Nov. 9, 2013
NewsRescue– In the latest update in the Punch, It appears about N50bn is “missing” while the “N500bn” was paid to states. We are watching our money closely. But as the case unravels; the scare of the “missing N500bn Sure-P” funds from the 50% hike in fuel prices, brings to fore a most disturbing and distressing exposition of the mien of the Nigerian masses.
Sifting through the comments in media articles, the reactions of the people were docile, subdued, resigned, diplomatic at best and frankly hopeless overall. People retired to God. People described this possibly gravid act of misappropriation as simply, “the nature of the corruption.” Nigeria’s media moved on to the next story and the masses enjoyed football.
It is no news that Nigeria is at a stand-still… actually in reverse, because they are looting all the nations’ wealth, but when we do find evidence of the robbery, as we did in the Oduah-Coscharis case, and the “missing N500bn,” should our best response be milquetoast resignation? What has our history of protracted irresponsible and opprobrious governance done to us? Stolen our humanness? Made us impotent?
If I find out that I got robbed, will my reaction not be to wail in grief and anger? If I find the thief, will I not “go for his head” (or “her head,” as the case may be)? So why is it that when we Nigerians are certain that we are getting robbed by those who are in positions of authority over us, we “turn the other cheek?” Do we not know that Nigeria’s money is our money? That our local business depends on the running of our national business? How about we leave our doors open at night to “turn the other cheek” for the robbers? And why then don’t we in fairness, ask that the jails are opened and the petty thieves let loose? When the military imposed themselves on us and robbed us, we said they had to use guns to do that; what’s our excuse now that civilians in Agbada and blouse and wrapper are looting us silly and we are radically acquiescent?
I think the reason is because we do not realize that Nigeria is our business.
We do not recognize that those in authority have no rights of office. Public service officials right up to the president do not have rights, but only have duties; duties to serve us and protect our rights as citizens. There are absolutely no rights of office holders, this you can verify from our constitution.
It is important and exigently so, that we realize that the Nigerian “company,” is our company. The treasury of Nigeria is our treasure vault. We own the money of the federation, not the elected officers. Their duty is to protect our interests, safe-guard our rights and do our bidding.
The same way we protect our businesses, the same concern we show at/for our jobs, our companies, this same concern we must show for Nigeria, our larger company. The same way we will never hire rascals to manage our businesses, even if they bribe us, so also, we should never elect rascals to run our bigger business, the nation, regardless of their monetary or ethnic bribes.
We select only those who can best perform when we staff our businesses. We never ask their ethnicity, religion or wealth status. All we are looking for is those who have the requisite skills to hold the seat most efficiently. This must be the same standard and requirement we set for those we screen and support to hold government jobs. We never hire thieves to run our companies, so what is wrong with us that we hire renowned thieves to run our bigger nation?
We all know that at the day’s end, the governments we have selected, be they from our parts or others, have never really showed real concern for our regions, same applies to the north and same to the south. After all, the north (includes Middle Belt), which has had about 63% of rule, has most of the poorest people in the nation and even the world. There are no standard rail lines linking the landlocked north to the ports in the south (a set-up that serves the interest of the truck-owning cabal), and the textile and farming industries up north are all nonexistent. So much for us loving “our” people who ran our Nigeria business, but had only the interests of their and their friends’ pockets at heart.
The same applies to Yoruba land, pauperized as ever. And now to the core south, the Niger-Delta, which has more poverty, more pollution, more crime and more desperation than ever in history, under the regime of a so-called son-of-the-soil. Maintaining political relevance by starving the people and nation of funds, so they beg the “owner” thieves for employment and handouts to feed is an old and continuously repeated trick in the books. It is the same principle of the “Robber Barons” of 19th century American history. It’s the reward we all get in each part and the whole. So what is the justification for our servility?
If we react appropriately, things like stopping to give bribe to police officers, like demanding our rights anytime a business or government office acts inappropriate, every time an airline delays without courtesy to explain why; every time a “VIP” cuts your line, these type of things. If we all did and told others to do these things. To watch the government, to expose thieving officials and their associated cabal, if we called them “thief,” whenever they or those that know or partner with them ventured our way, it is guaranteed that we will get our Nigeria to run much more admirably.
Our complacence and resignation has made government officials and their coterie of private sector “business” men, actually proud to steal; showing off their stolen wealth in cars and planes without an ounce of shame. Thieves brag and compete for better ratings in the global lists of “achieved” billionaires.
Evidently, to the verse (Luke 4:24, ISV), “a prophet is not accepted in his hometown,” we can append, “but a thief is.”
There are 160 million frustrated, disunited, broke masses and a handful of united, rich cabal, who in their armored cars and private jets, laugh at us, the owners of the Nigeria business, who are too nonextant to react and reclaim our company.
Anytime you recognize and have a problem with them stealing your money and mismanaging your nation, your reaction must be action. You need to immediately say, “I must do something about it to protect my interests,” and then your next course of action should be a meeting to discuss and strategize what you can and will do about it.
Ecclesiastes (ESV)3:1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: 2 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; 3 a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5 a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6 a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7 a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8 a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.
“The best Jihad is a speech of truth in the presence of a tyrant ruler.” (Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi)
Nigeria Is Your Business, claim it.
Dr. Peregrino Brimah
http://ENDS.ng [Every Nigerian Do Something]
Email: [email protected] Twitter: @EveryNigerian
