Nigeria @64 Amidst Desolation, by Abba Dukawa

As the nation celebrates its statehood still our leaders take citizens for granted because of citizens’ failures to make concerted effort in ensuring   that the right must be done. We can either celebrate or sober reflections on major problems bedeviled us as a people and nation It critical look at the role of followership It must be reiterated that every Nigerian is a major stakeholder and therefore owes it a duty to salvage Nigeria from the quagmire of poor leadership. 

The success or otherwise of leadership will not be in isolation of followership. Both leaders and followers are guilty in the event of failure of the state. The support given to leaders in Nigeria, always allowing them to have their way in almost everything is the guiltiness of the citizenry.

The leaders have perfected their manipulatory skills such that even civil society groups, professional bodies, and religious organizations have fallen to the spell of poor leadership as if they are no more rational beings so to speak   the guilt weighs more on the followership, who have allowed them to be manipulated, deceived, abused, used and dumped by the leaders who should be there to protect their interest. Nigerians have been disappointed to the greater level with the development of our country in the last six decades where every sector is decaying due to the lack of political will of our leaders and proactive citizenry role.

At this moment the country and citizens witness the another anniversary of our nation’s independence amidst harsh conditions. Because the Talakawas living standard in the country only moves from bad to worse because three squares of meals beyond reach therefore  the anger on display is a reflection of the true situation in the country.

No one will discount the progress made in several areas of our national life since the country get its independence from British colonial masters. Nigeria contemporary’s countries that gotten statehood with our country is now in the league of developing Nations. In spite of our enormous wealth but our dear Nigeria at 60 independence the citizenry well being is misery because each passing day Nigerians swallow the bitter pills administered to them by their leaders.

May 29, 2019 marked a new dawn with the inauguration   President Ahmad Bola ’Tinubu’s as the new president after expiration of PMB’s administration  with high hopes and expectations from the citizenry that President Tinubu would lead Nigeria’s turn-around and create the basis for its improved prosperity.  

Despite all these set backed of 8 years  misruling  of the country  by then former  PMB administration. Nigerians exercise tolerant with hope that President  PBAT  would lead  Nigeria’s turn-around and create the basis for improved and prosperity Nigeria five years of the administration all the hopes became disillusioned. There is growing resentment against the current government by the citizens because the administration’s inability to speedily address the challenges inherited from the previous administration.

It is time for the government to be sensitive on its policies which will not be look like on anti- masses despite the billions of naira being pumped into numerous Infrastructure projects still , Nigeria’s have infrastructure deficit making it hard for businesses to prosper. 

More than 100 million Nigerians are languishing in poverty   with a life expectancy of 48.8%. Nigerians  celebrate independence amidst suffering nearly half the population living in extreme poverty. The World Bank has predicted sluggish growth this year coupled with unemployment.

Nigeria @64 the nation education sector so depressing,  major roads in the nation were in a state of despair and almost every sector are not promising. The state of security, electricity, health, is so embarrassing. 

Interestingly Nigeria at 64 independence problems with the country has been identified by most analysts and social commentators as the absence of true leadership.  This I believe is just one aspect of the truth or reality.  The reality of the matter is simple Poor leadership in the context of bad followership throughout the ages in every society that has evolved successfully, social reform and change is initiated by followership and not necessarily the leadership.  . Both leaders and followers are guilty in the event of failure of the state. The support given to leaders in Nigeria, always allowing them to have their way in almost everything is the guilt of the citizenry.  In fact, citizens are regretting to say that our yesterday as a nation was better than our today. There are no indices to show that citizens tomorrow will be better.

How can the citizens celebrate the independence Amidst such unbearable humiliation pill administered to them by the leadership at all levels of government.

The greatest of all  these disappointment which has  shape our country in the last six decades almost every sectors in the country are decaying due to the lack of political will of successors  leaders.

At 64 Nigeria still battling with poor economic policies, poor leadership, nepotism and mismanagement of resources. The country you left behind is not the Nigeria you have wishes your  successors and the citizens to have. Your successors have not done a right things in  building a  country with strong  economic like our contemporaries nations that are in the league of developing Nations.

Citizens are regretting to say that our yesterday as a nation was better than our today. There are no indices to show that citizens tomorrow will be better. The leaders have placing the country on the way to bankruptcy. 

Nigeria celebrate its  Anniversary amidst desolation at sometime  battling for survival with mind-boggling skyrocketed foodstuff prices due to foodstuff merchant’s impunity but the masses are being punch. What the masses are experiencing now is like what they have passed through in the late 80s. 

Dukawa write in from Abuja can be reached at abbahydukawa@gmail.com