This year, 2013 is gradually coming to an end and that draws us closer to the much anticipated (or is it dreaded) 2015 when Nigeria’s possible disintegration or break-up as had been predicted.
Last year witnessed a lot of distractions from the government who showed by their many actions and inactions that all their promises of a “fresh air and transformation” is mere lip talk and not to be taken seriously by any progressive minded Nigerian.
Now that we are almost halfway into 2013, what steps do we need to take to ensure that the 2015 brings in the desired changes that we have been clamouring for?
The Federal government as led by President Goodluck Jonathan today has consistently shown that it cannot be trusted to always do the right thing and most unfortunately the major opposition parties do not show promises of better governance if they come into power so what is the way forward for us as a country? I reckon that it has to be active private citizenship participation.
Private citizenship participation, which is largely driven by the social media now, is the situation where citizens irrespective of their political stance play their parts in bringing about changes no matter how small or gradual it will be.
Social media has undoubtedly brought about many changes in the dissemination of information and I must say that this has been put to good use but I know that for every social media enlightened youth, there are ten others who know nothing about Twitter and Facebook but whose votes would matter in the 2015 elections and while many of us have become besotted by our presence and importance on social media to the point where our number of twitter followers has bestowed positions of opinion leaders on us, there are many of our contemporaries who do not have access to social media are being reached by politicians and their propaganda teams whilst many of us stay on writing vitriolic articles as if engaged in a non-rewarding contest of who can insult the government more. That being said, I do not condemn the fact that people write articles that at times expose the inadequacies of the present government and at times suggest ways of moving the nation forward but I am saying that a lot more can be done without necessarily involving much finance.
With the number of laudable efforts that “ordinary Nigerians” have achieved, spurred on by social media, I wonder why there are no solid efforts to transmit this knowledge to the young man on the street that has no access to the amount of information that many here do and so I say that the change we desire in Nigeria would not come as long as we remain faithful to our new found love of tweeting and talking without any action to back up our talk.
I dare say that Nigeria in 2015 wouldn’t be any different from what has been in times past unless Beatrice, the housekeeper, Mustapha the butcher and Ajoke the hairdresser’s apprentice understand that a phone worth ₦6000 is not enough reason for them to pless their hands on the umblerra”, broom or any other logo without asking questions from these political candidates.
So Sir Twitter -my name for those of you who believe that your tweeting would change Nigeria, here is what I propose that you do to support your talk if we are to fix Nigeria and see the Nigeria that we so desire.
- JOIN A YOUTH ADVOCACY GROUP: It is proven beyond any reasonable doubt that the present crop of Nigeria’s rulers want to the leaders of today, tomorrow and even beyond which is why a 79 years old “young man” whose past reeks of corruption has been given the task of fixing Nigeria’s ports.
Join one youth advocacy group and lend your voice, wit and intellect to see that we push out these evil men from the seats of power. If no group meets your ideals, then look for people with same ideals and put wonderful suggestions of yours to work.
- DO SOMETHINGIN YOUR COMMUNITY:
No matter the big changes we seek and yearn for, if we do not start from our different communities then I can say that WE ALL ARE JOKERS. There are more eligible Nigerian voters outside of social media circles and who do not read our blogs than those who do. However, these ones are more likely to vote come 2015 whilst many of us would likely get involved as electoral observers, result collation officers (from our sitting rooms that is ) so why don’t we get down from our high horses and reach out to them and educate them rather than all the talk we do here on twitter.
- ASK QUESTIONS FROM YOUR LOCAL ADMINISTRATORS:
The administration at this level is the closest to the people and if we can get them to be responsible then we are on our way to the Promised Land. The amount of sleaze and siphoning of funds that goes on unchecked at this level of governance is so astonishing. So many invisible projects are carried out while we go on writing wonderful, thought provoking, action-inciting articles without walking the talk.
4. CATCH THEM YOUNG:
2015 is two years away and eligibility to vote in Nigeria is 18 years which means that the 16 years old boy/girl in secondary school now will be eligible to vote in 2015 so I ask, “What are our plans, fellow “change agents and activists” to see that these “children” understand that recharge cards, bags cups of rice and (in very rare cases) a telephone are not worth mortgaging their future for?” What plans do we have to ensure that our teenagers imbibe the patriotism that we exhibit with some much passion in our various articles? Unless and until we ask ourselves these questions, find answers to them and walk the talk, I dare say that our dreams of a changed Nigeria might just be that- dreams.
Get on the streets, educate the people because when all has been said and done you will see that Fixing Nigeria is not a blogging and/or writing affair.
BY GBENGA OSOWE