By Dr. Charles Omole
To achieve greatness, we have to become more responsible for our nation. It means that for Nigeria to change and fulfil her destiny the good people of Nigeria will have to take responsibility to come out in the open and smash in piecesevery form of corruption & its perpetrators, & ultimately bring good government to stay in every corner of the nation. As I see it; this battle is a war against 12 Predominant Poverties that have eaten the fibre of our nation for a long time. They are as follows:
Poverty of IDEAS: A dictatorship Constitution brought about by a treasonable power clique which tells lies about our rights, is unfit for us. We want a new democratic Constitution.
Poverty of PERFORMANCE: Inability to conduct a free and fair election only allows the wrong people to lead us. We suffer when we are disabled from changing leadership fairly. Getting into office has become the main goal & not delivery for the people. Shameful.
Poverty of RESOURCES: Water, light, road and other Infrastructure are in bad shape! The health of our people is imperilled by lack of care of government.
Poverty of HOPE: Education has collapsed at primary, secondary and university levels. Consequently, there can be no national progress. Very few decent public primary school exists in Nigeria not to talk of secondary schools or universities.
Poverty of HONOUR: There is complete lack of national identity; which has led to scarcity of Patriotism among the people. I am yet to meet a Nigerian citizen, willing to die for the country if needed to preserve its honour. It seem everybody is looking after number 1; Self.
Poverty of IMAGINATION: Mediocrity is so pervasive that many accept basic delivery as excellent performance. We need to raise.
our expectation and hold leaders to higher standards. We must expand our imagination. 7. Poverty of SPIRITUALITY: We kill each other at home in the name of God because of abnormal religious confusion and passion, which should have no place in the house of God.
Poverty of EQUAL OPPORTUNITY: Majority of our citizens have no food to eat, starvation is rife and common, consuming the commoners who own Nigeria. Meanwhile unemployment of youths dominates the land.
Poverty of ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP: The cities are dirty, disorderly, crowded, unplanned and crime prone! Insecurity has become the order of the day while leaders condone state power for total self-protection.
Poverty of PASSION: Lack of active Passion has been one of the reasons our leaders have gotten away with murder. They know most Nigerians will talk & talk, but when the rubber meets the road, we do nothing. We must all begin to demonstrate Passion for what we believe inand be ready to act and do something about change in our nation. Talk alone will not do it.
Poverty of RESPECT FOR LIFE: Killings are so common that our leaders and many citizens do not seem to appreciate the value of human life. We must react to killing of 1 as if an entire village has been killed. We must value life above all else & do what will secure life
Poverty of OPTIMISM: Cynicism seem to rule d day now amongst the chattering class. Many are so fed up with what is going on; they no longer see any thing good in anybody that wants to lead. We must avoid throwing away the baby with the bath water. We need to be optimistic of the future and give new people a chance without wearing them out with cynicism & constant public mud slinging. There is still hope for our nation & I am optimistic about that.
So, let’s begin to wage war against these 12 Poverties. Do a self-Analysis & find out which ones are lacking in ur life. Fix it. Then as we all do that 1 by 1; change will come. Start with the man in the mirror. One step at a time. Join the struggle to reinvent Nigeria.
Stand up to take your country back. It is doable. I see a New Nigeria in the horizon. Vince Lombardi once said: “I firmly believe that any man’s finest hour,…is the moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause & lies exhausted on the field of battle – victorious”
