Let Us Briefly Look At The Past So As To Appreciate Now And Future – Especially The Young Generation Of Nigerians -By Shariff M.M Al-hassan

A complex country like Nigeria should not be adjudged to be completely out of social ills within the period of eight years of any serious government like that of President Muhammadu Buhari. More especially like Nigeria that has for a very very long time be deeply involved in political,economic and social problems relatively induced by her own citizens for reasons unknown.

Nigeria since after 1966 first military coup has never seen an uninterrupted peace but only manageable peace occasioned by series of military incursions mainly to make things right. But each time Nigeria found herself into more and more crises. We should than ask ourselves why this is so in Nigeria, a Nation adjudged as the number one crude oil producer in Africa,Sixth in the World crude oil production. A Nation with four big Refineries with one dedicated for export of refined products. Yet it is a Nation that subject her citizens to many many years of refined product shortages in supply.This for years left Nigerians to sleep in the petrol stations and perpetual sufferings till when this government came over.In the past, December period used to be period of sober reflections for Nigerians generally because of lack of refined petroleum products.This is now a thing of the past,kudos to the Federal government.

As to the insecurities in Nigeria. It is a country built on this unfortunate situations. The first political crises in Nigeria was in 1957 or so from the Western Region of Nigeria and tagged the wild, wild West. It was closely followed by the 1966 military coup deta’t. Nigeria was between 1967 to 1975 had relative peace even though the Federal Government then was busy executing war and in 1970 began the process of three “Rs”, Rehabilitation, Reconciliation and Reconstruction within the country and especially the damaged Eastern Region.

However, as from 1975 floodgates of political crises within the military themselves became an unresolved crises in Nigeria. Military coup upon military coup both successful ones and failed ones both bloodied and bloodless. At any rate these engaged the then leaders of the same military family in this fiasco. Nigeria had in 1975 coup,1976 coup, 1983 coup, 1985 coup, Gideou okah coup, Self coup of stepping aside,Late General Sani Abatcha mild coup on Chief Shoneikan, the natural coup by Allah which took away late General Sani Abatcha in 1998 which brought General Abdulsalam Abubakar Alhaji and subsequently the present Presidential type of government in 1999 to Nigeria. These are all incidences of political crises that Nigeria undergo without valid solution/s. But as time comes to end it, the Supreme Allah/God brought it to an end through great efforts of Nigerians using many pressure groups to achieve the goals.

Nigeria was also under terrible religious cum ethnic crises. The first was Matatsine religious crises of 1981in Kano which nearly caused the disintegration of Nigeria. This was closely followed by Bulukutum religious crises, Kafancha crises, Kaduna crises, Ife/Modakeke crises, Jos crises, Odi and Zaki Biam sectarian crises and the emergence of Niger Delta militants which was halted by the late great Leader, Umaru Musa Yar’adua.

Wonderfully Nigeria moved into a brand new political era with brand new Presidential Constitution modeled from USA in 1999.Hope of progress, advancement, peace and all good things of life expected. But few years into it, Nigeria more or less moved into more deadly environments of Boko Haram and later Farmers/Herdsmen palaver. As these are being handled Nigeria moved into deadly bandit armies, cattle rustling, kidnappings and religious fundamentalism.

However as a popular adage says ” Rome is never built in a day” so also these crises bedeviling Nigeria cannot go away in a day despite the efforts of governments and the Leaders. We need three things to address these challenges and they are as follows:

i- As a religious Nation, we need prayers always.

ii- We as Nigerians must change our negative attitudes to our needs and wants and express contentment.

iii- We as Nigerians must avoid any form of corruptive tendencies and stay with your legitimate gifts.

iv-Look for Leaders of conscience who has complete fear in ALLAH/GOD that soonest he is going to give an account of his stewardship.

v- We must all believe that what has a beginning must surely has an end.

Therefore all these insecurities are humanly induced for their selfishness and with time it will come to an end BUT we need to imply patience and perseverance and we shall achieve normality.