If you ask me sincerely, Nigeria is not as bad as it is being portrayed in the public dormain. However, what we hear on a daily basis and feed our subconscious mind on is enough to cause anxiety and depression.
The fact remains that few Nigerians, especially the politicians have been careless about the fate of the nation which they contributed to run aground. To such fellas, in as much they can afford to live ostentatious lifestyles with their stolen wealth, any other person can feed from the dust bin. The fact that few Nigerians have gone overboard in their actions does not call for generalisation and be pessimistic about the future of the nation.
We, want to however confess that lately, most Nigerians have been struggling with the economic facts of the situation in the country especially also when it has to do with the heated polity. We are extremely nervous knowing that there is already a gang up somewhere against President Muhammadu Buhari by former military generals who have expressed displeasure over the security situation in the nation.
One thing that is becoming constant is the celebration of deception by our leaders and the country has become a place of contradictions and gross leadership failure. We have witnessed so much decline in the value for hard work and the future of our youths have been motgaged by politicians.
The work and no play make jack a dull boy phrase has acquired considerable force for young men and women. Some view this as a condition that suggests that when you work then you must add play to balance the equation.
We all know that in reality, we live in a society where those who struggle hard to make a living, live moderate lifestyles and some below poverty line, while those whose source of livelihood cannot be explained, make so much money and live ostentatious lifestyles.
To such set of persons who have constituted themselves into cliques and cult groups, they will tell you that “the end justifies the means”, therefore, they are ready to go to any length to take unnecessary risks just to make ends meet. That is why you can still find some persons involve in ritual means to make money.
They do not believe they have to work hard before they get paid to earn a living, neither do they want to make any meaningful investments that will take time to yield profits.
All they want is quick money to buy flashy cars, build or buy flamboyant houses with money they get without working hard for them and they spend lavishly in night clubs and drinking spots, entertaining themselves and series of their girl friends and acquantances.
Some of them have chosen the path of violence to make a living and they seem to be having their way when you see them squandering their money. They create a false life style and give the wrong impression that you must belong to their group or be desperate, violent and tricky or else you cannot be successful.
Such people do not have value for the virtues of hard work and patience and they do not bother about spending time to acquire any skill or education. Even when some of them acquire vocational skills, they prefer to abandon it and rather belong to community, politicaland cult associations because that is where they can make quick money.
While we try as much as possible to ensure that we do not wash our dirty linen in the public, we should strive to emphasise the country’s strength, achievement and various innovations in various aspects of the nations life.
But as 2019 draws close, we are seeing politicians overheating the polity with their various statements and if Nigeria must remain one united nation, it is necessary for tale bearers in our midst to be cautious obout what they say and transmit for public consumption.
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Eubaldus Enahoro is Assistant Editor with the Nigerian Observer
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