Nigeria:The Billion Dollar moment

If there is improvisation, there is Nigeria: A country and place where the saying, 'necessity is the Mother of Invention' was probably discovered/invented'. But what is 'discovered' often leads either  amusement or despair in the face of dire situation. Nigerians in absence of what is desirable often settle for what is available, both by design and default, making folks resort to shaking their head and saying, 'Onlyin Nigeria'.

How can a country that showed promise in the 70s and some part of the 80s seen its reputation shattered; leadership mired in politics and projects and programs that hardly contribute to uplifting the citizenry? How can it be that the world's most populous black nation, appears as the world's perpetrator of things sad and depressing, especially when it comes to the well being and welfare of her teeming but hapless populace? 

With all its doctors and doctorates (elastic and plastic), native and modern, the country gets sicker every minute. Does it mean that a high concentration of 'black-Africans' cannot figure out how to enhance their collective existence and look forward to being a respectable and reputable member of comity of nations? As Nigerians clamor for titles ( fake and real) and portray an image of 'Africa's richest,' on the ground is a country slipping further into the abyss.

I would imagine that when Nigerians see how their folks live, how the outside world looks at her, some sense of commitment, service and purposeful leadership will muster some fire in the belly, thereby making folks sit up. But since Nigerians subscribe to and imbibe the Igbo saying that "a street mad person has no shame," then the attitude Nigerians trade with and to themselves, may be reason why no one sees what is wrong with Nigeria.

As Igbos say that 'no one ever says their mama's soup is bad or sour', it is about time Nigerians own up to what is wrong with their country and seek ways to better things. Believing that God will provide and that things will get better without doing something to better things is expecting to reap where one did not sow.

It may be hard to turn things around for good, but things being hard, supports the Bible's position that good things come from hard work. The question then is; Are Nigerians ready to work hard to turn things around for themselves? This is a billion naira question that only the dead or the divine, can answer. But since the dead cannot speak and the divine hardly exist among marauders, may be it's a question that will never get a satisfactory answer.

I leave you to your conscience and hope that you enjoy Jamaican reggae version of  'I Can See Clearly Now ----', by  Jimmy Cliff.