God Himself has repeatedly told mankind that only they can change their situation, either for good or bad. Nigeria’s situation cannot be any worse; we must, therefore, change it for the better. A former leader once asserted that “nobody will come from outer space and do it for us but ourselves.”
By Abdu Labaran
To say that Nigeria is in bad shape is an understatement. The country is in terrible condition, and if care is not taken, there may come a time when there will be no Nigeria at all. “God forbid,” all good compatriots will chorus. But the truth is that the country is heading exactly that way, with a “foreigner” as President and Commander-in-Chief, and most lawmakers more interested in making money for themselves than enacting laws for the country’s good governance.
The president single-handedly awarded the contract for constructing the Lagos to Calabar Coastal Highway without the federal lawmakers’ knowledge, let alone seeking their approval. Before that, he also purchased from his master’s country a brand-new plane, a yacht, and a Cadillac Escalade official car without lawmakers’ knowledge.
For these reasons and to address the country’s infrastructural development, Nigerians like Senator Ali Ndume must team up with like-minded individuals to save the nation from the destruction being purposely inflicted by the Tinubu-led regime. Otherwise, one day, citizens may wake up to find they have no country to call their own.
It appears the president is determined to obliterate most of the country, particularly the North, at all costs, regardless of public opposition. He has repeatedly ignored the National Assembly (NASS), acting solely to please his Western hemisphere masters. For instance, he unilaterally “awarded” the ₦15.6 trillion Lagos to Calabar Highway contract.
The contentious Tax Reform Bill is another issue with the potential to tear the country apart. This seems to align with Western powers’ selfish goals of gaining unfettered access to Nigeria’s mineral resources in the event of a (God forbid) breakup. These resources would otherwise come at a high cost, though corruption ensures most payments vanish into private accounts.
Another troubling issue is the constant collapse of the National Grid under this regime. Despite numerous failures, the minister in charge of the power ministry remains in office after the cabinet reorganization. Why does the grid repeatedly collapse without accountability? This year alone (2024), the grid has “collapsed” 13 times, primarily affecting the Northern region.
The president’s lopsided appointments, favoring his ethnic group, have also raised concerns. The situation has reached the point where someone from the Eastern region referred to the government as the “Federal Yoruba Government.” This assertion is not exaggerated, given the overwhelming number of appointees from the Southwest. Many from the area believe the president’s priority is self-enrichment rather than national development.
It is time for Senator Ndume to return to the drawing board and identify the right allies to team up with to save Nigeria from leaders who prioritize personal gain over their constituents’ welfare. There are individuals like his state governor, an intrepid Nigerian abroad, a fearless and helpful patriot, and a no-nonsense retired military officer who understands the country’s challenges and how to address them.
This article’s tone may seem like that of a holier-than-thou preacher. That is because nearly every Nigerian has become a moral preacher, driven by the severe hardship deliberately created in the country. Everyone, except a select few elites in the Villa, high-ranking government offices, the National Assembly (NASS), some state assemblies, their clerics, praise singers, cronies, and wealthy businesspeople, feels the weight of this hardship.
May God deliver Nigeria from its corrupt, authoritarian, incompetent, and inept leaders, replacing them with those who fear Him and love the citizens.
Labaran wrote from Katsina.
