It is natural to man to indulge in the
illusions of hope and delusive phantom of hope, that all is well even when
nothing is happening to make all well. Hence, we are apt to shut our eyes
against the painful truth, that there might be nothing to hope for if there is
no change. There is only one way of judging the future and that is from the
past. And by judging from the past five years there is nothing to justify those
hopes with which we have been pleased to comfort and console ourselves. But why
should we continue to live in the false phantom of hope...
that prolongs our
torments and increases our fears with no expectations for improvement? Our
nation at this point in time is faced with numerous challenges which could have
been averted or completely solved if we have a president that knows his wrongs
from the rights, and his left from his right. One way or the other, either
negligence or by inexperience, by misinformation or by carelessness, by greed
or by wickedness, majority of the challenges facing us today are left
un-resolved and un-attended to. Even sometimes the presidency pretends it’s not
aware until the international community reacts to it. These challenges range
from terrorism to insecurity, to poverty and corruption, to a general breakdown
of law and order and to all forms of indiscipline, just to mention a few. All
these pervade our society today, such that they are fast in becoming a norm in
our society and one might be tempted to say they` re already becoming our
culture. No doubt, I would like to have a young, vibrant and articulate
president, full of agility and power. Also, I would have loved to have a
president with so many academic records and qualifications couple with a humble
background. But it is much more important to me to have a president that can
perform and deliver good governance to the people, irrespective of his age and
academic qualification. What so much matter to me now is his ability to deliver
the dividends of democracy to the people. That is what I care about now! Of
what use is the academic qualifications and age of a president when over 200 of
his girls that he is meant to protect are left un-rescued from the hands of
their abductors. Of what use is the academic qualifications and age of a
president if he cannot provide the basis for life- Food, Security and Shelter,
for his citizenry. Of what use is the academic achievements and age of a
president if all he does is to blame the oppositions for his flaws and
failures. Of what use is the political affiliation, religion or origin of a
president if he cannot address even the least challenges facing his citizens.
Are we disposed to be of the people who, have eyes, but see not, and have ears,
but hear not, those things that are so germane to our collective development as
a nation? Or what would you say is the reason why some are shouting and yelling
Transformation, Transformation and Transformation when there is no
transformation anywhere? Why do some celebrate gross share of complacency and
gross mediocrity in a country blessed with resources and manpower? As it stands
now, If we wish to see those expectations and aspirations, those dreams and
desires come true, if we mean to utilise those inestimable privileges that we
possess as a nation, if we mean to see our country rise up to the league of
great nations, we must work and demand for change! I know what I`m asking for
and am not in any way blinded by any form of sentiments or the other. As much
as I wish to see the so many promises of this current administration come to
reality, I wish much more to stop hoping on the repeatedly failed promises and
huge global shame that it has brought on the nation. If we had made a proper
use of the means which the God of nature hath placed in our hands, sixteen (16)
years of uninterrupted democracy should have brought a salutary change to every
sector of the country. But the reverse is the case. However, what is it that
men wish? What would they love to have? A continuous stagnancy built on a
phantom of hope called Transformation? Or change that is reliable and
dependable? But as for me, forbid it Almighty God that I continue to live and
comfort myself in false of hope and airy promises. I know not what choice
others may have made; but as for me, give me Change Lest I Die!
By Ogundana Michael
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