The bastards of an uncaring parent: What have we done?

I woke up this morning; turned on the television to CNN, after a while I decided to see what NTA was up to. As it came up, there they were, men and women of the honourable House of Representatives, discussing on the man ‘Chinua Achebe’, his impart and impact in Nigeria and the world at large. In short, they were moving to adopt a motion of positivity on the said man.

Most of the honourable members that I met speaking, all talked on how remarkable and spectacular he was; how noble, honourable, sincere and prestigious he was. Some of them gave thanks that before his exit he had nurtured great writers like Chimamanda Adichie, Chibundu Onuzo etc. They even quoted him in some of his books to buttress their points. They felt he was one man that loved his country so much so that he had to stay away in order not to be affected by the virus called corruption. All this I will say, are nice, but not my contention or rather aim today.

It is a common practice in Africa, particularly in Nigeria, to celebrate, honour and recognize our heroes when they are no more. It was after Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and others like them died that most people in Nigeria realized that they were the best president we never had; it was after the death of Aminu Kano that Nigerians realized that he was the perfect leader that was never given the opportunity to lead. Today, Professor Chinua Achebe has taken a sit next to these people in the train.

Late professor Chinua Achebe in 1983 identified where our problem as a people, as a country lies. He didn’t just identify it, he penned it down, he circulated it across the globe, he spoke of it and people read it every now and then. It didn’t stop there, for every person that take up the leadership mantle as the president of Nigeria, he advice them on changing the status quo, of making Nigeria a better place. He did that with Abacha, Babangida, Obasanjo, the present president, Jonathan and many others before him. Amongst this, no one, not even for one moment, listened to him. The accident that crippled him happened in this country, a result of bad and dangerously damaged road that today, waste human lives.

Late professor Chinua Achebe like many other Nigerians who have constantly suffered from the hands of these wicked leaders, are the bastards of an uncaring parents. Since 1983 that they were told the truth about the troubles with Nigeria and how it can be solved, what have they done? What has anyone including you and me, done to save and redeem this nation?

Nigeria may never change to become a better nation if we keep folding our arms and wishing that things will take a natural course, because it won’t.