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| Tai Emeka Obasi |
I have read different views on Nigeria @54, this one by one of Nollywood's best scriptwriter, Tai Emeka Obasi stands out for me, enjoy it.
"I wasn't born before independence and only heard tales of those colonial days. And I've never really enjoyed life from another person's perspective.
Still the tales of civil war and life after, especially as an Igbo man, present a blurred picture of a nation that should have been. Are we truly lacking men and women of substance? NO. In fact, few countries in the world can ever boast of having produced more individuals with grade A abilities in all diverse fields of endeavor.
So, what's the problem? ORIENTATION or in another word, FOUNDATION. Our colonial masters knew we would one day gain independence and deeply sowed the seed of perpetual discord that would perennially hold back any attempt to lead the black race into the haven of real democracy.
Still God continues to intervene...what would have dragged us into oblivious pit of no return in name of Abacha's civilian dictatorship was thwarted by the only possible opposition - DEATH. The man who would have lasted no more than 30 more days on earth had this opposition stayed away historically emerged the new Nigeria president in a third chance to correct our earlier mistakes of nation building.
So, did this man show any gratitude to God for those glories bestowed on him? Very debatable. For me, despite his arrogance and open display of excesses, all his achievements went out of the window that moment he started making similar moves like the man who God arrested before him. THIRD TERM!
However, he unwittingly gave us a leader, who for once, inspired confidence, desire and aspirations. A man who once had no shoes, from a very poor parentage, a common man, a lecturer, without any political ambition suddenly became a deputy governor, a governor, a vice president, an acting president and a president without once being voted for.
But instead of supporting this man whose coming was beyond any man's making, Nigerians have employed every known dirtiness to force him out of office. Perhaps, the so-called upper class are not comfortable that a 'common' man is now dinning at that reserved table. Even the very man who brought him our way, the ex-president is among this furious cabal who believe this 'poor' man is dangerously allowing 'outsiders' come close to the seat of power.
Nigerians troop to churches and mosques on their respective worship days...but do they truly respect the wishes of their creator? How many Nigerians would pause to consider if his/her actions would please God/Allah before going ahead? How many Nigerians have asked why a man, who would have regarded any prophet that accurately predicted his course 20 years earlier as a nut case, presently lead this country? How many Nigerians have asked themselves why it is this man from the 'minority' group that is suddenly the C-in-C? Who has cared to ask why this same man celebrated Nigeria's 50th birthday as a nation? How many cared to think deeply of why it fell on same man to celebrate our 50th anniversary as a Republic nation? And of course the latest - Centenary?
Are we all aware that the famed America's CIA, the world's biggest and most powerful secret intelligence service predicted that Nigeria would disintegrate by 2015? Are Nigerians taking such prediction lightly? Has God not shown us enough signs that He would make certain the CIA swallow their pride by giving us one to not only withstand that science-guided prophesy but also steer us far into a new era of stabilization?
We can only celebrate today if we have appropriate answers for our journey tomorrow. We have made countless mistakes since so-called Independence, mostly during transitions. Giving continuity a chance for consolidation helped us achieve the major successes of past administration. Crying for change just because some people feel they are getting too old to be still relevant in four years' time is returning Nigeria to same vicious circle!
However, celebrate if you must."
#BestWrite-up@Nigeria54
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