Ah, ah! What in the world is Nigeria’s Problem?
One cannot help but conclude that the appalling suffering of the Nigerian people stems from the despotic, callous, and greedy actions of the country's political elite and their Western allies. I am still trying to understand how any right-thinking leadership will allow the Maiduguri Dam disaster to happen, where an entire state capital finds itself underwater, causing widespread death and suffering. Then, to find out that it was caused by our own leaders and their inability to do what is right is utterly criminal.
Then, you have Nigerians so desperate to escape the country and the terrible, soul-crushing poverty that they are willing to take unimaginable risks.
These are just two examples that give you a glimpse into the kind of leadership Nigeria has been served with since independence. The Nigerian women in Libya incident is probably the final straw for me. I cried; those are my mothers, my sisters, my aunties, my daughters. Then I became angry because Nigeria is an unbelievably blessed country, with an abundance of human and natural resources, diverse culture, and a strategic geographic location. It has plenty of rich mineral reserves and fertile land that supports agriculture. There is also a large, vibrant population—within and outside Nigeria—highly skilled in every discipline and entrepreneurial.
?Nigeria’s cultural diversity, with over 250 ethnic groups, enhances its artistic, musical, and literary heritage, giving it substantial global soft power. Additionally, its position on the West African coast provides access to major trade routes, making it a vital hub for regional and global commerce. These factors combine to give Nigeria immense potential for growth and global influence, making it arguably the most powerful and influential Black nation—hence its title, the "Giant of Africa" and “leader of the Black Race.”
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However, for decades, Nigeria has let its people and the race down. Why?
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In 1983, Chinua Achebe stated: 'The trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership. There is nothing basically wrong with the Nigerian land, climate, water, air, or anything else. The Nigerian problem is the unwillingness or inability of its leaders to rise to the responsibility and the challenge of setting a personal example, which are the hallmarks of true leadership.
Social and economic records show that most Nigerian leaders have performed abysmally, to say the least, leading to the current state of the nation where hunger, misery, and poverty reign supreme.
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So why is leadership so important?
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Managing a country requires the ability to formulate policies (plan), implement those policies, and establish control systems to monitor progress and ensure that objectives are met within a set timeframe, with clear milestones. Effective management also requires excellent two-way communication with the people, where information flows transparently, providing understanding, motivation, and influence towards achieving national goals. There must also be a set of values and beliefs rooted in integrity that reflect those of the broader society and guide the nation.
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Finally, there is leadership—the human element that ties all the ingredients of managing a country effectively together to ensure the nation's success.
Leaders should have integrity, honesty, humility, and diligence. They must be willing to sacrifice, should be effective communicators, lead by example, and be skilled in planning, implementing, and ensuring control systems are in place with clear milestones and timelines. This also involves building and leading an effective team in service to the nation and its people.
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And there we have it—the fundamental truth and the root of all Nigeria’s problems: leadership. One must also question the sanity of leaders who choose to ride in Rolls-Royces, fly in private jets, and live lives of decadent luxury in the mist of so much poverty. These are leaders who own houses across the globe, in the most expensive cities like New York, London, and Monaco, that they hardly live in—leaders who not only empty the treasury but also borrow more and steal those funds too, while the basic conditions for the survival of over 200 million citizens remain non-existent.
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Nigerian leaders lack the wisdom to do what is right, just, and fair. They lack insight, compassion, shun good counsel, and are consumed by greed and arrogance. However, it's not entirely their fault.
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So, where does the blame lie?
?They say the people get the leadership they deserve. If that’s the case, then the Nigerian people must take responsibility. With so much leadership talent available at home and abroad, there’s simply no excuse for allowing ineffective, greedy, incompetent, and morally bankrupt leaders at any level to lead our dear people. It’s time to wake up, take action, select the right leaders at all levels, and hold them to account at all times.
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The future of this great nation, blessed with unimaginable potential, depends on it. If we fail to do so, Nigeria will continue to wallow in abject poverty and misery amidst plenty. Can you imagine a country among the top five oil-producing nations in the world but unable to supply petrol for its people’s needs? A country with so much prime agricultural land but unable to feed its people? A country with so much intellectual and business talent but without world-class businesses or industries? That’s Nigeria for you.
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#BadLeadershipCostsLives
#EndBadGovernance
#EnoughIsEnough
Chair Screen Nation Ventures
6 个月Nigeria's problem like for all oppressed people's of the world is that they have been convinced that the form of democracy or governance they are under is for their benefit. Its is not. All the political, judicial, social, media and religious elites at the top of all forms of governance KNOW this. And as many also know, Power corrupts and absolute Power corrupts absolutely Those who are supposedly there to protect, support and bring benefit for the people rely completely on the regular man and woman to do nothing to change this, only simply to fight all the fires caused by them which ultimately distracts the masses from the real issue of removing the elites and then adjusting their governance systems. All power to those who stand alongside, shoulder to shoulder with their brethren, and those who speak of it are correct about the multitude of equally dangerous forces in Nigeria standing by to take advantage of things. But the cold harsh truth remains and ALWAYS will and that is Nothing Changes if Nothing Changes. The brothers of the Sahel Alliance who came from their people and are currently trying to do things for their benefit have shown us that. ???