The Shameless Leaders

  By Ifeoma Okeke (Abia Writers) Nigeria has lost all her citizens in trying to keep Nigeria as one or defending one Nigeria, another man...

 

By Ifeoma Okeke (Abia Writers)

Nigeria has lost all her citizens in trying to keep Nigeria as one or defending one Nigeria, another man's creation. What makes people believe in a country is the ability of that country to provide security, education, and hope for a better tomorrow. Still, in Nigeria, the reverse is the case. The citizens have lost faith in the country. 

 

Insecurity is at its highest in the country. Nobody except the politicians secured by security agents can sleep with both eyes closed. Once it is 6 pm, people start rushing back to their homes for fear of kidnappers and armed robbers. Other violent crimes escalated in the same proportion as kidnapping. The major contributor to the rise of crime is the inability of the common to fulfil everyday human needs of food and shelter. The inflation rate is so high that many families cannot afford one square meal daily. 

 

Energy is an essential factor in producing goods and services, which enhances economic growth and, by extension, the living standard of citizens. Unfortunately, this significant factor of production is almost non-existent in Nigeria, as the national grid sometimes collapses completely. Nigeria produces less than one-third of its installed capacity, a meagre 13,500 megawatts.

 

Despite ranking seventh in the world's gas reserves, Nigeria produces less than 10% of the electricity produced by South Africa, a country with a population less than one-third the size of Nigeria. This lack of electricity forces businesses to depend on power generators since Nigeria is far behind in the move to renewables. Typically, the cost of running these generators increases the cost of production. Still, with an over 500% increase in the price of petroleum products, it is near impossible for businesses to survive in Nigeria. Businesses are closing; foreign investors are leaving Nigeria in droves, leading to massive loss of jobs.

 

Nigeria has no infrastructure; the available ones are those built decades ago with little to no maintenance and are dilapidated. There are no good roads, hospitals are potential death traps, and schools are institutions for de-education. These have made people leave Nigeria in the popular slogan Jakpa. 

 

Nigerians are scattered all over the world. They obey and respect their host countries. Many have denounced Nigeria and have adopted the nationality of their host countries. Millions of Nigerians are outside the country because they don't have hope or see hope in Nigeria. Most of those who remain still want to go outside the country, and none want to be identified as Nigerians. If you meet people on a bus and ask them who they are, they will instead mention their tribes. None will be proud to say I am a Nigerian. Nigerian citizens have seceded in their hearts. Only the leaders are fighting to keep Nigeria as one. 

 

The Nigerian politicians are demons in human form; they have sold their souls, livers, and consciences. They are not humans like us; instead, they are vampires, demons, etc. How can a country with evil men and women occupying the highest political positions, such as the executive, legislature, judiciary, etc., work or grow? How can citizens of such a country be comfortable and safe? 

 

No, it cannot work; it doesn't work that way, no country works with such people on top. There is no hope for the citizens of this country. These politicians do not feel for the citizens. They don't care about people experiencing poverty, the helpless men and women. They take their families outside the country where the living conditions are conducive. But they refuse to learn from those countries that made life easier for their people. 

 

You see, our politicians are shameless leaders. They and their families go to another country and enjoy the comforts provided by the government of that country, which they made for their own citizens, without bringing such ideas home for their own citizens to appreciate and enjoy as well.