I’m declaring 2014, the Year of the Nigerian People. I will explain why in Part 2 – suffice to say for now that this is the year for the Nigerian government to focus on making life better for every single Nigerian, regardless of their economic standing etc. More on this later.
Last Monday, I woke up to the sad and horrible news that a dear brother and mentor from the church I came of age in was murdered by armed robbers on December 22 shortly after a Christmas carol service. Sesan Ogunro was ever hospitable, and always had a ready ear and a kind, encouraging word for me. May his kind soul rest in peace.
This tragedy brought home once again how fragile life is. And how it is even more so for every Nigerian living in Nigeria. No matter how successful we might be in our professional endeavours and no matter how much we might insulate ourselves with private armies, police escorts, high walls, off-road vehicles and all other kinds of niceties, we are still at the mercy of a brutal system, built up by negligent, corrupt regimes and sustained by our collective apathy, fear, greed and unenlightened focus on self. We and our children are all reaping the whirlwind today. And will continue to do so until we do something. As always, the question boils down to what will you and I do about the state of things?
We all saw the letters flying back and forth between current and ex-leaders. We hear about PDP versus APC. We hear about how one party is better than another. We are still engaging in endless debates about whose letter was better or not. About who had the last word. About the character of the letter-writer. And it goes on and on. Meanwhile in other news, some people were not paid their salaries this December – no surprises there. Doctors called off a strike they had been threatening. We all continue to be at risk of armed robberies, kidnappings etc. And the poor continue to get poorer. The Presidency is reportedly ordering an 11th jet to add to its fleet of Presidential jets. And the Nigerian people are about to be hit with a new tariff on imported vehicles – a policy aimed at encouraging us to buy locally manufactured cars that have not yet been locally manufactured.
So while we are arguing about letters on facebook and twitter and at games and events, life is going on as usual for all of us in government (note that government consists of two groups: the governors and the governed – so we are all in government). While we are plotting what new car or dress we are going to buy impress our neighbours about our arriving, it is worth remembering that none of these things will matter if any of us have a serious road accident or get shot today. Chances of surviving such trauma in our environment are quite low. And each of us is on our own if we need to be airlifted – especially if our families cannot afford an air ambulance. And last time I checked, our federal and state ministries of health do not have many functioning air ambulances or serious trauma centres for us to be treated at. Please correct me if I am wrong.
I will get back to the letters next week. In the meantime, as we prepare to celebrate 2014, may I sign off with some tips for taking active responsibility for our future in 2014?
Remember that your individual prosperity will mean diddly-squat if our country is not at peace or prospering. Selfishly praying for and focusing on individual prosperity will not mean anything if Nigeria does not prosper and stay peaceful. Pursuing individual success and working for the common good while will serve us all and our children better.
Think about what action you can take in whatever position you are in and get active in 2014. I am organising talks to orient and educate young people in my neighbourhood on leadership and excellence and right living in 2014. I have started writing messages directly to President Jonathan’s inbox on facebook to make observations etc. and offer constructive solutions. I will soon include other government people I know. If you know any influential people in government and have a means to do that, please start writing to them – and if you can organise more people to write them, please do so. It’s a start. And you just never know!
Happy New Year! Do write to me at ijonathan@sesorafrica.org on other creative, constructive things you are doing to contribute to the change we need for a better old age and future for our children.
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