The Chinese often say-as a form of greeting- may you live
in interesting times. There are interesting times and there are
interesting times. In Nigeria today, we live in interesting times.
From the enduring Boko Haram menace in the North East, to
the separationist agitations in the south East, in addition to the
renewed militancy in the Niger Delta, coupled with the rampaging
"herdsmen", it is indeed an interesting time to be a Nigerian.
With each passing day, Nigeria appears to be edging closer
to the precipice. At this rate, only our legendary luck in collusion
with divine providence could pull us back.
It is no gainsaying that President Buhari has his hands
full. As often said, the evils that men do lives after them. In
retrospection, the misdeeds of our thieving elites have finally caught
up with us.
A nation where criminals of its Commonwealth are celebrated
and protected by their kinsmen is a nation waiting on the wings of
destruction. We have allowed our hunter-gatherer instincts to prevail
over our saner minds. Morality and conscience died in Nigeria the day we
saw oil.
Elections in a diverse nation like ours either serves as a
unifying factor or an instrument of division. The 2015 elections favours
the latter.
The victory of candidate Buhari only fuelled the entrenched
hatred and distrust between the major tribes in country and fanned the
embers of political instability.
From the pattern of agitations presently witnessed in the
country, it is clear to see that a section of the country are still
peeved by the electoral loss of former President.
The Niger-delta avengers are seen as a parallel response to
boko haram which to gullible minds were sponsored by Buhari and the
Apc. Their illogical argument is that since Buhari sponsored Boko haram
in order to make Nigeria ungovernable for Jonathan, the Niger delta
militants by striking at our main source of revenue would make Nigerian
ungovernable for Buhari. One can't help but to think that the main enemy
of Nigeria are Nigerians.
On the surface, the perceived reason for their agitations
is based on marginalization. However, a discerning mind aught to deeply
reflect on the issue of marginalization and ask some pertinent
questions.
For years now, oil producing states have been entitled to
13 percent derivation from oil proceeds. The big question should be what
did their leaders do with the money?
Why,For six years, all separatist agitations went comatose
only for them to miraculously come back to life within the last one
year? All these and many more should be asked.
The underlying truth which many observers and writers alike
have failed to see is that the ascension of Buhari into power came at a
time when Islam is seen as evil. When it is easy to cast aspersions on
an innocent individual simply because he is Muslim.
Nigeria and Nigerians are on the verge of sacrificing our best chance to get things right on the altar of ethno-regionalism.
If Buhari fails, so does Nigeria. We are gradually being
sucked into a vortex of great despair. It is only a man who has not yet
tasted war that would wish for it. Those drumming for war are obviously
living in fools Paradise. The youths who are gullible enough to fall for
the antics of power chasers should give premium to their minds over
their visceral organs. The life of a youth is not worth the struggle for
power.
We have been fractured irreparably. My beloved Nigeria is terminally ill. The giant is reeling in throes of death.
Vultures are on the prowl waiting for her carcass. When
will she heave her last breath?... Perhaps A Glorious Miracle is on its
way!
