The novel, ‘Cry the Beloved Country’ was written by Allan Paton in 1948 just before the inhumane apartheid policy was introduced in South Africa.
I should think a quote from chapter 12 of the book is eminently relevant to our present situation in Nigeria.
‘ Cry, the beloved country, for the unborn child that is the inheritor of our fear.’
Se ba se ma ba yi lo niyi?
What manner of legacies do we want to leave for the coming generation?
That we can do nothing to make our own lives better?
Let’s start with the charade that took place in Osun state. The electorate themselves were handicapped. They were because out of so many parties, there was none that could be vouched for.
The situation was particularly worsened when a supplementary election had to take place. Omisore was briefly the man of the moment.
But he failed!
If I were in his place, I wouldn’t have received any delegation from both leading parties. But he is a businessman.
Let’s move to general situations in Nigeria. I read it somewhere that things are so bad now that some teachers descend so low to eat their pupils’ food.
What is the worth of the naira in the international market?
We cannot even keep our environments clean. This is because something as basic as refuse disposal has been politicised.
When you go to our airports, security agents are much more than the actual passengers. What are they securing?
Now we’re talking of taking loans from China. I predict it will be our greatest undoing if we do so.
It wouldn’t be too much if we think of the legacies we want to leave behind!!!
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