Echoes From Afar, The Heart Bleeds (Must Read) By K Jinadu

Celebrating Nigeria was not an option for me, though I thank God for keeping and restraining the Nation from going to war. 
I ponder on the question of why do we celebrate any occasion?  The answers that immediately come to mind are for achievement, tradition or following the Joneses.

Reluctance to celebrate Nigeria’s independence was an understatement not to say the least, though I admire some Nigerians in high spirit full of energy who went through the trouble of celebrating and waving the double colour white and green flags; some were dressed in the colour Nigeria stands for, some go as far as painting their body or dyeing their hair green.  Is all good and nice but I just don’t have that motivation in me, even to just publish the word ‘happy independence’ I just could not get myself to do it.  The plight of the nation is beyond crying.   My heart bleeds for my country as I write wish I have a magic wand to turn the country around.

Although some would argue that we are developing but slowly and that Nigeria has not experience any war since Biafra; a fraction of the country has declared war indirectly or directly.  Killing, maiming, bombing, beheading are all signs of war and a country in serious predicament.

Any country could be under attack but it's how we respond and tackle the problem that matters; Nigeria has failed woefully when it comes to tackling this demon that has befall the nation. Some argued that Nigeria has never had to deal with terrorism true but it took a while before the leaders responded or even acknowledge the violence going on in the Northern part of the country, they turned a blind eye; until the killings intensified and it became an international news, eyes were on our leaders.

A crystal ball was not needed for the world to figure out that our soldiers are incompetent, lack necessary training, not armed or equipped with effective weapons.  The opponents are well equipped with sophisticated weapons. The most shocking incident was when the chief of army came on television to announce to the whole world that Nigeria soldiers are capable of dealing with the situation when it‘s glaring that they are not in any way capable or prepared to face the quandary.  The chief of army said they know where the kidnapped girls are, really?

It sounds like a rehearsed speech to me, almost seven month no productive result; and nothing was done about it.  I don’t even believe any one or the government was involved in a dialogue with the opponent because while they claimed to be, Boko haram keep attacking and bombing Nyanya Abuja, Borno and Maduguri; one would expect that the attack will be halted until they finished talking even if they did not reach an agreement.

To add insult to injury most of the soldiers deployed to the north left because some could not even afford to eat a regular day’s meal.  I read about a soldier, who fainted when his boss told him he has been posted to Borno, he was later resuscitated in the hospital he refused to leave the south for the North.  

There are no incentives for soldiers and their families if the worse happen, many Nigerian soldiers refused to go to the North.

The reputation of the country should be the last thing the chief of Army should be protecting at the moment; priority should be on the present situation which should be how quickly the violence and bombing could be abated, the most effective means of how to rescue the Chibok girls and protect the other villagers.  Nigeria’s reputation was already broken to be honest, Nigerians all over the world are known to be notorious, even though we have also produced some highly skilled, intelligent, hard-working, talented individuals but the negative seems to outweigh the positive.

Anywhere in the world when we produced the ever green Nigerian passport it speaks volumes, it connotes negativity, crimes and suspicion; scrutiny and probing questions follows.  Do not get me wrong am not saying the image of Nigeria should continue to be in the mud, no I am for promoting a better Nigeria, showcasing a positive and blessed country is what I stand for but that was not the time; it was irrelevant at the time the chief of Army seek to protect the image of the country. 

Whatever force that was behind the Chief of army’s action was a powerful one, that weakens the moves of the international force who were about to help Nigeria out of the dilemma, but mind you I believe the western country are still watching with or without Nigeria’s permission as these beast are a threat to the world not just Nigeria.

It shows our leaders, army or soldiers are inept, not really concerned, nobody cares.   The depressing aspect was that the soldiers that are supposed to protect and defend our citizens carry out the barbaric act of abuse, violence, rape, torture and intimidate the less fortunate to bribe out of the little or nothing they have in broad day light.  There are evidence of pictures and videos all over the internet (you tube) the amnesty international picked on it.

Recently a villager cried out that there are no soldiers to protect them since Boko haram has taken over the villages and have started running a caliphate system, all she sees are the tankers coming in to deliver and drop bombs on the neighbouring village. 

Killings and people who managed to emigrate continued as these devils were given the freedom to settle, my fear would be after a while they will begin to expand to other part of the country. 

Some says they can never go to the South but I beg to differ.  These murderers will go anywhere, they are not ready and I pray there will be no cause to.

At fifty-four years of independence one would expect Nigeria to have stable electricity, safe roads, good infrastructure, incentive for farmers to encourage more home produced goods that would led to increase in employment, up to date libraries and better affordable education systems , readily accessible and affordable medically fully equipped health system for all not just for the aristocrat.

It’s evident that Nigerians are lacking in the factors mentioned above.  Each time I hear that a celebrity or a politician is flown out of the country for medical attention it reminds me of the flaws in our health system.

Our nation indirectly operates an oligarchy system, the power has always been in the hands of the few and these people continue to recycle the power, they are just too powerful.  They are mini Gods in their own world, they call the shots and even control the news released on TV or published in News-paper.   They can’t be perturbed by the situation of the country after-all their children are in boarding school and university abroad; bought properties outright.  They regularly go for medical check-up and shopping abroad, Nigeria is an option, a second home a place to steal and siphoned money to the secret account abroad. 

Nigeria do not even operates an airline it could call its own, after the local planes that crashed over few years ago one would expect Nigeria government to also focus on the aviation system in Nigeria but instead the purchase of private jets increased while majority in Nigeria cannot afford to eat and have a decent education.  One cannot help but to agree with Nelson Mandela's quote "Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity, it is an act of justice.".  

Apparently a lot of commuters are scared of flying in the local plane following the one after the other horrific plane crashed; which was understandable.  Some of these aristocrats whose final destination was Abuja from Lagos will get on a British airways or virgin airline going to London, then get off in London and connect to Abuja from London.  Sounds ridiculous but they have the stolen Nigeria money to spend and waste.

So why won’t politics in Nigeria be a do or die affair?  How is the country supposed to get better?  These extravagant and lavish lifestyles are carried out at the expense of the appalling situation Nigeria is today.   That good education, health, agriculture, infrastructure, electricity, employment will not happen as long as these people continue to be in government and it hurt.

There is no perfect person in this world but in the corners of my little home, I present Nuhu Ribaddu with an invisible honouree award this would be for integrity. Most of the Nigeria leaders lack integrity if not all, some would kill or even eradicate any one that stand in their way for that kind of money.  Before you criticise or judge me can you honestly search your heart especially Nigerians oops sorry did I go there lol!  Who would say NO in Nigeria of today to $15 million bribe to stop an investigation?  Again who? To most, that investigation would be a forgotten issue. When Nuhu crossed over to PDP my intuition told me there is no smoke without fire even though he was condemned by many that felt he was not loyal to APC.  I have always felt the need to recognise him on my little platform.

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By K Jinadu