Democracy & Governance
And What Exactly Have You Done? -By Adeleke Azeez Olalekan
Until we stop to keep burying our heads in our shells even in the face of oppression, ill-favoured situations, and captivity like the proverbial tortoises, we will not get the results we so much desired.
On Saturday 4th June 2020, at exactly 8:20pm after having dinner, I thought about the different shenanigans parading the giant of Africa.
Specifically, as an unemployed first class graduate, I thought about the rate of unemployment in the country compared to the number of Nigerian youth graduates being produced by the Nigerian Tertiary Institutions every year; as a trained Educational Technologist, I reasoned the bad state of the country’s education system.
As a business owner, I pondered on the unfriendly business policies especially for small business owners which have directly affected the mode of business operations in the country and prevented larger community participation; as a Nigerian writer, youths advocate and social media commentator/user, I contemplated on how Nigerian’s rights of expression and constructive criticism have been bastardized by the power that be.
As a concerned Nigerian Youth, I looked at the level of insecurity of lives and properties of Nigerians and felt disappointed and unsecured; as a proud Nigerian youth, whose tomorrow belongs to, I made a statistical analysis of the current state of the Nigerian economy, level of revenue generation and diversification and internal and external reserves then I became scared of the future; as a citizen of the economic giant of Africa, I wondered how constant power supply is still a wishful thought in the country.
As a well informed Nigerian youth, I observed the national development, the level of corruption and looting of public funds, the maladministration, the parasitic governmental policies, disrespect to human fundamental rights, bad leadership, among others then became more concerned about the future of the country.
Painfully, some of the people who perpetrates these set backs and responsible for the hardships suffered by the Nigerian masses are venerated as leaders by the public but schemes political chicanery behind the closed doors. What a peculiar mess indeed!
But then, I realized have utilized more time thinking about the already known problems instead of the solutions. I thereafter found myself in a state of curiosity and began to ask myself some questions:
As Nigerian Youths, what have we done to change the narrative? What are we doing to harness this political lackluster? What is that feasible and significant thing we are going to do to bring about sustainable change in the country?
These, among other disturbing questions, are self-assessment questions whose answers demand no external evaluation process. As Nigerian Youths and progressives who desire immediate long-lasting panacea to the core hardships being faced by the Nigerian masses as a result of the political mistakes and bad political permutations, there is a need for a robust strategy to curb such a huge unsought situation.
Political parties’ battles ravaging the country’s news outlets are not in the interests of the common masses. There are stories behind the headlines. And of course, this is yet another convincing reason to set new frontiers. We should be more concerned about good governance through participatory politics and not the political conflicts and disillusion which have polarized the course of nation-building in Nigeria.
We have established, in print, the fact that we are not too-young-to-run, it is imperative on us to display our readiness for the actualization of national development beyond wishful thoughts but action-oriented patriotism, participation, and sagacity.
We have to independently and collectively sensitize our close ones, ranging from friends, siblings, business associates, school colleagues, parents, extended family members, etc about the ultimate need to get involved in participatory politics and push them into actions ahead of the next general election.
Until we stop to keep burying our heads in our shells even in the face of oppression, ill-favoured situations, and captivity like the proverbial tortoises, we will not get the results we so much desired.
As great Nigerian Youths, against party affiliations, self-interests, elite privileges, money, and the likes, we should collectively fight towards a greater country, as even in a greater country, our benefits are even greater.
Adeleke Azeez Olalekan
Nigerian Writer and Youths Development Strategist.
adelekeolalekan2000@yahoo.com
