Since a significant percentage of Nigerians allowed themselves to be swayed by a few evil and unreasonable men in the 2015 presidential election where they helped to select the plague called Muhammadu Buhari, my hopes for Nigeria’s greatness continue to suffer untold diminishing returns. The moment the optimistic me starts to gain momentum from the exploits of the like of Giannis (Adetokunbo) Antetokounmpo, Chimamanda Ngozi-Adichie, and Burna Boy, the events in Nigeria brings back reality and checkmates my euphoria. As I daily struggle to inflate my mind with positives, the callousness of Nigerian politicians often deflates the rising bubble. The recent outpouring of encomium to mark the 79th Birthday of Buhari was another blow to my hope of Nigeria ever getting it right. When I read the comments of the speaker of the house of representatives – Femi Gbajabiamila, about the exploit of Buhari, I was ashamed not only for him but for myself as a Nigerian. When Ahmad Lawan, the senate president presented his homilies, I was not surprised because I knew the debts approvals that will sentence many Nigerians to life imprisonment of hardship will send his children to a lifetime of prosperity, hence, he can pour accolades on his benefactor. When Bola Tinubu added his voice to the birthday wishes, my optimism for the future of Nigeria disappeared almost totally.
The growing pessimism I have for Nigeria has its root in our so-called leaders and their blind followers who for the increasingly worthless naira and their ethnic bias, can sell their conscience and good judgment. Buhari’s birthday wishes continue to showcase the callousness and insensitivity of many in our midst. A few like Reno Omokri can still share their sincere opinion and give me some hope. He wrote, “I mark General Buhari’s alleged 79th birthday, by wishing him as much happiness as he has given Nigerians, and as much prosperity as he has given our countrymen and women, and as much personal security as he has given citizens of our dear country. May he be as fulfilled as the fulfillment of the campaign promises he made. May he be as valued as the Naira is valued. And finally, may he be as respected as he has made Nigeria’s passport and image internationally respected. In Christ’s Name.” Omokri’s birthday wishes started by mentioning “alleged” birthday because Buhari probably does not know how old he is. He continued by drawing attention to the situation in Nigeria concerning the poverty and insecurity in the land. And finalized by reminding us of the campaign promises of Buhari and the slaughterhouse that Nigeria has become.
The more I try to find ways to be optimistic about what the future holds for Nigeria, the more I see the fruitlessness of my optimism for Nigeria. The recent statement credited to Olusegun Obasanjo, the man that was supposed to be our Lee Kuan Yew saying Buhari has done his best depressed my thought about Nigeria the more. When I thought my hopes for Nigeria could not suffer more assault, I found out that Professor Emeritus Wole Soyinka wrote the foreward of the autobiography of Chief Bisi Akande that has been declared by right-thinking Nigerians as a cheap and untrue literary prologue to Bola Tinubu’s presidential campaign. Where do we go from here? As for me and my house, we would diligently build our house regardless of the actions and inactions of the so-called leaders. I have come to realize the best I can do for myself, and Nigeria is to be the best that I can be like Giannis Adetokunbo, Chimamanda Ngozi-Adichie, and Burna Boy in my career. Build my nuclear family to be the best we can be. And build my community while doing so. I came to this conclusion because there are presently little or no leaders worth following in Nigeria. Ethnicity, religion and poverty have degenerated their conscience and intelligence to the point where they can boldly declare that Buhari who is the worst thing to happen to Nigeria is the best.
Ata Ukuta, Editor – Towncryyers.