The Greedy Leadership And The Exploited Citizens

The Greedy Leadership And The Exploited Citizens

Our dear country has been grappling with a pervasive sense of abnormality since 1979, a year that marked a turning point in our nation’s tra­jectory. Despite our best efforts to maintain a veneer of normalcy and downplay the severity of our chal­lenges, the undeniable truth is that Nigeria has been on a downward spi­ral for decades. This decline is not a consequence of external forces or un­foreseen circumstances, but rather, a direct result of our collective mis­behavior, pervasive selfishness, and a disheartening lack of patriotism. Nigerian leaders, over time, have honed their ability to manipulate the populace, employing a sophisticated understanding of the national psyche to divert attention from their failings. They have become masters at man­ufacturing distractions, skillfully steering public discourse towards inconsequential or sensationalised issues, effectively diverting attention from the real problems plaguing our nation. These manufactured con­troversies serve as a smokescreen, obscuring the root causes of our collective misery and perpetuating a cycle of misgovernance. While other nations, notably China, US, Canada, Japan, Singapore and even Burkina Faso, are making remarkable strides in technological advancement, partic­ularly in the realms of science and ar­tificial intelligence, Nigeria remains mired in a quagmire of its own mak­ing. Our nation has been hijacked by a leadership whose primary modus operandi revolves around self-eulogy, oppression and impunity. They seem to operate under the assumption that their grip on power is absolute, often challenging the very citizens they are meant to serve with a dismissive “what can you do?” attitude. This blatant disregard for the welfare of the people is a stark reminder of the deep-seated rot within our system. Instead of engaging in meaningful discourse about critical national is­sues, such as our dilapidated infra­structure, failing education system, and crippling unemployment, we find ourselves bombarded with man­ufactured controversies designed to distract and disengage.

The recent issues surrounding Na­tasha, Akpabio, the imposed state of emergency in Rivers State, Seyi’s rice distribution scheme, and the allega­tions of corruption within the judi­ciary and National Assembly have hijacked the national conversation. We have, in essence, become a nation consumed by social media hype, read­ily substituting genuine engagement with fleeting outrage and performa­tive activism. The political landscape is rife with individuals whose actions are a disservice to the nation. Bello, for instance, is already positioning himself as a potential replacement for Natasha, even as he battles seri­ous allegations of corruption. This pattern of one questionable figure replacing innocent citizen has be­come a recurring theme in Nigerian politics, perpetuating a vicious cycle of corruption and impunity. The ram­ifications are far-reaching, eroding public trust in our institutions and normalizing criminal behavior with­in the corridors of power. We are all, in a sense, complicit in this system by virtue of our silent acceptance of this unacceptable status quo.

While the nation grapples with uncertainty, our Senate, the body entrusted with legislative oversight, appears to be more concerned with maintaining the appearance of activ­ity than addressing the pressing is­sues facing our country. The fact that our refineries remain non-operation­al, despite having a full complement of staff and engaging in continuous recruitment, is a glaring example of this dysfunction.

The Senate’s lack of urgency in in­vestigating this matter, particularly given that NNPC, the entity respon­sible for these refineries, is not known for generating revenue, raises serious questions about their priorities.

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The same goes to the colossal failure in our national power supply, excessive tariff, taxes, uncontrollable inflation rate, poverty index and oth­er serious national maladies. Both the Executives and Legislatures are never concerned about the dwindling fortune of Nigeria, hence take delight in passing certain less important is­sues with certain abnormal speeds. The Senate’s recent actions, including the suspension of a functional PDP Senator and their tacit endorsement of the erosion of democratic princi­ples through the declaration of a state of emergency, are deeply troubling. These actions, coupled with the ongo­ing dismantling of duly elected rep­resentatives in Rivers State, paint a grim picture of our current political reality. The removal of the Secretary to the State Government in Rivers State further underscores the extent to which democratic norms are being eroded. This is a blatant power grab, a total capture of state apparatus within a system that claims to uphold democratic principles. The truth is undeniable, both domestically and internationally: Nigeria has reached a critical juncture, a zenith of deca­dence. The path to reversing this decline will be arduous, requiring a radical departure from the status quo. It is a path that will necessitate confronting uncomfortable truths about our collective complicity in this system and demanding better from those entrusted with leadership. The current system is designed to favour the privileged few, the wealthy and connected individuals who operate above the law, while the poor and vul­nerable are trampled upon. What’s even more disheartening is that these marginalised groups are often manipulated into supporting their oppressors, their vulnerabilities ex­ploited through the cynical use of re­ligion and ethnicity as divisive tools. The elites, those who benefit most from this broken system, are the root cause of our nation’s woes. There’s a saying that captures the essence of our current predicament: “when you don’t care about a single yam that was stolen from your barn by a thief, you have given notice to everyone, and soon, you will be visited by an armed robber, who will probably empty the entire yam barn.” – DSM.

This speaks to the systemic na­ture of our problems, the way in which those in power perpetuate a cycle of corruption and impunity. It highlights the need for a fundamen­tal shift, a break from the status quo, to effect real change. The situation is akin to having both the guilty and the innocent confined within the same prison walls, and this is because the innocent have refused to confront the guilty. In Nigeria, and sadly in a capi­talist economy, citizens are always at the mercy of its greedy few. In what­soever disguise, and either way is a conundrum of insatiable few. Give it to the private companies or individu­al entrepreneurs, they’ll exploit all the citizens by increasing prices of their products and services. At the end, they will declare enormous profit at the expense of patriotism. Sadly too, most government ventures have left the citizens poorer with enormous amounts of money stolen by corpo­rate thieves. At the end, citizens are left with crumbs and miseries. Head or tail, Nigerians have never benefit­ed from their Divine natural endow­ments, except the thieves amongst them. This is the irony of a country that’s in search of its self-worth even when in the midst of plenty. To our insatiable leaders and greedy capital­ists, I want you to reflect and under­stand the truth about our temporal existence on this planet earth. If we could be conscious to remember that, “the reality of life is that no mortal has ever lived forever, and as such, why the folly of immortality? And if you doubt me, take a tour of a grave­yard close to your abode” – DSM.

Nigeria, with its deeply en­trenched systems of oppression designed to impoverish the vulner­able, often feels like a lost cause. Yet, we must remember that even in the darkest of times, hope endures. There is always the potential for change, for a new dawn to break. The key lies in recognising our collective responsi­bility to dismantle these oppressive structures and build a more just and equitable society for all Nigerians, and regardless, don’t forget that I come in PEACE.

Dr. Sunny Oby Maduka (DSM), is an Author, Resource Personality, Management Consultant/Trainer, Chartered/Certified -Auditor/ Accountant, Financial Compliance Expert, Economic/Political Analyst Strategist, Marine Expert and Motivationist)