Still In The Spirit Of Independence

Happy birthday Nigeria! I choose to continually celebrate you Nigeria because there is nothing wrong with you.

The only thing wrong with Nigeria is me and you that is reading this piece.

The problem of Nigeria is followership and not leadership.

If the followership demands accountability and responsible leadership, we will get it.

The percentage of those at the corridors of power is so insignificant that they will have no choice but to play by the rules set by the followership.

If we are sincere, how many of us have not benefited directly or indirectly from the failed system?

If we don't give bribe, there will be no taking of bribe.

Bribery and corruption is a two way traffic. The only time most of us complain about our failed system is when it doesn't favour us.

We insist on zoning and federal character with an intention‎ of having our quota or undue advantage in a system where merit barely exist.

I was raised at a time when you erred as a child, you could be easily spanked and corrected by an elderly stranger.

At a time when you had to greet your seniors whether you knew them or not.

A time when you wrote letters in English language to win a girl's heart you admired ,and not ' sup wif ya,hey, boo, bae .. ' , a generation where writing simple and correct English is gradually becoming an impossible task.

There was no e-communication, thereby forcing your friends to come your house or vice versa, thus our parents knew most of our friends.

We ran errands for elders and rejected tips. Today the youngsters demand for tips in advance. The millions of jobless youths should be of concern to us all.

With neither skill nor certification, a situation where the elder statesman himself, Ex President Olusegun Obasanjo once said, 'that the problem with Nigerian youths is not unemployment but majority of them are un-employable'.

Crowd renting thus becomes a very lucrative business, you readily and easily find people with t-shirts and placards protesting for or against a cause they are ignorant of.

Next time you see them, call aside a couple of them and ask them the motive of the protest, the sincere ones will tell you, 'na our chairman say make we fall out say we go get chopping' which ranges from as low as N500 depending on how generous the crowd renting contractor is.

You are on the social media insulting leaders to demonstrate your loyalty.

Between now and 2019, they will align and re-align or even form a new party.

Yes the only disagreement the political class ever have is sharing formula, thus your interest will not be considered in the negotiation process.

Don't forget that those you insulted and mudslinged today may not forget it tomorrow.

Even if they do, their loved ones may not. Why don't their kids get involved in the 'gutter fight'?

They are peers in the best universities in the western world, getting the best education and certification in preparation for the Nigeria of tomorrow where merit will count while you are here insulting and killing yourselves.

I remember when I sat for first school leaving certificate exams and we were asked to pay 50kobo for 'help'.

I couldn't even mention it at home to my parents, besides I was confident I didn't need such 'epp'.

In the exam hall, we were separated, those who needed 'epp' and those who didn't.

I felt so frustrated seeing my teachers reading out answers to those who needed 'epp' and felt betrayed by them having spent so much time reading and preparing for the exam myself.

Looking out of the window, I saw some parents who came to ensure that their children got the much needed 'epp'.

A brother recently wrote a piece I appreciated, he said when a child that went fishing comes back home with a fish far bigger than the capacity of his net and hook, it is either he stole the fish or there was a 'miracle'.

But you see, we Nigerians believe so much in miracles, so rather than investigate how the young lad ended up with the mysterious catch, you will find parents that will join them to church for 'thanksgiving'.

Such 'miracles' happen every‎day in Nigeria.

A system where the politicians rig elections and massive thanksgiving are held in supposed houses of God by supposed ‎men of God.

With a minimum of one Church on every street, a former President of the Christian Association of Nigeria CAN, Ayo Oritsejafor once said, 'Nigerians are highly religious people but lack the fear of God' , little wonder his private jet for the 'work of God' was involved in the movement of 'yams' as part of evangelism.

The front pews are reserved for most of the same people who loot her blind as political office holders, rewarded with titles as Elders and Knights , sowing seeds that will 'provoke God' with proceeds from corruption.

And the congregation is asked to stretch forth ‎their hands and bless such generous brothers.

A loved one visited Nigeria for the first time ‎and on departure told me that the three category of 'successful' people in Nigeria are the Politicians, Pastors and Kidnappers.

God is so merciful, he sits up there and allow some clowns to entertain themselves in his name.

‎With tailored sermons to calm the nerves of the 'yam eaters'.

Don't get me wrong, this is not a generalisation, there are genuine men of God with genuine calling but they are in the minority in Nigeria.

‎Self aggrandizement is rewarded and celebrated by the populace,

the communities bestow on them chieftaincy ‎titles as their illustrious Sons and Daughters for making them proud .

Same communities with no water, access road, health care facility or electricity.

And you hear comments like 'if for nothing, the gigantic edifice such sons and daughters have erected for themselves in the midst of the shanties was enough to commend and celebrate them for'.

Infact, you are an outcast for not embezzling public funds.

The moment our kin is appointed, selected or elected into a position of trust, we are quick to tell him to 'shin‎e his eyes', 'empower his people', 'help himself'.

And when we queue up at the houses of these people, to beg crumbs, we celebrate them as 'generous' and call them 'wicked' when we don't get what we want.

The national cake has depleted, and with the current economic reality, there is little or nothing left to share.

The need to diversify the economy cannot be over-emphasized.

It is time to start baking not sharing, producing and not consuming.

The change begins with you and me! Legborsi Esaen Former Public Relations Officer Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People MOSOP Port Harcourt, Nigeria 234-8055481725.