By Joseph Onuorah
President Buhari should focus on the job of making Nigeria a great nation in which every Nigerian has the opportunity to excel. He should not worry about the insatiable and self-centered members of the society for these will complain regardless.
The job of the president is not to satisfy everyone or every group but to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to the resources within the country. As he stated (and supported by evidence), he made well-thought out appointments to qualified Nigerians from pretty much all the key sections of the country.
Most of the problems, issues, and concerns being expressed by some from the south should not be discharged. However, such concerns are not unique to the Igbos, Yorubas, etc. They are issues and concerns of many Nigerians within and outside the country.
Such are not even unique to Nigeria for they are obtainable in just about every nation. Thus, if President Buhari would focus on improving the economy, assuring security, creating employment opportunities, assuring that every Nigerian has access to quality health care, steady electricity, good water supply, etc., most of these concerns and issues would disappear. Of course as he has stated a number of times, decreasing corruption, which has eaten deep into the very fabric of the nation, is paramount and in my view foremost!
Folks, the election is over and this idea that we should dwell on it is absurd. So far, there is NO evidence that President Buhari has “punished” the Igbos for not voting for him. None! (by the way, some Igbos voted for him, including a family member who actually fought against Buhari during the Nigerian Civil War. He has no regrets for voting for Buhari, just as many Igbos who voted for him do not).
Equally important is that many Igbos who did not vote for President Buhari support him wholeheartedly and trust that he is on the right track in making the country a great place for everyone! It is also worth noting that those groups that overwhelmingly voted for President Buhari, while they should take some pride that their choice was successful, should not expect much preferential treatment from the president.
Having said that, Nigerians must understand that indeed the president or any public official has the right to consider his or her voting bloc in certain cases, including in making certain political appointments. Such happens in every nation. For example, here in USA, the President does make most appointments to members from his party! Doing so does not mean a neglect or a revenge against the opposing party or group. It is simply politics and folks, politics is not always a fair process!
What the society expects and should demand is that services be provided to all without prejudice. Assuring such is not necessarily the sole responsibility of the President. It is for the most part, a major responsibility of the members of the Legislature and State Governors. Thus Nigerians must learn to hold their legislators accountable! Similarly, Nigerians must learn to hold their governors accountable more so than the President. The President stands at the 10-thousand foot level whereas the governors and legislators (state and national) stand on same level with the people!
Indeed ALL Nigerians have suffered from years of neglect, corruption and denial of opportunities from previous leaders at the national, state and local levels.
This is a fact. It has led to Nigerian children being scattered around the world in search of a better life and associated elusive wealth. Such has led to the current situation whereby groups such as the Boko Haram, IPOB, MASSOB, etc., have garnered some steam and penetrated deep into the hearts of significant number of Nigerians who see them as means to some end.
Sadly this has led to high level of insecurity and dissatisfaction within the country, so much so that several significant accomplishment made by the current leadership of the country is being ignored and in some cases, discharged. This is not necessarily an unexpected effect. However, such should not discourage the President and his leaders from continuing in the path they have set.
Gradually, and it will take some time, most Nigerians will see that this current administration will deliver on most of the promises made during the election. In fact, a recent poll result showed that most Nigerians remain positive for this administration. That is great news for the nation and every effort should be made to foster such positivity.
Every Nigerian should understand that he or she has a role in making Nigeria a great place. Rushing to join the so-called agitating groups is not the answer.
Rushing to other nations is not the answer either. Nigerians are recognized as a people endowed with great ingenuity. Sadly, this ingenuity has not been fully harnessed and in many cases, has been channeled towards paths of uselessness, self-destruction and national disgrace! Nigerians must retract from these paths and focus on the path of greatness, tapping into that ingenuity in all of us for the betterment of everyone and for the nation.
Nigeria as a nation, cannot survive if the current state continues whereby many Nigerians continue to look for outside as a place to obtain what is right there in within the country but that which unfortunately remains elusive to many.
Equally important is that Nigeria will lag behind other nations if it continues to neglect the huge resources (in form of education, experiences, and skillsets) within its Diaspora population, many of whom want opportunity to render their services to their native country.
This is one area that leadership is critical. Our leaders MUST work with every Nigerian to ensure that his or her ingenuity is fully harnessed and applied to services within the country. This means that Nigerian leaders must walk the talk. They should set examples themselves and highlight for all Nigerians, those citizens who have done something to improve the lives of the people thus helping to make the nation a great place for all citizens to call home and to feel at home. This encourages and is motivating to a people.
Folks, as I often tell my co-workers here in USA, we might not have asked to be together as workers (we may not even like each other at times) but we are here now and thus must work hard to sustain progress. Some Nigerians have the right to question the origin and/or constitution of the country called Nigeria but it is important that while such questions are valid and will continue, Nigerians have one country called NIGERIA and every Nigerian (including those outside the country who hold Nigerian passports!) have an obligation to make Nigeria a great nation.
There is really no excuse for not doing so. Nigeria not doing well brings disrespect, instability and unsatisfied life for all Nigerians regardless of where they live, what they do, their wealth or their professional levels in life! There is nothing wrong with Nigeria. Nigeria is a great nation and every Nigerian should feel blessed to be part of it!
Happy New Year to all Nigerians.
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