NIGERIA; A PAPER NATION

 

Some days back I was watching the London version of who wants to be a millionaire when the man on the hot sit was asked; what name do we call someone or something that appears to be strong but in real sense is weak? The man on the hot sit did not waste his time to choose option  (D) paper tiger, while other options were A paper lion, B paper leopard and C paper cheetah.

Suddenly, I place Nigeria in this position after a long thought: Nigeria is believed to have the highest population in Africa with an estimate of over 106 million people; secondly, Nigeria has the strongest force militarily in Africa with the most sophisticated technological facilities. Thirdly, Nigeria is the only country in Africa that lunched a satellite in the orbit. Fourthly, it is the fastest growing economy in Africa and the third in the world according to a recent statistics.

But on the other hand, so many questions could be driven from this development which may view the position of the country in a rather negative way. For instance, why are the citizens of this great country impoverished? Why are they not reaping the dividends of democracy which was promised to them by their candidates i.e. the ‘pollu-ticians’? Why is the supposed fresh air polluted by the daily roast of human flesh in bomb attacks and gun fights between gun men and security, on the one hand, innocent people and security and gun men and innocent people; especially in the northern part of the country?

Why are these innocent people who know nothing but strive to live on less than a dollar per day killed and the only thing the authorities say is “we are investigating,” “the culprit will be brought to book.” These innocent people have never killed a rat not to talk of other higher animals. These innocent people are those who wake up daily without bread on their table.

Why are the real thieves moving freely after stealing billions of naira and the small thieves roast in the prison for stealing money less than five thousand naira. This is one of the reasons why people are now taking actions into their hands.

While the government and its agencies are busy spending money on what will not and has never benefitted the masses, the politicians are busy counting days either to get political appointment or to contest election. The security agencies on the other hand are busy killing innocent people, thereby reducing the God given wealth of population of the country, especially in the north.

The north now is an abattoir; no day will come without a report of the killing of not less than five people or even more. I was reading a newspaper, and then I lay my hand on a police report who are begging the police force not to post them to the north, in their words “we don’t want to die.”

Nigeria is a blessed country and the people there are also good people. The only way to achieve the Nigerian dream is for the people to wake up from their slumber and unit to fight the war against tyranny, against, this injustice, against the killing of innocent souls and against all societal-vices. God bless Nigeria, amin.