I love with the state of the nation at the moment! This may sound rather psychotic to many people but I’m simply at peace with Nigeria as she is. It’s easy to misunderstand this immediately, there’s something very helpless about our affairs as a nation.
Quick look: The executive is yet to intimate the citizenry on the detailed direction of administration, the legislature is under-pressure as her image is tainted, and the Speaker is at the verge of losing her job, the CBN Governor’s power feud with the Presidency which saw to the suspension of the naira policy’s just cooling off, the Niger-Delta is at the peak of crisis plus, another terror alert from the West [if that is anything to go by], some Governors are still battling to settle in after 100 days in office. In Lagos, although Governor Fashola’s Security Trust fund seems to be making a lot of progress in funds base can the residents in the metropolis heave a sigh of relief yet? Are the roads motorable or is the BRT traffic worse than the daylight robbery of freedom of movement?
It is very easy to argue that Nigeria is in trouble, which would be dramatic, or to put in simple terms, that we are in a mild crisis; this message nonetheless would not be news. We seem to be at peace with the way we are – the uneasy calm that sweeps over the land is somewhat satisfying. After all, I beg to argue, there isn’t any ethnic clash, the Port Harcourt crisis is being handled, no expatriate is under a militant’s net; so, the country, even though not moving forward, is making progress – some how at the back of our minds!
Our dear President, [whom I have grown patient with in a few weeks], seems very calm and unperturbed. Since Nigerians are used to pouring blames on the Executive, especially the President, as an individual and not even his office, one may say Yar’Adua is lucky in a way, more of his citizens feel pity for the ‘dilapidated Molue’ he has inherited.
With the 100 days controversies over i.e. whether it calls for celebrations or not, the exact direction and detailed agenda of this administration etc; Mr. President now has the floor to dance – all to himself. He must perform this obligation, deliver on the social contract – dance with his lovely wife, Nigeria. He must not be carried away by the discordant sounds of the music from the dysfunctional sound system; he must control his steps so as not to trip. In dancing well, he must watch other activities to observe who steps onto or out, how much space he has to pull stunts, who is applauding or jeering – he must not also let that distract him as he must also be weary of his fragile wife – aged not of years but of bad leadership. President Yar’Adua must also hold her firmly to ensure they dance in unison – step after step. He must bear at the back of his mind, that their marriage is the talk of the town, the cynosure of all eyes.
Like the Latin – American Salsa, he must take control, must enable his wife submit totally to his lead. She must trust him completely, following his lead, his every nudge and body language. They must remember that this dance is to be judged by all and sundry and only the audience will tell how well they danced. Each number is slated to last for four minutes, years in reality. And after that, they may take another number only if they did justice to the first!
The President must also remember that every actor or dancer in this case, must leave the stage when the ovation is loudest. When the ovation is loudest! If he overworks his wife and she collapses, like a few of his predecessors have, he would have to carry her in his arms [God help him bear the weight] off the floor and confine her to bed rest till she recovers. If the contrary happens, they may even dance gracefully to two more numbers!
For the first time in many years, or perhaps our history, we are before a plain mirror. Nothing is hidden, nothing appears farther or nearer – as in the case of a concave or convex mirror. What we see, what we experience everyday is the reality of our situation. We seem to have a leader who is very comfortable in his own skin – being human. Unlike his immediate predecessor, he doesn’t pretend to have the answers to everything, doesn’t promise heaven on earth; he just wants to fix things.
We seem to be tied in strings of helplessness as the approach to solutions looks slow and the method different. This may be because the leadership is honestly naïve although trying to learn the ropes fast. No one runs a sprint with slow steps after the gunshot because that’s a proven technique for long-distance races. Actions are being taken; decisions and resolutions made – all, we are certain are made in good fate, all, we earnestly hope will bring the desired change. Time will tell.
Will all the money donated to the Security Trust Fund see to the reduction in robbery and crime rate in Lagos? Will scrapping of the NNPC help matters in the oil and gas sector?? Are Nigerians happy with the state of affairs of the nation??? Is this what they mean by saying we are the happiest people on earth???? Answers anyone????? Mirror, mirror, we may want to ask, who is the fairest of them all??????
