WHO WILL BELL THE CAT?

In the mind of many people in Nigeria today, the Nigerian dream is gradually becoming an illusion. It is crumbling even in the hearts of people who were once patriots. From the rising crises of the north to an uprising in different sectors of the nation, come actions that tear to shreds the very elements of our unity. It is a popular saying that Rome was not built in a day but that its building took time and supervision and courage.

In the Nigeria of today, our politics and governance seem to break us up instead of fostering unity. Many people have given up to fate as to what becomes of them in a land flowing with milk and honey. While a number of odds unquestionably hamper things in this nation, citizens must harness the benefits of surviving in a developing economy with courage and passion.  The great writer Chinua Achebe shares a view, “The trouble with Nigeria is failure of leadership.”  Though this holds water to some great extent, we must identify the tenets of true followership. We must learn to make our mark in our communities, no matter how small. For how long have we blamed government and how much better off have we become by it? We cannot risk thrusting our destiny in the hands of a government that may hardly deliver our expectations to us.

Would you be part of the changing process? It’s painful how ego and pride deprive people of striking gold in any given area and how wishful thinking has stalled many great minds who are afraid of tilling the ground.  It’s important that I remind you that the competition is fierce- survival of the fittest ; the result is evident – impeccable as it were but the cumulative effect of not taking a bold step in a positive direction could cripple someone with a sterling tomorrow. With few jobs in Nigeria and much work to be done, only those who can pull up their sleeves to work at the appropriate time and make out time to cool off at the right time will enjoy in the unfolding nation.

Showmanship will not earn us much but a façade of applause. Who will bell the cat? Who will set the pace? Who will generate the solutions to the many begging problems? These are the questions begging for answers from you and me. I believe our solutions will not come from the west; I believe our solutions will not come when we run away from our responsibilities to other organized societies. If we all run away, who will build our society?

I cry for our unborn children who will suffer because of what we refused to do today. I believe someday, we shall wake up! While we must courageously rise up to confront government with our expectations of them, we must not forget to make hay while the sun shines. Many co-operations are yet to be built, many technologies are yet to be established and many industries are yet to be incorporated. Where would you fix your eyes, where will your name be written?

All hands must be on deck. Though we need to rub minds with developed nations in order to step up our technology, we must have such love that will keep drawing us to our fatherland. Nigeria is not the only nation with problems, every nation around the world has some problems but we must rise to confront ours. A growing insecurity problem, a challenging economic problem brings us to our knees and a deplorable infrastructural status cripples our confidence in our leaders. With our great potential of human and capital resources, we must devise ways of channeling our teeming youths into areas can help increase our agriculture backbone.

Our universities should be properly equipped; skill acquisition centres should be put in place for people to register. Today, we look back and are thankful on how far we’ve gone as a nation but somehow, regret the men and women who stash our monies in banks abroad. I believe we shall overcome; yes we shall overcome when we let go of wishful thinking, egocentric inclinations that coax us into stealing public funds to fulfill family pressures to live above our means. It will not be easy but it will be possible.

Again, I ask, who will bell the cat?