They Have Forgotten about the New Nigeria -by Seun Sobola

 

I always laugh whenever I see that people’s outcries in Nigeria are still the same, although that does not mean that I am a calculated sadist.

There was silence for some moments within me, then with obvious interest, I decided to go into the reasons behind their pains and clamours. 

In a different direction, I puzzled a journey into history and discovered that the country was a product of directness after the attainment of independence. 

Growth was witnessed at all levels, and in management, division theory was enforced outright; the younger ones occupied the helm of affairs.

The local government was the benchmark for governmental duties and responsibility. Leadership was never a popularity or beauty contest. 

Leadership was about seeing tomorrow. In fact, you are not qualifiied if you do not have a good record of resilience that bespeaks the quality of a leader. 

At the level of recruitment, to hold any political post, you must possess the three criteria, namely merit, vision and competence. 

Those barometers answer such questions as: Who is the leader? Can he explain the vision? Does he have the mental and physical resources to deliver it?

In addition, we would ask such question as: Does he have the skills, experiences, characters and physical capacity to deliver the vision? 

You may not have thought about that. ‘Character’ may be enduring however. It takes capacity to move a country forward. 

An example is the late former Governor of Ogun State, Chief Olabisi Onabanjo. That man was once the Chairman of Ijebu Ode local government area in 1977. 

Can you imagine the degree of  communality he would have shared with the people as a chairman of the local government before he became the Governor?

Then, who becomes the honourable today in Nigeria? Who goes to the house of assembly today? Who becomes a governor or president today in Nigeria?

The idea of “new Nigeria” does not necessarily mean giving the country a new name. Rather it is a country where Nigerians are at the twilight of their lives. 

The youth have many roles to play to reach this expected hit!

 Seun Sobola is a first class graduate of English, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, Nigeria. And can be reached seun.tobi101@gmail.com