My Krossroads

January 2012, began somewhat on a good note. It seemed promising; of course, the holiday season was just wearing off. Nigerians were returning to work and gradually getting into the flow of a New Year. Then the siren sounded, the President had just announced the removal of fuel subsidy, the story changed, Nigerians went to the streets protesting the removal. People were angry, they boiled so for three weeks or there about work activities, stalled, and Ojota became the meeting point as people from all lifestyles gathered to ensure a reversal. Finally, a decision was reached. There was no going back. Nigerians accepted but what is the story now.
That was early 2012; we slowly got our groove back and returned to work. The general idea, Nigerians are a happy people, it was again time to try to smile in the face of adversity, something must be wrong because most Nigerians are known for this. If truth be told prices had soared, cost of transportation had risen, housing almost non-affordable. The cost of living had astromically risen.
Then, Boko Haram happened, an Islamic sect demanding for a theocratic state in Nigeria. The group began to unleash havoc repeatedly. It is known as an invincible group with faceless members carrying out deadly activities without sending out threats or warnings. Their attacks are predominantly on innocent people in the Northern part of Nigeria; these occurrences are going on unabated. The cycle is growing vicious with no end in sight. The question everyone is asking is how did it all begin? What is not far from the minds of many is the fact that the Nigerian factor has a role to play, this is a country were bad governance has been the order of the day, level of poverty is on the rise, poor national development index, corruption, lack of development of infrastructure, the list is endless. The focal point is how long will Boko Haram remain a source of threat to political stability.
That said, our President made it, he celebrated 100 days in office but for many there was nothing much to celebrate. Many wished they had not voted for him, curses on his governing team made news, the people felt deceived, the struggle for sanity in Nigeria continues. All in the form of open-ended questions, an example, when will it come together for Nigeria, when will governance assume a responsible pathway?
The last straw, the Dana crash, 158 passengers lost their lives. Anger increased in the land. Accusations upon accusations, Sunday, June 3n had come like any other day without an inkling of what the day had in stock until the news of the Dana crash made headline news. The aircraft should not have been flying many claimed, the Dana crash had been waiting to happen due to reports of faulty planes, airplanes refusing to start, and flights abandoned midair. The overriding question, was the airplane maintained as often as it was supposed to be? Even though you do not have a single connection to anybody on that plane, the bitterness remains. Levi Ajunoma, Group Managing director Corporate Affairs NNPC died in that crash. A former journalist, May his soul rest in peace. Levi Ajunoma, I had spoken with him on Thursday, he died on Sunday. It has been about a month since the crash. I still wonder why but as humans, we can only ask questions, the answers we will never get. Then about two weeks ago, the news filtered, it was Amb. Segun Olusola. Though I had not seen him in about year, I remember attending an last event organized by his foundation, the African refugees’ foundation where his biography was launched. Any way, life is separation and as the years slowly creep in on you, one sure thing in life is there are bound to be knocks and how we respond shows our level of maturity. Therefore, if life is about change, one thing is clear all Nigerians are ready for a Change. There is a clear need for change but for that to happen we all must have a burning desire to make a difference and that, difference is brought on by a deep-rooted passion.
On a positive note, not all is unpleasant, Nigerians are preparing to go beyond oil and harness the potential existing in agriculture. The development of the huge resources available in agriculture will help create opportunities in business and promote reduction in poverty.
On the side, who has used the BRT buses in Lagos? An initiative of the Action Congress (Fashola administration) Nigerians are queuing, this speaks volumes. Moreover, the hope is the discipline displayed by Nigerians in this area will trickle into other areas in the polity.
Anyway, it is the second half of the year now. The challenge today is that we must all beat the madness, rise up as individuals irrespective of our positions, and pay some dues. Let us think about Nigeria, where are we heading? We need to cry out, cry out against corruption and poverty that is gradually eroding the system.