During Aminu Kano's last tv interview,he said'always ask a crucial question,why do you seek political office?Why do you want to rule?'
We know of course that posed to every politician,an answer is always returned.Unfortunately,their answers are so alike as that they tend to leave us totally unenlightened.These has made nonsense of democracy in Nigeria.
Again,Nigeria suffers from institutionalised corruption,the scourge of whose dimensions is simply mind blowing.To illustrate this,I'll cite a simple example.The Barbican Centre-a cultural facility,which some unofficially call the 8th wonder of the world,was built at a cost of £150 million in the 80's by the british.But it is impossible to show me one wonder in Nigeria of near equivalent value,except of course if you mean the wonder of discrepancy between cost and actual value!Yes!What with the kickbacks and greasings here and there.All we see are white elephant projects littered all over the country,adding no perceivable utility to the state!Projects are carried out with which tribe it is to be cited and not economic feasibillity.Mediocrity is extolled over merit on the alter of Federal character.There is embargo on employment and yet people die and retire from the job;who are filling up those vacancies.Infact,job search companies are becoming one of the most lucrative ventures in the country.In some states,people pay as high as 200,000 to get a job.Why do you think they'd be patriotic and incorruptible when they paid huge prices to get their jobs.The state of a state states the state of the statemen.Our institutions are bastardized,churning out half baked unemployable graduates,and not even been amongst the first 35 universities in Africa.And yet we presumably are blessed with leaders of thought.And yet,it doesn't prick our conscience that should we continue this way,we may not have a Nigeria to hand over to our children.Are the citizens of this country "proper foolish" as the late Dr. M.I.OKPARA would say,who suffering from perpetual amnesia,are not able to recall what has dealt harshly with then in times past.We are comfortable practicing politics of mediocrity and tribalism.We should be ashamed of ourselves!
The attendant consequence is that the masses recieve a raw deal.When Nigeria learns to deal fairly with all its citizens,its policies would be better defended by all and its prospects for progress and stability will be infinitely brighter!
We know of course that posed to every politician,an answer is always returned.Unfortunately,their answers are so alike as that they tend to leave us totally unenlightened.These has made nonsense of democracy in Nigeria.
Again,Nigeria suffers from institutionalised corruption,the scourge of whose dimensions is simply mind blowing.To illustrate this,I'll cite a simple example.The Barbican Centre-a cultural facility,which some unofficially call the 8th wonder of the world,was built at a cost of £150 million in the 80's by the british.But it is impossible to show me one wonder in Nigeria of near equivalent value,except of course if you mean the wonder of discrepancy between cost and actual value!Yes!What with the kickbacks and greasings here and there.All we see are white elephant projects littered all over the country,adding no perceivable utility to the state!Projects are carried out with which tribe it is to be cited and not economic feasibillity.Mediocrity is extolled over merit on the alter of Federal character.There is embargo on employment and yet people die and retire from the job;who are filling up those vacancies.Infact,job search companies are becoming one of the most lucrative ventures in the country.In some states,people pay as high as 200,000 to get a job.Why do you think they'd be patriotic and incorruptible when they paid huge prices to get their jobs.The state of a state states the state of the statemen.Our institutions are bastardized,churning out half baked unemployable graduates,and not even been amongst the first 35 universities in Africa.And yet we presumably are blessed with leaders of thought.And yet,it doesn't prick our conscience that should we continue this way,we may not have a Nigeria to hand over to our children.Are the citizens of this country "proper foolish" as the late Dr. M.I.OKPARA would say,who suffering from perpetual amnesia,are not able to recall what has dealt harshly with then in times past.We are comfortable practicing politics of mediocrity and tribalism.We should be ashamed of ourselves!
The attendant consequence is that the masses recieve a raw deal.When Nigeria learns to deal fairly with all its citizens,its policies would be better defended by all and its prospects for progress and stability will be infinitely brighter!
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