It’s important to recognize meaningful responses received from the ‘A’ version of this article. Your responses have given me the drive to write again. I see hope, I see a new Nigeria! This is not some form of concoction of motivational of words, no! It’s a statement driven by dreams of Nigerians dead and alive, the dreams of our heroes past, the dreams of tomorrow’s leaders. If only we choose to dedicate ourselves to the realization of this vision!
In case you didn’t get the drift, the purpose of the ‘A’ article wasn’t to emphasize the shortcomings of our leaders, after-all these same “bad leaders” are products of the same society/environment we live in. If you read Mr. Kayode’s (of Think Thank Nigeria) article on corruption, you’ll understand why I think the problem is not just the leadership. We have made so much noise for years with no solution. The most popular definition of insanity by Albert Einstein is doing the same thing again, the same way and expecting a different result. Without a change in perspective, the future we pray for is only a mirage.
If Americans just made noise everyday, Barack Obama would have been a dream today. Instead, a well-planned strategy involving people ranging from the Wall Street executive, the college students down to the street sweeper was perfectly executed. As I followed the elections, I read about a college student who had given up one year at school to work on the campaign team. What enviable dedication to a course!
To make my call for a “strategy based on a collective vision” sink, I present to you two energetic, intellectually blessed, well respected presidential hopefuls: Pat Utomi and Barack Obama. While the latter’s campaign went across the many states of the Unites States boosted by several anonymous, online five dollar contributions (strategy), the former (whom I have great respect for though) campaigned on the streets of Lagos hoping that He’ll win in far away Katsina state. I live the rest for you to judge.
This piece represents my thoughts on how to build a solid foundation for change in our nation. Since, there is no monopoly of knowledge, I hope for more meaningful contributions and even constructive criticism of this piece. My deep-hearted prayer is that all these would serve as a catalyst to get us all on our feet so we can take full responsibility of the destiny and future of our Nation in our hands. Let me also say that I agree with the call for a revolution by several people. However, a revolution that must succeed cannot be based on firepower; a lasting revolution must be highly intellectual, unselfish in nature and action-based.
I’ll list my thoughts in simple bullet points. Each point will have to be expanded in the future:
We must realize that we are the real cause of our misfortune. One man can only hold a thousand to ransom if the thousand include betrayers working for their selfish interests.
We must decide to take responsibility for our past negligence, shelve all ethnic (divisions such as Afenifere and Ndigbo only make the “opposition” weaker) and religious differences (tools for present day political warlords). Unfortunately, the PDP remains the only true Nigerian party today with people from all ethnic groups. You disagree? Prove me wrong!
If we truly want good governance, our religious leaders must be convinced to speak and act accordingly. True development cannot be separated from religion. Some churches can sponsor large political campaigns without feeling a pinch! Politics is a game of money. He who pays the piper dictates the tune.
Individuals must be encouraged to participate in active politics. We have the right to vote and be voted for. It only takes unity and planning. If we stay away, we have no moral right to complain.
Privileged middle class individuals should have regard for the underprivileged (no one is truly poor). We can’t convince them to join this cause if we ride past in our jeeps without any show of concern (and even splash muddy water on them). You want to understand the power of influence, visit the north and see how people queue up daily to get food from a man’s pot. Whatever He says, they definitely obey!
Still on influence, a young man will collect 5,000 naira to rig an election if He his hungry. At least that will solve his problem for a few days. If the man is uneducated, the situation is worse. He will continue to rely on crumbs from the master’s table.
No real change is possible without adequate education. That’s easy to understand
Our strategy must be based on a massive orientation and re-orientation of our children before they become youths. Parents, religious institutions, schools must be involved. This would end our movement in circles. You can never teach and old dog new tricks.
Instead of focusing on Presidential elections as is the norm in Nigeria, we should instead focus on elections of councilors, local government chairman, representatives and senators. It’s easier to make this people accountable. Furthermore, No Governor or President can sack a senator. A senator can sack a president! See where true power lies?
It’s also easier to cooperate in small groups to elect the people in the positions stated above. If all mosques, churches, unions in my local government choose to elect one man, we’ll spend less, invest less time and still reach our goal.
Small groups like these will one day come together to elect the right national leader. In my opinion however, He is not the most powerful.
We must convince profit-making organizations to contribute to this cause. If they don’t, we must find a way to sideline them completely. Simple scenario: People in a community combine resources to start a bakery with quality as a watchword. Almost everyone is a shareholder; definitely, no other brand of bread sells in that community. It doesn’t look easy, it definitely isn’t. No great vision is achieved on a water bed!
Most importantly, we must be united. Unity built on trust will keep us together in the face of adversity. There will never be a one-man messiah again. The ones that have tried have been killed and forgotten. My private study has shown that even Martin Luther King Junior wasn’t a one-man army. Luew Kuan Yew of Singapore wasn’t either. Obama is definitely not one!
Please note that I do not agree or disagree with any political party today. That might change tomorrow. I have this feeling that their values are somewhat similar. One is just smarter (positively or negatively). Secondly, I have not said that corruption should be stopped at the Federal level. Why? That’s because we can’t stop them now. The solution is to elect the right people who have proved themselves at the expense of selfish gains in subsequent elections. You don’t ask a thief to stop another thief from stealing!
The bakery scenario is an example of what I call “intellectual revolution”. If the change must come, we must produce more revolutionary ideas. Are you wondering why the ruling party isn’t worried about our cries? The answer is obvious: noise doesn’t cause a change. Action does. According to Newton’s law of motion, a body remains in a state of motion or constant velocity except an external force acts on it.
I wait for your reactions. Remember, it’s a collective vision.
Yes to the Nigerian dream!
30 IS HERE!!!
7 years ago
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