A New Nigeria

FINDING OUR VOICE April 25, 2012

I think of the next 12years at least. What would Nigeria look like if we fail to act? The #occupynigeria protest that came alive the first two weeks in January has brought up a lot of secrets in the Nigerian system; most obvious the uncovering by Farouk Lawan led committee of a Fuel Subsidy scam in which a humongous theft (total N1.06trillion) allegedly aided by key players in President Jonathan’s administration.

Just yesterday, Japheth Omojuwa sadly found a set of paid Nigerians protesting against the report submitted by the committee which indicted the Minister of Petroleum, Mrs Diezani Allison-Maduekwe in the fuel subsidy scam. The report, in itself an eye-opener into how our leaders seriously plunder the system, is a shocking but awakening signal to the apathy of the
Nigerian masses. In improved economies, stealing N1.06trn out of a country’s budget is a grievous crime.

Moreso, a lot of this indicted in this scam would have honorably resigned in an attempt to preserve the dignity of their name or what’s left of it. Not so in Nigeria. The show of shameless brandishing of a political will, strengthened by the support of a quiet presidency has weakened the resolve of the citizenry. Nigerians are poor, not only because of visionless, clueless and inept leaders, but more because of the avarice of vampire leaders sucking the very life out of the system: stealing with reckless abandon,

What do we do? Sit and watch as usual or in the light if unfolding events, prepare for the Real and first citizen motivated, well-structured and strategically thought-out #occupynigeria?

First, there is an Information gap we have to bridge. As observed in the January protests, the information deficit on the streets needs to be strengthened. If only the people in Port harcourt who demonstrated yesterday really knew that those they call “their own” were part of those who caused them immense pain and untold hardship, would they do the same?

You have an opportunity, to use whatever tool you have at your disposal: word of mouth, articles, explanation, etc to inform the men on the streets. The street is where the real power lies, the artisans, the apprentices, the market women; and all who bear the direct burden of the deliberate wickedness of our leaders. People need to know. People need to be educated about proper acts of Good governance so they can act based on informed standpoints and not sentimental/bias positions.

Do you seek to find your Voice? Looking at the troubling issues, would you sit down and act unconcerned? Before our eyes, the government through it’s cabal, is short changing the future of our generation and posterity. In 12 years time, who would these street children have grown to be if they are trained and brought up by the streets? Would my daughter be safe in our poor society if I fail to do something? Will our females be able to walk on the streets without fear of molestation/assaults from people who have grown to be outlaws based on the disparity in the system?

Please reflect for a moment: WHAT WOULD NIGERIA BE IN 4 YEARS IF WE CHOSE PASSIVITY, IF WE FAIL TO TAKE A STAND? What of the future and posterity? What if our leaders had acted right 20 years ago? How long will we continue to live in a society without justice, with decadence, with disparate inequalities, impoverished citizenry, with insecurity, with the direct and shameless looting of our resources by a few? How long will we sit and watch people die every day, in hardship?

A country of 160million people is held ransom by people under 1000, a fourth of our budget (for 160million) stolen by people not up to 1000! We live in a country so rich, yet so poor, where the people live in the manacles of slavery and unbelievable hardship. “How many people have a job that pays about N100,000 a month?” Not up to 5%! Why are children not in schools? Whay are the schools not working? Where are the funds going to? Why are schools under-funded? Why is their so much waste in the budget? The resources that should have gone to funding many sectors has been stolen by the very “untouchables” of the Jonathan administration!

Why are the people impoverished? Because their leaders ensure they are. Will we keep watching while paid miscreants protest and we do nothing? Why are you sitting on the fence? Why are you not concerned? This is present day Nigeria: enslaved by men of our own color, tribe, religion, blood! Better put, people of the same skin, same tribe enslaved by the same people in the country. Nigerians leaders in general, act in oppressing and suppressing the citizenry without cause.

Second, We need to stand, and speak, and act for what is right; with integrity, without compromise, without seeking ego gratification, without seeking recognition! You can never suppress justice for too long. We need to ask questions. The first protest in January #Occupynigeria set that tone, and we must never relent in sustaining it. This next move will be massive, will be calculative, will be strategic, will be daunting, but it’s a must unless the Jonathan Administration do the will of the people. We have found our voice in #occupynigeria, We must not lose that voice.

I am @seunfakze