Sounds familiar
I
REMEMBER, last year, while surfing the Internet to see what’s happening in other parts of the world, two reports in Daily Post Nigeria, caught my attention. One was about a youth summit in Lagos and the other was an interview of a government leader. Though both happened a year ago, they may shed light on our current situation, and give voice to our muted sentiments.
The youth summit issued a statement that went:
“The political situation in our country has sadly become similar to a relay race, where one person hands over the baton to another in a-wellarranged circle. We note with sadness that leadership positions across many government offices have continued to revolve around almost the same families, dynasties, or political turncoats and butterflies always changing loyalties and jockeying for positions.
“This state of affairs is even more worrisome, considering that this set of recycled political leaders and their patrons have failed to provide the needed leadership needed to turn around the political and economic prosperity of our country.
“The result is abject poverty, unemployment, marriage break-ups, suicides here and there, poor-quality education, collapsing economic infrastructures, among others.
“Therefore, we emphatically say NO to the recycling of politicians and government leaders for strategic positions in our country.”
Dr. Makounjola Owolabi, a Nigerian aviator, medical practitioner, and retired Air Force officer agreed with the youth. In an interview published in the same online newspaper, he said:
“We are all guilty for the mess we are in now. We elect and allow the recycling of many government leaders who are motivated by their desire to
capture power by any means. We talk endlessly about fiscal deficit when our main problem is “character deficit,” not only in our leaders, but also in us, their constituents. Many of us elect thieves, criminals, and corrupt politicians simply because they have the money to buy our votes. In such a situation where character deficit is rampant, we reap politicians who are completely devoid of moral integrity, honesty, and character.” His insights on restructuring government are also worth noting: “The problem of restructuring our government arises from our penchant to manufacture answers while forgetting the questions and problems we seek to solve. Our legislators, had they been reasonable people during the past decades, should have continually looked at the mechanisms, structures, and modalities of government that should be improved and changed. Instead, they were busy passing laws that address current problems, instead of proactively thinking about the future. So here we are today, still doing trial and error. Restructuring the government today is a disaster waiting to happen, unless we change our attitudes as a people.”
As regards cooperation and partnership between top government leaders, Dr. Owolabi had this to say: “We once had a President in this country who drove away his Vice President just because they disagreed on some matters. He is like a pilot who, during a flight, drove away his co-pilot because of personal disagreement. Of course, with this attitude, he will crash the plane. In my 40 years as a pilot, I tell people around the world that anybody who will not criticize you should NOT work around you. A patient whose doctor always agrees with him will never get well.” I can only say AMEN.