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By Mathias Sende
The youths are the most populated members of any nation of the world. They are the ardent most active agents of any given country. It is unarguably, that, the youths are the live wire of any country. And any nation that repudiates to invest in youths development is simply heading to doom. According to Benjamin Disraeli, "Youth of a nation are the trustees of posterity". The future of any nation lies on the shoulders of the youths. The cliché that says "youths are the leaders of tomorrow" is never a joke or mirage as seen in many countries. But it is the principle guiding the activities of many nations that wish to develop.
In a country where corruption, impunity, incompetence, misconduct from the so called leaders, misutilization of state resources, misdirection, negligence/dereliction of primary duties, blundering on official matters, dissipation, fraudulence from public officials, cruelty, molestation and illegal arrest and detention of opponents, high insecurity, bigotry, injustice in action, ill plans and forceful taken over of people's lands with the full support of the government and mishandling of protesters is the highest level any country can go to be best described as Kakistocracy. It is a government in which the worst persons are in charge. And unfortunately, that is the state of Nigeria, my country.
However, It is pitiable and worrisome that the youths in my country are dormant and seem so complacent of these misgovernment. I am tempted to believe in what Leigh Bardugo said that, "suffering is like anything else, live with it long enough, you learn to like the taste". Could this be true with the Nigerian youths? But how long should we continue like this? Are the youths no longer the trustees of posterity? With the way things are going, where is the future of the unborn children in Nigeria? Why this wicked, mendacious and abysmal treatment from our own very kinsmen? I am saddened by the state of things in my country, Nigeria.
One thing, I know, for sure, is that, change is constant. Nigeria will arise above her nauseating status. Power must be seized from marauding propagandists. But change can not just come unless people will consciously rise to say "NOT ANYMORE" or have the Youths forgotten that anything is subject to change? The youths are the agents of change of any country. Peter Eigen asserted that, " people should be conscious that they can change a corrupt system ". The end SARS protest was a sign that the youth has the capacity to change the horrible story of this nation.
Sadly, the voice of the youths have gone into oblivion. No one cares to question the government over poor performances. They (youths) have been too dormant. I bring you the words of Harriet Tubman that says" Every dreamer begins with a dream. Always remember you have with you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world". This is the zeal, the will, and the test for us all to make a difference; to change the statusco of our ones great nation. We must take our country back from the worst persons who have been driving our nation's machineries only for selfish and personal aggrandizement.
Does it mean that the youths are afraid? A renounced writer and freedom fighter, Ngugi Wa Thiong'o of Kenya says " fear breeds misery in the land". In a sane nation, "the people should not be a afraid of their government but the government should be afraid of their people"(Alan Moore). However, in Nigeria, the people are afraid of their government. That is the horrible situation in Nigeria. Individualism has taken the central stage. It is so astonishing that the government in Nigeria is just like wolves among men.The welfare of people is never a priority.
Notwithstanding, the youths have a great duty in shaping the country's state. Success comes only to those who act boldly without fear of consequences. That is the secret of freedom. We must not forgot what Kurt Cobain opined, that, " the duty of the youth is to challenge corruption ". Criticisms against misgovernment and corruption is not only self defense but also patriotism. According to C.Joybell C., " silence in the face of injustice is injustice in action ". We must not be silenced, anymore. We have been dormant and ignorantly complacent for too long. "Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced" (James Baldwin).
Why do we allowed the vile men in power to deliberately and consciously create insecurity, unemployment and poverty in our country? Now those things they have created have become their weapons against us. The youths are divided using these simple weapons. This is a well and calculated attempt to control gullible minds by giving them small monies from the money stolen from them with dead promises and fake hope and setting them against those (youth) who wish to agitate for a better Nigeria,(a case study of End SARS protest). Regrettably, while we were asleep, the wolves did all these.Pity.
But, I think, it is time to wake up! We all know, that, " the people's indifference is the Best breeding ground for corruption to grow" (Delia Ferreira Rubio). And this has been the simple card they have been playing. We must not allow them, any longer. Enough is enough! The spirit of political apathy must be resisted and completely eradicated. We must impugn the politics of divide and rule. Everyone must take responsibility for a better Nigeria. Everyone must follow and actively participate in politics. moreover, we are all political animals. And whether we like it or not, politics affect all of us. So the decision we make today, either to participate or allow politicians to do their will as usual, will certainly affect us after 2023. Listen to Bertolt Brecht, "The worst illiterate is the political illiterate, he doesn’t hear, doesn’t speak, nor participates in the political events. He doesn’t know the cost of life, the price of the beans, of the fish, of the flour, of the rent, of the shoes and of the medicine, all depends on political decisions. The political illiterate is so stupid that he is proud and swells his chest saying that he hates politics. The imbecile doesn’t know that, from his political ignorance is born the prostitute, the abandoned child, and the worst thieves of all, the bad politician, corrupted and flunky of the national and multinational companies".
Arise! It is time! They may have all the weapons and even physical weapons but we have the strongest of all, our PVCs. If you have not done yours, rush and do it, now. 2023 is an opportunity for us to play the game in our own terms. Tell your friend to tell his friend's friends that we must change the narrative of this nation in 2023. Do not forget to go for your PVC. Together, we must TAKE BACK OUR COUNTRY . Nigeria must be great again.
NIGERIA MUST BE BETTER.
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