I’m always pained when I have to write about the governance of my country, Nigeria.
The cause of my pain is, to the discerning, so fundamental. But then, if we realise the fact that a degree, on its own, doesn’t emancipate anyone, the cause of my pain should be more manifest. Instead, emancipation comes from within. A degree, in some cases, a multiplicity of degrees, only bolsters it.
It’s, therefore, no surprise when otherwise educated fellows open their mouths to declare that military rule is the best for Nigeria now. I realise it’s their opinion. They have a right to their own opinions.
However, I’m also aware that one person’s right stops where some other person’s starts!
Any opinion published on social media is for the consumption of others. That’s why I feel we should get back to basics.
Talking of opinions, my own is that the Nigerian people do not know what we want as a nation.
We have practised the parliamentary system, military rule and presidential systems of government at various times since 1960 when Nigeria became independent.
But then, it’s a pity none of them has proved useful to our peculiar situation. In the first instance, the British are still practising the parliamentary system, and the Americans are not yet tired of the presidential system.
The military form of government, on its own, is outdated. Even, when it was the vogue, Nigeria practised it for what seemed to be eternity.
And, pray, what did it result in?
Ofo, ojo keji oja!
But don’t we think we, Nigerians, are the problem?
I’ve always agreed with a 1926 Methodist church announcement in an Iowa newspaper that, ‘It is easier to fall for anything than to stand for something.’
Our major problem is that we believe nation-building is a tea party. We are not serious about any matter pertaining to our country’s governance.
But then, politics is all about who gets what as far as our commonwealth is concerned. And I don’t see anything more important than that.
In the Christian book of common prayers, it is written that ‘We have done those things which we ought not to have done and there’s no truth in us’.
Why is this?
We have left matters of the state to nincompoops. We have always believed politics is a dirty game.
And what have we done?
We have always left the running of our dear country to dirty people. In so doing, we seem to have forgotten the words of Edmund Burke, ‘The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing’.
It is my belief that if we are all serious about making our nation great again, all hands should be on deck. Together, we will sing good songs!
And please, please, military rule is a no, no!!
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