By Christine UMOEKEREKA
‘Not just the President’ are the words that summarizes the book, “Our collective contribution to the decadence in Nigeria”. The burden of the country should be a shared responsibilities, to reap a reward, you have to take an active role in participation, put the work in too. The rot and fetid state of our nation is alarming. The situation has gotten to a crescendo and the citizenry are part of the problem, even though they are denying it.
The truth, is, they are part of the problem! How many of us are paying our taxes? Some people will ask you what the government did for them, but forgetting that the various taxes denied government are sources of revenue where amenities and infrastructures are produced.
Problems being encountered in our country today are contributed by all Nigerians. We are all to blame. We have all polluted the country in one way or the other. Let us face the fact that the shambles Nigeria is in today cannot be totally corrected or fixed by one man, the president, whom the buck stops at his table. It will take all of us to participate and fix the problems. In my opinion, most Nigerians are biased against our president. Nigerians need to be called to order. We all must participate in re-building the country from the grassroots to the top, from the communities to the state and to the federal level.
Children, parents, schools, government, religious leaders, monarchs, etc, need to be involved. It’s operation sweep the entire nation to make it clean. We have what it takes to be in the league of first class nations, but our black gold that ought to be a boom is a bane in the country. The whole polity is messed up. We need total rehaul and evaluation. The citizens have a role to play. The onus does not lie on the government alone. We all have a pivotal role to play. We should make sure that the country rises back to where it belongs, being the giant of Africa as well as the envy of many African countries and other developed countries. Naija is tough now and the whole scenario can be corrected. We need a new dimension and orientation towards the great nation. ‘God bless Nigeria’ should be our watchwords.
I believe Nigeria will be great again. Where do we go wrong from the environment of the 90s where every citizen, regardless of tribe and religion, are collectively working together and happy together. The president alone cannot fix all the mess that is afflicting our nation and has eaten deep into the flesh of our country. To restore our country, we need the cooperation of all Nigerians. Much like the African proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child,” it will take all of our contributions and efforts to revive Nigeria and make it the great country it once It is awful to think that in the 21st century, that the so called giant of Africa cannot work together and join the developed countries and be named a developed country above other Africans countries.
We cannot be making the same mistake over and over and expect change. I think it is time we paused and collectively go back to where it all started. We cannot be stuck in the mud forever. It’s time to challenge the status quo and make a positive change. With our full support, the government will perform its moral obligations, no doubt. Let us hope for a better Nigeria. Together, we can do it and it’s possible. We should all preach love. We need love and unity now more than ever. Tolerance and peaceful co-existing is essential. Our great nation will be back on her feet in no time if we work together. Let all Nigerians work together with our president to correct the mess in our nation.
This is the only way we can achieve the success we seek; working together with one aim. Nigeria is our country. Her betterment is our collective efforts. Everything should not be left for government. God bless Nigeria in the morning, afternoon and at night.
*Umoekereka, the author of Our Collective Contribution to the Decadence in Nigeria, is also a registered nurse in Canada
