What Is The Hope Of The Poor? – Boluwatife Adekunle

World Bank data categorises Nigeria among the poorest Nations in the world; the power at the helm disregarded such notion. He believes- that is one data from the pot-of-jokes. While some of us felt statistic of such embodiment, judging by its root as well as its pedigree would remind a five years administration of a job “not well done” probably none of us predicted the response from the powers that be and that painted in glare picture the insensitivity of this administration; its policies and actions toward the downtrodden Nigerians.

What should we make of responses like: Nigeria has the highest number of private jets in Africa, in an attempt to brush-off World Bank data? This is “sadly” a partial statement leaving out the masses; delusional government at best. Perhaps this explains the reason behind the TV commercial, a laughable advert with a stained image been photo shopped in the same frame where great minds were presented. Those who designed such advertisement have successfully trampled on the personalities of those charismatic leaders. Although they’ve done well by recognising these people; the great late Nelson Mandela, Lee Kuan Yew, Barrack Obama etc. which implies they actually understood what good governance means and what great leadership entails.

It’s disheartening to see our leaders turning deaf ears to the cry of the poor; they’ve became irresponsive to their plights, they sumptuously feast on their fortunes while the downtrodden rotting in abject poverty. The oppressed lives in total darkness, feeding/living below two dollars per day and their bodies deteriorate as a result of malnutrition. They’ve been subjugated, enslaved and betrayed by the same leadership they voted in to tackle their misfortunes. It is agreed that our people are gullible but maximising their vulnerabilities beyond extreme is totally unjust and inhumane.

The peoples’ representative at the power house has failed; conspicuously what we have at the centre is a leadership that has completely neglected its constitutional responsibilities, an administration that has since gone off-track and has long buried its political will for true governance. In retrospect, I would never had imagined that three years down the line after President Jonathan got elected into office, we would be reaping heavily from the seed of wrong choice. It was indeed a regrettable decision which has taken its toll; we could only wish to turn back the hands of time.

Nigerians were caught unaware- and while there’s sorrow in our land, the federal government through its incapability has created enabling environment for political thieves to intensify their looting powers.  It becomes more obvious that squandering public funds seem to be a sweetening competition among the elites, it is a luxury game where the average class of the citizenry are match officials and the unfortunate Nigerians are mere spectators – At the end of every match a new political team is introduced to step up the game.

It is safe to say President Jonathan’s administration is solemnly a franchise; a license to other governing bodies and political offices to embrace corruption at great length.  C-in-C; Corruption-in-Colossal.  The state of the country today is one that is heartbroken; the situation describes a nation that has lost course, where there is need for an urgent redirection. Nigeria is currently headed for an iceberg and if the needful is not done to steer the ship back on course, the impact will spell doom to all and sundry.

With the new trend of militarisation, the formal equality of rights and privileges of the people have been brought to halt by the dictator operating under the guise of democracy, human rights have continually been violated, dented and abused. Just when we thought we’ve seen the height of bad governance; abysmal leadership, a fresh turmoil hits us right in our face and it appears the situation is only worsening.

Nigeria has metamorphosed into a “show of shame”, a laughing stock in the global circle; every other day the international media looks forward to our ill-fated gimmickry and the country has continued to hit international headlines for all the wrong reasons. How did we arrive at this sorry state, a land of peace filled with fat and honey suddenly emerged as a land of insecurity, bloodshed and hopelessness. Our people continue to face untimely death, so many dreams have been cut short, many souls have been bombed dead. Kids have become orphans, while parents turned childless. Families are left with lifetime hurts and so many unfortunate persons with unforeseen disabilities.

The poor has being the receiving end of all Boko Haram’s atrocities, it appears all the bombings are meant to affect the poor who has nothing to offer the country at this grieved time; We’re completely helpless…  As Boko Haram leader keeps on talking tough, the response from the presidency matching with its body language is one that is frightening and unpromising. My heart goes out to parents of the abducted Chibok girls and united we stand to demand from the government to #BringBackOurGirls. It is a presidential shame that it took the 17 years old Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani advocate for girls’ education to convince the C-in-C to meet the parents of the abducted chibok girls three months after Boko Haram’s raid on Government Girls School,  Chibok. No better ways to describe a president that has NOT the love of the people at heart.

At a time like this in Nigeria, you cannot but wonder on what “actually” is working, our people are not being educated; the level of illiteracy increases. Over the years the educational sector has been battered with unprecedented retrogression. Students found themselves out of school for countless months as a result of government’s failure to comply with the need to improve the standard of education and enhance the quality of training in our tertiary institutions.

The state of Nigeria today is tragic and her doctors downing tools could only compound adversity for the poor.  The law enforcement agencies have been compromised and the Judiciary is unreliable. In the face of all these, you tend to ask WHAT IS THE HOPE OF THE POOR?

Boluwatife Adekunle

@boluzzz

July 21, 2014