The men who gave up on Nigeria

It was a bright sunny afternoon that day in Lagos. As I sat at the reception of an Ikeja office I had visited for a short meeting with one of the directors, a conversation soon started on issues concerning Nigeria. Aside the pleasant young lady who was the secretary, there were two other men at the reception whom I was meeting for the first time. They came across as well-learned gentlemen.

Through our discussions, I got to know they were entrepreneurs who ran their own businesses. They seemed to have worked hard in their ventures and are enjoying God’s favour and the success that comes from that. They also drove fantastically-nice cars. The journalist in me wanted to feel their pulse and get their thoughts on the state of affairs in the country. They shocked me with their submissions.

In anger, the men told me they have for long given up hope on Nigeria, that things cannot change for the better, and that they are unapologetic saying so. They added that no matter the actions or pretensions of President Muhammadu Buhari’s government, it has many contradictions and his administration has even disappointed them in so many ways in its almost one year in office. They further explained that they’ve made up their minds to carry on with their private lives and families without in any way expecting anything from government or anything good from Nigeria. Like Nathanael who asked, ‘can anything good come out of Nazareth?’ they also ask, ‘can anything good come out of Nigeria?’

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing and tried to tell them we cannot afford to give up hope on our country although I agree, wholeheartedly with them, that Nigeria has let us all down as citizens in so many ways. I felt their position was an extreme one, and told them so as I further tried to put in some words of encouragement. But they wanted none of my defence for the country as one of them tried to further justify their position.

“Mr. Kolawole, for how long have we been saying Nigeria will get better? Please, cast your mind back, for how long now? We’ve been talking of fixing electricity in our country for more than 30 years. Has anything changed? We’ve been complaining about our bad roads in Nigeria? Have we effectively fixed them now? And for our youths, we are killing their future with the substandard education we’re giving them.”

I couldn’t argue with the bitter truth he was saying and looked on intently at him, waiting for him to finish his point before responding. However, not wanting to be left out, the second man also joined the conversation: “I won’t even say anything about corruption. We all know how terrible and widespread it is in our country especially among our politicians. Most of them are rogues who should be shot dead. Can you imagine the hundreds of millions and billions of naira and dollars they are sharing and taking for themselves just like that?

“Again, since last year, in what tangible way has the Buhari government we all gladly voted for made impact or fulfilled its promises to Nigerians. And you know what? Something tells me there’s some corruption going on even in this Buhari administration. Please sir, forget it. This country can’t ever get better. It would only get worse.”

Despite my strident efforts to tell them we can’t afford to give up on our country, and that with a society that is collectively determined to ensure things change for the better, we will get there someday, and I believe in our lifetime, they would not be persuaded. They said they have come to such conclusion based on what they’ve seen and experienced in Nigeria for decades. Now, these were very educated folks!

I left those gentlemen feeling a bit depressed that Nigeria has lost those ones. But we all know that these men aren’t the only ones who have given up hope on their fatherland. There are many Nigerians out there who are fed up with the country and have simply written it off. A simple survey will prove this. Even old folks want to check out!

Without being alarmist, I believe there is fire on the mountain and the country is in deeper trouble than is being openly expressed or admitted by leaders. I just hope, like Chido Onumah warns in his latest book, We are All Biafrans, we are not sleepwalking to disaster and disintegration. We lament ‘what a country’; but if care isn’t taken, we may one day wake up to find out we don’t even have a country any longer. Yes, we may say God forbid. But we need to address the gaps because this is why ethnic champions and groups like IPOB are demanding for Biafra and the Niger Delta Avengers are saying they will keep blowing up oil and gas pipelines, wreak Nigeria’s economy, and eventually achieve their goal of a sovereign Niger Delta.

And even for the strongest optimist and most passionate patriot, it’s difficult not to be tempted to give up hope on Nigeria, a country so blessed with abundant human and natural resources but sadly bereft of outstanding and visionary political leadership to harness these potentials and turn the country to a land to die for and one where citizens maximise their potentials, fulfil their purpose, dreams come true, and one where citizens of other countries also want to visit and even live in.

Although we pray to God for our country to be better, yet most of our political leaders, in fact, many of the ones in office now continue to do ungodly things that don’t in anyway advance humanity. We have leaders who speak all the grammar in the dictionary that they are ready to change the country, but a rigorous analysis of their actions which speak louder than words expose their hypocrisy and the shallowness of their promises. We’ve seen Presidents going abroad for medical treatments in UK, Germany, Saudi Arabia and also approving funds for their people to do same yet they don’t think it is wise and better to fix our own hospitals here in Nigeria for all Nigerians. Even President Buhari of all leaders still goes for medical check-up abroad where his doctor is based. And how will he continue to convince those who voted for him that he truly means well when he is failing in the little but very important things?

The other day, my wife asked me that if all Nigerians were given free visas and the opportunity to travel to say the US, UK or Germany, do I think most would want to stay back home or even return? I chuckled and pretended I didn’t hear her. Unfortunately, this is the sad reality of our country. And it is so because political leaders, irrespective of their parties, are failing us. And we, as elites and citizens, are also failing ourselves and country. Nigeria, today, is what we’ve all made it to be. Unless we continue demanding and working for a better country where all citizens are able to live decently; casting great visions and not settling for less; and putting aside all ethnic, religious and other unhelpful sentiments that draw us back, we’ll remain in the mess we are.

Meanwhile, across the country, there’s disappointment over the latest increase in fuel price from N86.50 to N145 by the government. Rallies and protests are springing up. Labour unions are also threatening strike actions even if the government through the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, is making all efforts to frustrate this.

Although I honestly think the fuel hike is inevitable based on the realities the country is confronted with, it’s good that the federal government, at the end of its meeting with the Joe Ajaero-led faction of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), has set up a committee to review the new pump price of petrol and the current national minimum wage of N18,000. But there must be other ways the government will cushion the effect of the hike for Nigerians who aren’t in the civil service.

While the matter of the divided house of labour is an issue for another day, there is no doubt that the sins and hypocrisy of APC chieftains in opposing the removal of fuel subsidy in 2012 when proposed by the then Goodluck Jonathan government are now finding them out.

Whichever way things turn out in the days and years ahead, the reality of our country today is that many Nigerians, like the gentlemen who were honest in sharing their thoughts, are daily giving up hope on the country. Painfully, the Buhari government, despite the euphoria of its coming to power a year ago, and in spite of its anti-corruption war, hasn’t demonstrated well enough that it is seriously committed to the welfare and economic wellbeing of Nigerians. But I’ll still give the President and his team the benefit of the doubt. The account of their stewardship would be written at the fullness of time. I believe they can still change the narrative in the three years they have left.

So, as patriots, and as children of God with clear understanding that the Almighty had a purpose in making it possible for us to be born in Nigeria of all countries, we can’t just give up hope on our fatherland. No matter who we are, I think that’s just simply unhelpful. We must all continue to work and pray for the country we want to have and bequeath to our children. Nigeria can turn around in our lifetime. I sincerely believe so. Remember Samaria.

Kolawole is an award-winning journalist and author. You can reach him via [email protected]. SMS Only: 08053533003. Twitter: @ofemigan