Opinion- Nigeria,how did we get here

With the continuing hardship faced by ordinary citizens of Nigeria on a daily basis, it dawned on me that the popular "e go beta" phrase widely used  by Nigerians to console themselves in   the face of failed government promises and economic hardship is far from near.

I grew up in Nigeria where have seen people suffer without hope of a way out,  except through Divine intervention, I grew up in Nigeria seeing old people and family men and women struggle day and night to keep their family going, putting food on the table, struggling to see their kids through school, Never giving up on the possibility of a greater and better Nigeria, where their hopes and aspirations can find fulfillment.

I grew up in a Nigerian society where monthly pay cheque is another hypertensive and brainstorming session  in allocation of of the not too big monthly package, which is barely enough to last families, 80% of them, into the second week of the new month.

I have come to know Nigerian Politicians to be "tieves", atleast a majority of them, with very few exceptions. (#tongues out, #No offence intended, only the guilty should be angry at this simple truth).


 Where every four years they come out to campaign and fish into the brain and deep recess of the minds of vast poor majority of the population, only in this period you will see them leave Abuja and their high offices and come to the slums and ghettos where they have failed to improve the lives of the residents there (So so shameful right? Nah, majority of Naija politicians lack shame, All they see is the money, pride of Offices and the benefits that lays thereof). No wonder at the end of 4 years tenure they keep coming back to seek "buy" votes from people who are now too weak and voiceless to stand up for their right due to excess poverty and lack of food in the stomach, enough to give strength for them to even think of standing up for their right.

Their slave masters "Bad Politicians them" seats and run the lives of many down, until there is no way out, no wonder you find them do and say many insane things just to get and remain in power, Power they are not willing to use for the common good of the masses and for the advancement of Nigeria.

All these past years starting from Independence in 1960 till date, Nigeria and vast majority of Nigerians kept struggling and struggling, and in the end, some win the struggles by running out of Nigeria to a foreign land where there is dignity in labour, respect for human rights, decent wages and rewards for jobs and services, adequate security and provision of basic amenities by governments of these well respected lands "green pastures" believed to be lands of opportunity, while many not too fortunate ones are consumed in this hope and struggles for a better Nigeria.

 No wonder you find great scholars and achievers from Nigerian decent in Europe, America and Asia, this clealy comfirm our industrious nature, our die hard spirit and our unending hope as Nigerians. Given the necessary atmosphere to succeed, we Nigerians can succeed anywhere, even in the sun. (#eyes rolling, #chin drop).

But for the low quality leadership we had experience from when the colonial masters gave us "freedom", Nigeria as not been better off ever since, the sets of leaders we have had are the ones who are there just for the control of power, many themselves are so full of tribalism and don't believe in ONE NIGERIA, but for the "returns" and benefits accruing to them, they too chose to seat back and enjoy the game while it last, (forgetting that one day "the bush meat go catch the hunter"

Somethings many Nigerians have discussed with are left with these believes:

1.  that most of Nigeria founding fathers Never knew what to do with power 
2. That they where never ready enough for power (even when they thought they where ready for a take over from Britain)
3. Too many illiterate in Nigeria, at the time to understand how a system needs to be run, hence a few smart ones and the Britain favourite at the time enjoy certain privileges and in turn Nigeria kept living in a failed system, where credibility and outstanding personalities are replaced by mediocre in the name of "quota system"
4. Our founders where concern about controlling Regions and central government, hence no concrete plans for a one united Nigeria, making me and many Nigerians alike, feel Nigeria and the people brought together under the same umbrella were never meant to be under same umbrella or even if they are to be, no clear plans for healthy co-existing, best practices that ensures healthy competition among states and proper allocation among states of the federation based on performance, where each states has the power to better its earnings and encouraging others to improve. Not when states are so lazy to make their economy work, but always waiting for manners to drop from the "Ogas at the centers"
5.  A government without proper records and database of its citizens, how do we expect them to perform, from 1960 till date, no proper bio-metric database capturing the numbers of Nigerians, dead or alive, its like running a blind race not knowing what the needs and demands of Mr. A or Mrs. C are. Without proper records and good projections very little can be done. No wonder politics is brought into every issues bothering on welfare.

Lastly (lastly for the sake of this post, cos the problems and questions are endless), Where did we got it all wrong as Nigerians?

• Is this the same Country where Dollar to Naira exchange was ones decent 
• Is it the same Nigeria we were told, after school the government will "dash" you jobs (How have will failed to create decent jobs and have come to this shameful state of high unemployment)
• We grew up been sanction on need for strong moral values ( how did we get here? where stealing public funds is now a thing of pride, where indiscriminate taking of lives is now a common thing, where bribery and corruption is the order of the day, where individuals are ready to do anything, I mean anything just to be ahead in the "game". By game I mean all things reflective of unethical means, corruption, and all societal ills.
• How did we get here? how did the standards keep getting lowered? how is Nigeria, left to bleed this much with no hopes for a Positive turnaround any time soon?

 RECOMMENDATIONS. and on a lither and funny note:

Remember the adage, "He who fights and run away, lives to fight another day"

My recommendation for the youth from this present mess is RUN. by run, I mean run as far as you can from Nigeria (I know some will be quick to judge me at this point for not been patriotic or tell me "No Place like home", but what's a home when its made to look like hell,Well I respect your opinion, but hope you see little reasons with me here)

When I mean run, I mean raise funds for yourself, do something positive like get a foreign education, foreign exposure, network with people from great places, with view of building a honest, truthful and good relationship that can be mutually benefiting to you and the person.

Stop been deceive by not taking the chance to make a move when it presents itself, after all, these "So so good politicians them" all send their kids abroad to gain western Education and exposure and in turn they come back to Nigeria to Lord of Us, so the simply way Out this issue is not violence, because they are better position in terms of resources, they way out is,Be be better, strive to be a better you daily, reach for great heights and stop been limited by the circumstances of your birth, brace up, learn to build from humble beginnings to defile all odds (all odds doesn't include yahoo yahoo or ritual ***seriously).

In all you do, be on the legal side of the law.

Let Us Pray and keep hope alive, Nigeria can still be great, if we all work towards it.

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