By Kunle Omotosho, Abuja.
Nigeria presents an interesting spectacle to both the youths and adults. Struggle for existence has never been so tough. Not since 2019 has the struggle been so intense that able bodied men and women faced with excruciating situation, now beg openly on the streets –searching for what to eat. Please do not laugh at them when you see such things happening. There is no more sympathy. It is a death struggle for the little that manages to trickle down from the high table—and into the open space.
Forget about fashion or pride. You are at a big risk should you reckon with what people would say about you if they see you begging—finding ways to scrap through the crushing poverty. Whether you like it or not, politicians have not been fair to this country. The crippling situation notwithstanding, the notorious winner takes all habit has lowered the standards of living to such an absurd extent as to impoverish Nigerians with agonizing choices. That’s how cheap life has become these past seven years. Let’s not talk about the insecurity and the brutality that has been unleashed on innocent civilians whenever they venture out.
It was in this instance that a photograph of six young Nigerians that recently graduated as naval interns in the United States began to trend in the social media space. There they are, smiling, happy in their glittering white uniform; what a sight to behold. From the social media reports, the six young Nigerians had left the country a decade ago because their parents had not only lost their jobs but out of fear of impending starvation relocated to the “States”. Now see the outcome of their bold decisions from “Gods own country”.
Perhaps back home in Nigeria they would have been knocked out via “quota system”. They may have dropped out from school because of exorbitant school fees –or the hard times their parents had fallen into! Now, here they are finishing strong because the country—United States –presented them with such a glowing opportunity—and a level playing fields! And now as the country heads to 2023 general elections, another opportunity has come up for the leaders to restitute and get things right. Yet, this simple ethical task sounds like a tall dream.
The manner the just concluded primaries were heavily monetized by both major political parties appears to send the wrong signals to the general public. Genuine contenders with poor financial standings had no chance. They were outspent by the so-called “big guns” who cornered the process and ensured that the road to 2023 may just be a pipe dream or in limbo. How can they spend billions just to be the flagbearer of a party? This cannot be a credible process! Delegates had turned the process into “kalo kalo” business to line their cash strapped pockets —it is a commando style raid on our collective sensibilities.
They say vote according to your conscience, yet, when the time came, they lost their conscience and threw caution to the winds—delegates are susceptible to their governors who hijack them at their whims. And so barring any unforeseen changes, 2023 is certain to go the way of the old brigades who continue to frustrate real democratic change in the public. Since 1999 they have not relented manipulating the electoral process to their own advantage.
This is why sustainable democratic governance is still elusive. They have long been rejected but they refuse to leave the scene. Now, over 70 years old, they have emerged front runners for the two leading political parties in Nigeria, thus effectively, foreclosing any other alternative. Can the nation continue in this fashion? Somehow, things have got to change.
