Naij.com reader, comrade E.A. Zik, in his contribution speaks on behalf of Nigerian youth on the current situation in Nigeria. What issues worry young people in anticipation of the presidential elections 2015? Are they craving for change or satisfied with the present state of affairs?
It’s common knowledge that political atmosphere in Nigeria, especially on the eve of the coming elections, can be characterized by accusations and counter-accusations between the political parties in a bid to convince the unsuspecting populace to vote in their favour.
When the parties behave responsibly during the elections, it makes the whole process very interesting. When, however, the process is bastardized and all tenets of responsibility and competition are abandoned, it comes to confuse the average person how such ineptitude may happen in a democratic society.
Blatant lies, deception and threats pervading Nigerian politics baffles every intelligent Nigerian. The impunity thereof is not even a topic to write about anymore. We happen to be so used to it that even kids know that, when a government official does something wrong, it is useless to report because it may actually turn out to be the beginning of the reporter’s problems.
Their lies is deafening to the ears, the deception is childish. The question that has been burning in my mind for a long time: are these people just insulting our intelligence, or do they actually believe that Nigerians are blacked-out dummies?
I think they believe we are dummies. Fools who they can just insult and buy back with the money they stole from us.
In February, President Goodluck Jonathan visited Kogi state. A lot of people were in attendance. I don’t know about others, but those in the bus we took from Kogi state University were paid at least N3000 each to attend the rally.
What we all expected to be a life-changing event took an unexpected turn when the President looked at the crowd and declared without mincing words that “he” had dredged the river Niger and Kogi now has its own port.
I had to ask the people around me to confirm what I just heard. It was true. He said he had dredged the Niger. I was shocked to the max, but it was nothing compared to the anger that almost made me hit the roof.
Anyone living in Lokoja can confirm that the dredging program, started under Yar’Adua, was stopped and the equipment was moved out immediately after Jonathan had taken over in 2011. What I kept asking myself was, whether he didn’t know he “hadn’t” dredged the river Niger. But how can you not know what you have not done? This is the kind of insult I cannot take.
I don’t think Jonathan believes we are intelligent enough to know what is true and what is false. His believes that the money he gives us (money which he has stolen from us and paid us to shout for him) will shut our brains and cover all rationality in us.
The rest of the day was spent with Jonathan’s cohorts telling us that someone who did not lie to us the previous week (Buhari) would not be able to deliver to if he came to office.
We are tired of your lies. We are fed up with your silver shekels. We won’t sell our brothers because you’re returning what you have stolen from us. We are much wiser now, and if some of our brothers are yet to become that wise, we won’t betray them.
You’ve given us a federal university; thank you for doing your job. All the billions we pay you annually is not a waste after all. However, I don’t see any reason for justifying you after you’ve done just a little bit of what we are paying for. All you have to do is give out the money you are holding and order things to be done.
Another tragedy that has befallen Nigeria is the personality of Dame Patience.
There were rumours that our President Goodluck Jonathan was a weak coward before his wife, and Dame Patience was the real president. I, as a representative of manhood, stood strongly against peddlers of such rumours. I thought that a man of Goodluck’s status could not be fooled by a woman. Recent happenings, however, have proved my stand wrong. The insults and slandering she has recently poured out to General Muhammadu Buhari in Nigeria, where elders are treated with reverence, may be considered as insults to the entire society. I wonder if Patience is secretly working against her husband.
As for Okupe and others, no one is interested in your ranting anymore. Femi Fani-Kayode, I’m sure you are already preparing your decamping speech. You are always with the person in power. Obasanjo has already warned us of you. Fayose, don’t get too comfortable. Emmanuel will soon come to Jerusalem. The captives of Ekiti State will soon be free.
I’ll stop here to avoid the readers’ apathy. I won’t talk about the missing money, murders, kidnappings and assassinations. I will not talk of blackmails, economy and security issuesÑŽ These are the topics for another day.
Think like intelligent people and vote wisely.
God bless Nigeria, God bless us all.
The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Naij.com.
