Over the weekend, I was in a philosophical mood thinking about how unfair life can be. The popular Nigerian saying that “this life nor balance” came to mind. I thought about the tyrants of the past and present, from Adolf Hitler to Mobutu Sese Seko whose tyranny caused untold destruction of lives and properties. I thought about Putin’s campaign in Ukraine and the fact that after all is said and done Putin might escape prosecution. And I thought about the undisputed worst leader yet Nigeria has been unfortunate to endure. When the man who could not find his certificate was sworn into office as President of Nigeria on May 29, 2015, he re-promised his campaign promises that his administration would improve the economy, fight corruption, and deal decisively with security. Today, after eight agonizing years in power, Muhammadu Buhari has succeeded only in elevating his wife and children.
As I continued thinking about this glitch in our history as a nation, and Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent medical trip disguised as a working visit, it was difficult for the optimistic me not to be pessimistic. Even the last hope of well-meaning Nigerians that the judiciary will restore the stolen mandate could not put a silver lining in the sky of my thoughts. I thought about the wasted opportunity of the Olusegun Obasanjo presidency. I rewound to Yakubu Gowon’s time which could have changed Nigeria’s destiny if he was independent and knew what he was doing. And I thought about the aged Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida whose era enshrined corruption and his real successor Sani Abacha whose stolen loot can adequately fund an African nation for years. And I concluded that Nigeria and indeed Africa will not make the desired progress until we have a strategy securely in place and institutionalized to weed out evil and unreasonable men from leadership.
My thought came back to the present and all I could think of was with the mess Buhari is leaving behind, he will still go scot-free into a very peaceful and lavish retirement package. And the saying “this life nor balance” came back to mind. As I continued thinking about the unfairness and un-balanceness of life, I told myself there must be a way or ways to balance one’s own life even if Nigerian and African leaders continue to be irresponsible, corrupt, and callous. I concluded that the path or strategy to an individual or family’s economic emancipation is what some Nigerian youths are presently doing. From the Grammy-winning Burna Boy to the UFC Fighter Israel Adesanya and the local diligent trader or entrepreneur at the corner shop near you – the way forward is to discover, develop and deploy your God-given talent in ways where your influence grows from local to global, so much so that you are somewhat immune from the mess African leaders often leave behind.
Ata Ukuta, Editor – Towncryyers