Smart Adeyemi and The Psyche of The Nigerian Youth by Ade Abana

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Nigeria without a shadow of doubt is an anormally in many ways, from the haphazard amalgamation of numerous largely independent nations, kingdoms and city states, to the terror of death and fear that has been unleashed on innocent Nigerians through terrorism in the form of Boko Haram, Nigeria has still somehow survived as one nation through it all.

We are natural forgivers and forgetters of evil and injustice done to us. Through the years this has resulted in apathy towards corruption and crass mis-governance.

Usually when an office holder is accused of some form of corruption there’s a flurry of media and public interest around the case, but soon, the hype dies down or moves to another sensation and the accused is eventually given little or no punishment. Naturally this has spurred on a huge increase in the prevalence of corruption even in our everyday lives.

However, in the midst of the rotteness that envelops the system, a few people have been able to resist the bandwagon effect and have lived honest virtuous and hardworking lives. This is more so on the floor of the Nigerian Senate,  where one man has been able to chisel out a niche for himself as a man of impeccable character, an advocate of the masses and a vibrant legislator. That man is Senator Smart Adeyemi. He is one of the most respected Senators in the assembly largely because of his sound arguments and opinions on the floor of the house, his reputation as the Senator of the masses as he is often called, and the immense impact he has been able to make in his constituency; Kogi West.

His peers in the Senate have heard of the quantity and quality if the projects he has carried out in all areas of his constituency. Projects that would normally be within the purview of the Executive arm of government: Health Centers, Classroom blocks, market lock up shops, taxis, water systems, 32 ambulances, and no this is not an error: Stadiums! Senator Smart built 2 stadiums in his constituency!

Now if you think the funding for all this is solely from his constituency allocation, then you must be joking! Senators don’t receive enough money to do such things. This man must be dipping deep into his own pockets and personal finances to carry out these projects and alleviate the hardship suffered by his people. Now, that is the kind of leadership mentality we don’t see that often anymore in this country. This is leadership born from true patriotism and a deep affection and understanding of the needs of the people. This is the kind of mentality that sparked and sustained the Nationalist movement in the pre independence era of our nation.

Sadly, as communicable as this spirit that Sen Smart posses is, it appears not to have spread through the majority of the youth populace particularly in his own senatorial district. Recently I read some of the comments to an article about the Senator somewhere on the internet and I was crestfallen. Utterly disappointed by the lack of dept and political foresight of some of our youth. I don’t get it, for the first time the people of Kogi West have excellent representation in the Senate by all standards. As the leaders of tomorrow and the future of this great nation, the youth need to aspire to better virtues and ideals. The interests and prosperity of our fatherland should be paramount at all times. We have perfect examples, leaders and mentors in the likes of Sen Smart. This is beyond elections but about the very psyche of our nation towards good leadership and patriotism.

Senator Smart I salute you as you continue to bear the torch of hope for the masses!

God bless SSA!

God bless Kogi State!!

God bless Nigeria!!!

– Ade Abana


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