate what constitutes hard work, merit, quality, world-class performance and wealth in our country. We need to rehabilitate our country’s image, increase national productivity and wealth, and improve standard of living and security for all in the North and South. It is important. For we must restructure this nation to make it locally and internationally competitive. Make it functions better. More productive, more united, and economically, technologically and militarily stronger. Enough is enough! As Charley Boy puts it: “Our mumu don do.” We must reclaim our country. The handwriting is now on the wall. We must all agree now that a new era of hope is possible. Our time to reclaim this country is NOW!”
Zik Gbemre.
October 27, 2020.
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes