RUNNERS AND RUINERS

Where we are today is a real testimony to what fate has dished us, but that fate was actually manufactured by us and 'superbly' delivered by the current political clowns. Signed by us, sealed by us, and delivered by them. I humbly challenge anyone to, right now, name a country in the whole wide world that is worse governed than Nigeria: taking into consideration the existence of all the necessary ingredients needed to run a country well. By these ingredients I mean the existence of a working democracy, enduring foreign exchange earning capabilities, an established Constitution, a diverse workforce and a proven haven of intelligence, expertise and entrepreneurial spirit. Throw all of these into the equation, and come up with just one country that has a worse record than Nigeria. These sad facts are not unknown to the clowns in office, it is most certainly unchurlish to say that trying to get them to acknowledge these sad facts is an exercise in futility; it is a task of Herculean proportions. How could one not concur with Thomas Paine's observation? “To argue with a man who has renounced the use and authority of reason is like administering medicine to the dead.” 

The struggle for the future and soul of our country is akin to a marathon. In a marathon, the overwhelming majority of runners participate to achieve a noble and admirable goal, but there are usually a handful of ruiners who trip runners up so as to thwart them in their noble attempt at attaining their set goal, or do so in an attempt to stop them, at all costs, from  getting ahead. Thus, in the battle for the future and soul of Nigeria, there are runners and there are ruiners. Sadly, there are plenty of runners who have been amputated or driven off course by the inhumane, insensitive and criminal activities of the few ruiners. The ruiners hold sway while the runners struggle for traction, and many, sadly, have lost all hope of regaining the initiative. It is this sense of resignation, rather than a demonstrable sense of indignation and righteous defiance, that has engendered apathy and indifference, thereby  putting our democracy in a comatose state. Robert M. Hutchins put it succinctly: “The death of democracy is not likely to be an assassination from ambush. It will be a slow extinction from apathy, indifference, and undernourishment.” 

To forestall the sadistic ruiners' quest of perpetual rulership of us, true runners have an obligation to pull resources together to confront the hydra-headed monster of endemic corruption, polluted political ambience, social immobility and economic damnation. As Elie Wiese said: “It may well be that our means are fairly limited and our possibilities restricted when it comes to applying pressure on our government. But is this a reason to do nothing? Despair is not an answer. Neither is resignation. Resignation only leads to indifference, which is not merely a sin but a punishment.” 

In jostling for political pre-eminence and ideological supremacy, underhand tactics abound, but corruption in any shape or form is criminal. Is it really enough for any political or public office holder to provide a declaration of his/her assets upon assumption of office? I think not. Justification for the possession of those assets has to accompany the declaration of them. For instance, after taking office as Vice-President in May 2007, Jonathan declared that his assets, as of May 30, 2007, totalled more than N295m (roughly $8.6m at the time) Now, in any nation in the civilised world, wouldn't legitimate questions be raised as to the source of such large assets belonging to someone who had never been known to engage in any business activity or commercial venture? From what we knew of him at the time, he had been a University lecturer before he forayed into politics. The episode of 'I don't give a damn' is still fresh in our minds. While I'm not accusing the blockhead of any specific act of corruption, my right, as a Nigerian, to question such a vast amount of wealth without a discernible source, is patently incontrovertible. The same goes for all politicians, political and public office holders. If they fail, or refuse, to declare and justify their assets, their aspiration to office should be quenched under the law. Why, if they had nothing to hide, would they be so timid to reveal the source of their income and wealth? If this anomaly is not sorted out, corruption will continue to incapacitate this country for millennia to come.
Which one of our current politicians can command a palpable respect and true admiration of Nigerians? Name just one! Look west across the Atlantic and see the outpouring of emotion following the death of Venezuela's Hugo Chavez. Not just in his country but across all of South America, and in many other parts of the world. Like his political leanings or not, he stood, and fought, for the poor in his country. Even in death, their love for him, and of him, remains undiminished. The last time Nigeria truly grieved in unison was when Murtala Muhammed was assassinated on February 13, 1976. That day marked the true beginning of Nigeria's woes after the devastation caused by the Civil War, and our descent into uncertainty, fear, insecurity, rampant malfeasance and unfettered corruption.
The battle for 2015 has begun in earnest. Our future and those of generations to come depend on the outcome. This incompetent and unimaginably unintuitive and royally corrupt lot have to be hunted out so that they may begin their sprint into eternal obscurity. We all have to play our part in whatever way we can. We have to shape our future. The question is 'do we have the balls to fight?"