Opinion | 16. 06. 2022
Alice O’Connor better known by her pen name as Ayn Rand was a Russian-born American writer and philosopher. In her `magnum opus` book, Atlas Shrugged, published in 1957, she penned the evergreen lines, “When you see that in order to produce, you need to obtain permission from men who produce nothing. When you see, that money is flowing to those who deal, not in goods, but in favours. When you see that men get richer by graft and by pull than by work, and your laws don’t protect you against them, but protect them against you. When you see corruption being rewarded and honesty becoming a self-sacrifice, you may know that your society is doomed.” These lines aptly resonate with the current epileptic and pathetic on-the – brink condition that is Nigeria.
Few days ago, June 12, 2022, we celebrated the 29th anniversary of perhaps one of the greatest moments of our nationhood, the election of Business Mogul, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola of blessed memory. It was an election adjudged to have been the freest and fairest in the history of Nigeria. Chief MKO Abiola like his tripod initials won the hearts and minds of Nigeria across our tripod ethnic and religious divide to clinch victory. He even won landslide at the home State (Kano) of his opponent, Late Alhaji Bashir Tofa. MKO Abiola`s victory was so emphatic, euphoric, and joyful so much so that the nation was thrown into crisis when by fiat, the gap toothed, self-styled then military President, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida annulled the election. The `Maradona` himself, IBB later got his `hands and feet burnt` and had to step aside. The hopes and aspirations of millions of Nigerians was truncated in that annulment, and we are all living witnesses to all the fire, sulphur and brimstone that enveloped the nation thereafter.
Twenty-nine years on, Nigeria is on the verge of a political tsunami. Nigerians across our four cardinal divide – North, South, West, and East can dare to dream again. There is a rearing determination to push the boundaries and challenge hitherto man-made political divides devoid of both humanitarian stir and democratic steering that have kept our great giant of a Nation in coma. Hope is on the horizon and a renewed sense of `NIGERIANESS` has taken over the landscape. This new Nigerianess is people driven and organic. Nobody has been coerced, induced, or cajoled. There is a renewed strength, belief and unity of purpose. There is an OBI-VOLUTION in the land. It is a new dawn led by the Nigerian people who for donkey years have been beaten `blue and black` by a demonic, satanic, and self-preserving ruling class. The brand on this new dawn is the cerebral soft spoken trader and political czar, His Excellency Peter Gregory Obi, former Governor of Anambra State. The Nigerian political elites led by the duopoly – All Progressive Congress, APC and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP cannot fathom what has stung them as things stand now on the road to 2023. Obi-volution is taking over the political terrain with zip and zest. The Nigerian people who have lost hope in politics and anything politics have suddenly awoken to awaken the sleeping Giant! There is a new Sheriff – Peter Obi. The question on the lips of many is could this be our long-awaited day of emancipation from the Sword of Damocles swinging over our throats by the vile machinations of `heartless` political vagabonds that has brought our nation down on its knees? Not even on its knees, they have brought Nigeria crashing to the floor like a pack of cards.
Nigeria is a land blessed with abundant human and natural resources. It is however now a theatre ebbing towards an apocalypse by the passing of each new day. Nigeria has remained a paper potential but has never reached that full potential in reality. Nigeria has remained a sleeping giant that has refused to wake up. The country has been sedated by the lethal injections of corruption, insecurity, and rudderless governance. Our nation has become a laughingstock in the comity of nations. We have continuously retained the
global championship trophy of the poverty capital of the world. Nigeria is one country blessed with crude oil but for decades we are not able to refine same for our citizens. We have surrendered our value chain in that sector to other countries and spend humongous amount of our resources paying countries not naturally endowed with crude oil to service us – we defy the rules of economics 101 by sourcing production where there are no natural resource deposits and yet hoping by some stroke of luck to optimise our productivity. Ours is a country where constant supply of electricity has remained a mirage. The current APC-led administration even promised to fix our electricity within six months during their campaigns in 2014/2015. The PDP too had their time in the saddle and also did not fare better. No country can develop without Power (electricity) supply.
