There’s really no good way to tell bad news. It can only be delayed or maneuvered. Bad news is always a bad news regardless of time and space. In my opinion, and perhaps that of many others, a bulk of the Nigerian political class represent a whirlwind of bad news. In so many far-reaching ways, almost every Nigerian living in Nigeria or elsewhere continue to feel the negative impact of the many years of leadership failure. Political failures are not mysterious. Instead, they are man-made, just like a linear progression, with each passing generation continually building on a faulty foundation.
One night, I was having a talk with my father. He told me about how things used to be back in the day. Some of the things he said the enjoyed included affordable quality primary education, food abundance, a better moral standard, a relatively stable economy and lots more. When I too become a father, I hope not to tell my own son or daughter that in my days, a bag of rice cost as little as sixty thousand naira or that our ladies did better by putting on skimpy clothes.
Nations are not built on hope. If it were so, the developed nations of the world would have remained underdeveloped while nations like ours would be basking in greatness. Afterall, there are about a million of us who readily say amen to prayers. Again, nations are not built simply by having mineral resources, if it were so, Dr Congo should never have been looked upon as a great nation.
Amongst some other important factors, great nations are buily upon effective and efficient institutions. For many years, my dad frowned at lateness. We could play as much as we wanted, but coming home late or going late to school was a sin my father couldn’t overlook. Punctuality became the norm for me, simply because my dad had emphasized it.
When elections are toyed with, financial data is manipulated, traffic are rules abused, budgets are inflated, insecurity is enhanced or cases of corruption are glorified, it is a pointer to why nations fail. The above listed illnesses are known characteristics of underdeveloped nations.
Just like my boss, Eng’r Olutimayin would always say, I reckon that a problem known is half solved. It takes no bone wrecking gymnastics to get things done. It takes willingness-to do. A willingness to simply do the right thing and making sure it remains so.
– Olayinka Kayode writes from Ore, Ondo State.
