Bidwell Nsofor
At last, Nigerians can briefly heave a sigh of relief, having scaled through the last lap of 2019 General Election. Although, the nightmares, violence and killings were unwelcome fallouts with sad memories, the need for the winners to brace up for greater responsibilities cannot be over-emphasized. Baring the outcome of election petitions and litigations, May 29, 2019 will kick-start yet another era in Nigeria’s political history. Winners should, therefore, be focused and not easily yield to the diversionary trappings of power.
Meanwhile, now that dividing songs of party supporters that created multiple echoes and loud campaign drums of skillful drummers no longer caress unwilling ears, it is time to embark on vigorous programmes of forgiveness, new national spirit of unity and truth. This is the time when legacy should speak louder than words; hence, winners should use their victories in the interest of peace and human betterment. After all, what else can be better than pursuing the goals of a just and free society? In fact, anything to the contrary will be hogwash.
Under this new four-year dispensation, Nigerians will be glad if not pushed to labour under the most horrendous conditions. Rather than continuing to engage in hostility and differences, Nigerians would prefer the kind of leadership that tilts towards achieving integrity and respect for human dignity. However, if my memory has not got short as my breath, I believe from 1999 to 2019 is exactly twenty years. Can you imagine such a long period without any concrete achievement. Too bad! Now, given the unfolding development so far, some winners who won through intimidation may have succeeded in fooling the electorate but not God. This is why one of the Holy Books said: “Woe unto them that call evil good and good evil; that put darkness for light and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter; woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes and prudent in their own sight. Which justify the wicked for reward and take away the righteousness of the righteous from Him.”
Even when life in reality is like dromedary urine that never progresses in a straight line and even goes back while progressing, there is still a lot to learn from life’s vicissitudes. Nigeria, the giant of Africa, is a blessed country. She is indeed one of the richest countries in the world. Nevertheless, today, her main problem is how to raise a small group of intelligent, selfless and sincere economic drivers to drive her to the Promised Land.
For this group, their main duty should be to look inward and help turn Nigeria’s untapped potentials and fortunes around in the positive directions to the benefit and advantage of the expectant Nigerian people. It does not matter where this small group of people come from or who they are in the society. They can be God-fearing politicians, technocrats, professionals or ordinary gifted people. What really matters in this case is just finding a tested, reliable and honest bunch that cares less about ethnicity and religious sentiments. The suggested group should be a transparent group that will be willing and desperate to leave enduring legacies.
The only major problem of the past was that of Nigerian managers who were flustered because they tried to do many things at the same time. There was no careful planning and no prioritization.
The soul of a nation under pressure can hardly find utterance, likewise a nation that is not hospitable to decency. This is why our leaders should eschew rigid class distinction and ethnic rivalry and make visible sacrifices that are compatible with honour and dignity in order to assure a peaceful resolution of the nation’s daunting and mounting problems. Simply, let the sacrifices that will be entailed upon our leaders find their fullest justification.
Unfortunately, the word “greed” is still enjoying its pride of place in Nigeria’s economic and social history dictionary. Painfully as it is, some people’s greed knows no bounds. It is like the case of a hunter who is carrying an elephant on his head yet he digs for mere crickets with his legs. In fact, whether we are discussing power, health, roads, education, solid minerals, unemployment, security of lives and property, it is the same old story.
Blames and excuses that follow a mumbo-jumbo pattern. There is no single intention or effort to stand at the bar of history. William Shakespeare, baptized on April 26, 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon is dead and gone but the world remembers him through his books.
Legacy and history are not strange bedfellows at all. They complement each other. While history deals with facts of actual happenings – dates, time, events, personalities and places; legacy is something that is a part of the people’s history. It is a powerful instrument and a catalyst in the process of change.
To add value to this piece, a brief journey down memory lane will not be out of place. Like the writings of William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, Chinua Achebe or the music of Bach and Beethoven; the paintings of Leonardo and Pablo Picasso or the landmark achievements and inspirational speeches of Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Winston Churchill, Mikhail Gorbachev, Nelson Mandela, Mary Sleissor, William Wilberforce, John Kennedy, Napoleon Bonaparte, George Washington, just to mention a few, have transcended the pettiness of time and place and have since become part of those external things that speak to all men at all times. In Nigeria, I believe history will be kind enough to reward Nigerian leaders handsomely, if they heed the clarion call to leave their footprints on the sands of time.
Some Nigerian illustrious sons and daughters, who had also left indelible marks of achievements that are impossible to forget include: Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Mrs. Funmilayo Ransome Kuti, Chief Mrs. Margaret Ekpo, Oueen Amina, Mallam Aminu Kano, Hogan Kid Bassey, Dick Tiger Ihetu et al. Legacy is the key word.
Nsofor writes from Abuja