Our healthcare system is in shambles. These `wicked` political class/elites who call themselves `leaders` (rulers in my view) are not perturbed. They, their families, and cronies easily jet out to the United Kingdom, Europe, America, and other parts of the world for medical tourism at the slightest headache, scratch, or mosquito bite. Painfully, these medical bills are paid for from our common patrimony. How callous? Haaa… you dare-devil politicians should fear God now! You and your hordes that lack value for human life, have killed our Education system. Our Universities have been under lock and key for over four months due to the ongoing nationwide Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU strike. Our young people, the leaders of tomorrow are all at home wasting away. Our teeming youths are unemployed. Just name the sector – Agriculture, Aviation, Housing…we can go on and on. The list is endless. The decadence in all spheres of our national life has been gradual, consistent, and induced.
There is palpable anger, frustration, and disenchantment in the land. The ugly situation is further compounded by the total disconnect between the government and the governed. Those meant to serve the people (government)
are the ones been served. The few political elites and their lackeys in power (about 0.0001% of the population) are living the life, enjoying, flexing, and swimming in the pool of our commonwealth. The above scenario was even made worse by the hitherto apathy of the Nigerian people. We gave up and retorted to the mantra of, `anyway God dey`. We surrendered our sovereignty to a callous political class/elite whose major pre-occupation is the fleecing of our commonwealth. That apathy however is changing. It has changed! The events of the last few weeks – the Peter Obi brand has resonated with all spectres of Nigerians. There is no doubt that there is a natural positive mystic vibe blowing across the land. The sleeping people of Nigeria are `awoke`. A political earthquake of monumental proportion is about to happen. The Nigerian Youths are set to take back our country from the oppressive clutch of the mindless political class. The prevailing inequality, injustice, and subjugation by the dark political class/elite is going to be overturned. Their party is but over. All the myths and lies they have peddled to the Nigeria people is busted. Obi-volution is taking over in the minds and hearts of Nigerians and is beginning to spill copiously into our political terrain. Can you not feel it? Can you not see it?
Fellow Nigerians, we are diving into the election `league season 2023` and the spent, geriatric, old foxes that put us in the current mess we are in are hovering around seeking whom to devour again. They are baring their old fangs with all manner of carrots, enticement, and inducement. We the people need to rise up, and free our minds from the mental slavery of `structure`, `2k, 3k, 5k, 10k naira` handouts. If they bring their `carrots and juice`, `chop` their money, clean mouth `wella` and vote your conscience for the right candidate Obi-diently. The 2023 election is another moment in time when we the Nigerian people have to face up squarely to those holding down our collective destiny as a nation, demand and take back what truly belongs to us. Let us not be complacent or listen to vain babblings of these inhuman political class/elites. Our `Mumu` don do. It is time for us to take back Nigeria. We must unite irrespective of our tribe, religion, or political party
orientation to rescue our dear nation. This is not a battle fought with swords, spears, guns, or armours. It is a battle of the mind. Yes! a battle of the liberation of the mind, subtle emotional awareness, massive strategic planning, masterful tact, and a synergistic togetherness. Go therefore to get your Permanent Voters Card, PVC if you haven’t secured yours. This is not the time to sit idle, sit on the fence or `siddon look`. Leave that PC (personal computer) for a moment and go grab your PVC `sharpily`. In the words of the great human rights activist, Steve Biko, “The greatest weapon in the hand of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed”. Nigeria is at a crossroads and we the people can change the tide as we rebrand our country by the Obi-dient decision we make today. My question to you, you, you, and you is this; Are you Obi-dient? As for me, I am unrepentantly Obi-dient because Obi-dience is better than sacrifice and to harken than the voice of rams. A word, they say, is enough for the wise. We move!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr Agbons is founder of the Institute of Good Governance @www.twin2.org
