There was a country "The here and now" - Hassana Suleiman

Methodologically, Nigeria could be diagnosed as unstable and a deteriorate by anyone with a clear view of the outrageous mismanagement, overflow of inhumanity of citizens against one another. A clean proof of the facts that lie within Chinua’s historical observation, perceptions and entire literature inserted into the text of his last book, ‘There Was a Country’. The problem didn’t stem from now, it has its aged roots deeply infused into the Nigerian soil. What we see and hear now are just the fruits borne by the poisonous trees we have failed to chop off. We planted a flytrap and wonder why it snaps its fangs at us. Silly us. Yes, we may claim that Nigeria is one hell of a heterogenous territory and that it may never be possible to achieve national peace, rationalism in ethnicity or religious tolerance, or that corruption as a canker has eaten deeply into the nations fabric but our biggest error was losing history. The country has recieved jabs that has sent it into a trance of ‘e no dey see road well’. Just like many of its inhabitants with their lack of zeal for growth, and total disbelief in an improved and renewed Nigeria. Generally, when you go out and listen to the comments from people, the picture being painted is a dark and horrifying one. The gist on ground is that Nigeria will not get better. Almost everyone has a dream to relocate to another part of the world. But as what? People had better begin to identify as New Nigerians, because our humongous population alone may overwhelm the other countries we run to for refuge from the carnage we set alight by our very impeccably destructive and unproductive hands. Regimes after regimes of government should explain better where the loopholes that need repairs are situated. The downside is we know our problems and yet instead of seeking to solve it we tuck our tails between our legs and run. To what? To where? As what? Agreed, other countries may grant you beneficial social amenities and ‘the easy life’, but up until when? We forget that these countries with shiny buildings and awesome technologies were once dilapidated and struggling economies. What would have become of them if every of their citizens fled at the time of economic recessions, war, illnesses and epidemics ? Momentarily, we should stop to access how others did it. It wasn’t magic, no hint of abracadabra, but instead logic. A country that knows where its flaws lies will definitely know where to fix. The problem here now is we cannot identify our flaws. Too much sentiments on trivial matters and disagreement big and too far stretched to become agreements. Today’s major issue Terrorism has siezed the country by the collar and has given her a smackdown. The countless atrocities committed by people under the guise of being anarchists, bandits or terrorists or just people with guns and knives with the sick intent to get even with a country that has taken a lot from them according to their ridiculous imagination. Political apathy is a trait almost every Nigerian practices, until one of his/her close relatives participate in elections or secure a governmental appointment, then the zeal to fight, trigger, maim, attack or even worse kill, suddenly appears. Poverty and unemployment, are slowly becoming a constant. 80% of Nigerians live below average means, suffer from hunger, illnesses and many other repercussions of mismanagement and bad government. The country still runs on an old script and ancient theories. Nigeria is unfortunately not ready for the new world that currently exists, until we let go of our tribal, cultural, ethnic, religious, and political sentiments. Face the truth and work hard to achieve a common goal. Now common goal sounds really cliche, but it’s a simple unit of solution. To be self aware and aware of others, to tolerate one another pertaining to individual differences, religious differences, cultural differences and the numerous differences attached to the very helm of Nigerias multicultural and heterogenous fabric. Obviously our colonial masters had the blueprint of control, utilised the blueprint, and took it back. We were left with a country dignified at the exterior yet less in terms of quantifiable intellect recommended to rule a country like ours. Leaders came and went leaving behind trails of aims and objectives to secure the ‘Nigerian dream’ . This dream has become a nightmare, one that haunts us irrevocably and has made us lose our minds. Nigeria as a nation had grit, had ambitions and a great dream. The plan was to build a masterpiece territory and all went well until selfish political aspirations and desire for power overtook the minds of those at the seat of power. The careless innate notion of Nigerians, to let things flow naturally has pushed us alongside the tides of terror and disunity and now look how we are drowning in pools of unreasonable bloodshed and crimes of different magnitude. Unkempt government facilities: factories and warehouses, dilapidated hospitals, police stations and schools. Long abandoned and forgotten to rust and rubble with no intention to revive the lost glory of these grounds of productivity that fueled the nations grace and national magnitude among it’s peers. Now the country just sits a shadow of its former self, writhing from the pains caused by a manipulative populace. One that wishes to grow but won’t work for it. One that desires changes but won’t change their attitudes and barbaric beliefs. Ethnicity and religious tussles are the kaleidoscopes of conflicts in several regions today, that has brought about permanent division, distrust and general disalignment of the notion of ‘one Nigeria’, an innocent notion formed to advocate peace but is slowly becoming an oxymoron. Everybody wants to play victim. A victim of circumstances, a victim of a failed nation. But do not forget the saying, a farmer does not reap what he has not sown. Nigeria will not get it’s vision until we learn to unlearn and no longer conform to values that are of no developmental benefits to out national growth.