Who are the five percent?

Nigeria has the potentials to be a great nation. It could easily have become the largest economy in black Africa.  It has the potential to become the biggest democracy in Africa and the pride of the entire black race. Nigeria has the potential to be not just the giant of Africa but a giant among nations. This was what was envisaged by the British when they amalgamated the North and South and perhaps also envisaged by our founding fathers when they fought for independence which was granted in 1960.
We had a promising start and were almost getting it right but for bad leadership, which has been our bane. Poor leadership has made it difficult for us to rise above tribalism, religion, nepotism and clannishness and this gets worse by the day.
The 2015 election remain the most divisive of presidential elections in the history of Nigeria. To heal the nation and suit bruises what the country needed were sets of leaders who will unify the country. The very few of us who remained with former President Good Luck Jonathan at the time he conceded defeat hoped as Jonathan then wished that the country will finally move forward under the new leadership as one people. But rather than work for unity, the new leaders who were bent on hostile take-over, for the first time in the history of presidential democracy propounded a queer mathematical formula – the now infamous Formula “97 per cent  five per cent
“I hope you have a copy of the election results. The constituents, for example, who gave me 97 per cent [of the vote], cannot in all honesty be treated on some issues with constituencies that gave me five per cent – This was President Buhari’s reply to Dr. Pauline Baker, the President Emeritus of The Fund for Peace, who inquired about the Niger Delta area and how Buhari intends to approach it with particular reference to inclusive development.  Wonder why the Niger Delta and the South East are up in smokes and the oil companies declaring a force majeure on oil production?
By some kind of social re-engineering, the president has explicitly implied that the three per cent or five per cent who didn’t vote for him will be deprived, disposed, dehumanized, debased, excluded and punished.
The Niger Delta whose son conceded defeat was told in no unmistaken terms that the Federal will take their oil and would use every means available; including bribery, intimidation, harassment and killing to ensure their oil is taken while their environment suffers neglect and pollution.
The South East, predominantly Igbo speaking not only backed down but denied of their demand for Biafra and also stripped psychologically of their Nigerian citizenship thus making them people without nation.
Yet, in-spite of their unwarranted subjugation they have continued to show love for country and serve as the light of the nation , rekindling hope in the great potential of Nigeria.
Who are the five per cent and who are the 97 or 95 per cent.  It is not  difficult to identify them. The 5% are the people who must be deprived and dispossessed because they saw tomorrow. You know them by their works and dexterity to excel in all aspects of life. They are the best examples of how to be good citizens, good wives , good neighbors, good husbands and patriots,  and they hold the key to the future of Nigeria and Africa greatness.
I am inspired by the achievement and indomitable spirit of the 5% to write this article beginning with former Governor Peter Obi who made Anambra the best state in prudent management of resources. If his successor will continue in his legacy Nigeria may sooner than later borrow money from Anambra State. I urge Nigeria to go and understudy Anambra. Call Peter Obi to rescue this ailing economy before it is too late for all of us.
I am also inspired by the amazing story of Iloabuchi Vivian Chinonyerem, a native of Awka, Anambra State, though based in Aba , Abia State. In an era when Secondary School students are shivering at the mention of  WAEC,  Iloabuchi Vivian Chinonyerem gave West African Examination Council flawless victory by having A1 in all nine subjects she registered for.  Vivian deserves a scholarship, an inspiring congratulatory letter from the Education Minister and Presidential handshake which she may never get because despite her being a genius she is a five per cent.
It’s vexatious that the President will have the time to pen a congratulatory message to Mr. Seyi Tinubu for his wedding extra vaganza but has no time congratulate  Dr. Victor Olalusi  who scored a 5.0 GPA in Medicine from a Russian University or invite to breakfast 26 years old Ifesinachi Nelson Ezeh who  won international acclaim for finishing his Master’s degree at Saint Petersburg Agrarian University in Russia with distinction, graduating with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 5.0 – the highest Russia has ever recorded. His edge-cutting research in Agronomy is capable of ending Nigeria’s food shortage. His feat earned him a Ph.D scholarship. Ifesinachi Nelson has dazzled Russia with his brilliance. Ifesinachi’s feat was celebrated by Russians during the university’s graduation. Russia’s Ministry of Agriculture and the school leadership showered encomiums on him, praising his dedication to quality research and academic excellence but he never got a message from the Nigeria High Commission in Moscow because he is a five per cent even though  it was his age group that actually voted for Buhari in the South East.
Sample the inspiring story of Chierika Ukogu, Nigeria’s first ever rower who has reached the semi- finals in the Rio Olympics Games.
Chierika, 23, is probably the most quintessential lady in the history of Nigerian sports. Her patriotism and dedication towards making Nigeria proud will definitely make it to the history books. She has already made history as the first Nigerian to ever participate in the Rowing event.
Interestingly, Chierika is competing without the support of the Nigerian government as she raised the funds to take her to the games. She did this through a GoFundMe campaign, which she started in 2015, successfully gathering over $12,000 to get the necessary equipment and pay for transportation to Rio, Brazil. Before the current Olympic Games, she trained with the US rowing team.
Ukogu, Nigeria’s first ever rower in the Olympics achieved the feat by coming fifth in the third quarter final of the Women’s single sculls clocking a time of 7:54.44.
Finally, I am inspired by the under 23 Dream Team Six coached and captained by another set of five per cent , Samson Siasia and John Mikel Obi. The team has made it into Quarter Finals after being abandoned in Atlanta Georgia USA and finding their way to Rio. The Minister of Sports who has remained in his position because he is a 95 per cent had told a bewildered nation that the team’s plight in Atlanta is not Nigeria’s business.
I am proudly a five per cent who urge all five per cent to continue to show example and lead by example. It is rather unfortunate that we have a 95 per cent who has constituted themselves into a stumbling block to the unity and progress of this country. They remain callous, uncharitable and insensitive to the plight of the five per cent. The nation cannot meet the expectation of her founding fathers except we destroy the artificial walls we have created between the five per cent who must work as slaves and the 95 per cent who must lazy and enjoy. What the country needs now is one government that cares for us all, one people in one nation that are not divided by ethnicity, tribe and religion and must work for the unity and progress of this country 100 per cent. This is the challenge President Buhari must rise against.