When Nigerians badly needed a government with a difference in the year 2015, the All Progressive Congress (APC) were quick to paint a picture that perfectly fits the panting of the people. To the majority of Nigerians, a walk with All Progressive Congress party was simply a walk into a better future. While the people look on in wild anticipation for an incredibly positive change, current situation suggest that we all have been marooned.
Sadly, we don’t ever get the chance to choose true leadership. The many parties are only but a conglomeration of birds of same feathers. Instead of settling for the best leadership, we are forced to consider the party with the lesser evil. Behind the veil of party politics lies faces. These faces are from various walks of life. They include doctors, engineers, political scientist and more. Ordinarily, these set of persons possess the wherewithal to effect the slogan “good people, great nation”. Ironically, that is not the case… our leaders have plunged us deeply into ” a place and a people of ridicule”.
Many are the factors responsible for the current narrative. For instance, ask the theologians and they had tell you that the reason for our backwardness was because Isaac got the blessing leaving none or very little for Ishmael. In their words, we are no descendant of Isaac. Sometimes I laugh when I read this in the pages of books but then, when one looks closely at the Nigerian situation, we may be forced to consider the theologians theory as perhaps truthful even though I consider them odd or abstract thinking.
What about the leaders themselves, what are some of the reasons projected for our underdevelopment? well, the last we checked, members of the APC were blaming those from the PDP for all that has gone wrong. In other words, Whatever is wrong is a sole property of the PDP. Our leaders are smooth talkers with prowess in calling a white board black. Oh yes! you don’t hear about the death trap pot holes on the roads of Aba or about how a governor in the north thinks it is a good thing to meddle with the tradition of a tribe by forcefully installing an emir over a predominantly Christian community. Instead, the headlines are usually fancy with big inscription such as Hon. Dr. DG graduates from Toronto university or Gov. Sokunmi’s daughter acquires a luxury hotel in the Atlantic.
Sadly, even in the face of gross recklessness exhibited by our leaders they are still able to buy what late. Prof. Chinua Achebe referred to as “primitive loyalty”. Primitive loyalty doesn’t allow for a thorough scrutiny of political office holders rather it defends inefficiency like a mother hen does her chicks. Party members will go to any length just to prove that even if inflation or insecurity persist, they remain the best hands for leadership.
There is a need to say goodbye to primitive loyalty and begin the journey of a better Nigeria with an avalanche of followers and leaders who are genuinely ready to nurture our trait “a good people and a great nation”.
– Olayinka Kayode Kingsley
olayinkakayodekingsley@gmail.com
