Ife Adebayo: What is Nigeria’s biggest problem? (Y! Politico)

by Ife Adebayo

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We need many more champions of good governance; we need many more Nigerians that can move this nation forward, people that will pick up a cause and be a champion for it. In the words of the respected African Poet and Novelist, Chinua Achebe, he said “One of the truest tests of integrity is its blunt refusal to be compromised”.

Depending on who you ask this question – ‘What is Nigeria’s biggest problem?’, you get different answers. Some say the biggest problem is corruption, others think it is religion, some believe it is President Goodluck Jonathan, others think it starts from the Local Government Chairmen. Some say it is the police, others say it is boko haram.

I’ve also at different times tried to think of Nigeria’s biggest problem and find the silver bullet to solve this problem. In recent times with the boko haram menace, the poor state of our roads, the outright disregard for democratic systems displayed recently by the PDP in Adamawa state, the constant stories of missing billions with no explanation from government, the airport remodeling sham by the federal government, doctors are on strike nationwide as I write this, the courts are also on strike, polytechnic lecturers just called off a strike of almost one year, universities were on strike for over 6months very recently etc., I have been forced to think much deeper about what our biggest problem is as a nation and try to think of a solution.

I have the answer to this question now. Nigeria’s biggest problem is that we have too many problems. We have problems in education, from primary to tertiary education, we have problems in every level of the health sector, the aviation sector, the manufacturing sector, security is in shambles, I could go on and on. Therefore we really do not have a silver bullet to solve this big Nigerian problem, what this country needs are champions for various causes. Learning from the great Albert Einstein who once said “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them”, it has become pertinent for Nigerians to change their thinking as we choose leaders in various positions.

We need a Dora Akunyili for NAFDAC, as NAFDAC head she ensured Nigerian hospitals and pharmacies were free of fake drugs, an El Rufai as FCT Minister built a city we all could be proud of, why not have an El Rufai champion the development and growth of Kaduna State as the Kaduna State Governor, an Aregbesola that has been a trailblazer in education reforms and people oriented policies in Osun State definitely deserves a second term to continue the good works, a Fayemi for the first time showed the people of Ekiti what good governance actually feels like, we need a Ribadu in the EFCC, we need someone who can change the face of the aviation sector, someone for health, we need education, we need many more Governors Amaechi and Kwankwaso. We need many more Governors Fashola and Oshiomole.

We need many more champions of good governance; we need many more Nigerians that can move this nation forward, people that will pick up a cause and be a champion for it. In the words of the respected African Poet and Novelist, Chinua Achebe, he said “One of the truest tests of integrity is its blunt refusal to be compromised”. We need loads more Oby Ezekwesilis, as she stands firm to demand that the Chibok girls are not forgotten and has she has refused to be compromised by the government in spite of their antics and bullying, we need those who will stand and ensure Nigerian soldiers who die in battle are not forgotten, we need those who will stand and ensure our schools are developed, we need those who will ensure whatever it takes doctors do not go on strike, that our polytechnics and universities are not shut for months. We need champions from the local government councils, to every government organization up to the presidency.

As the people of the State of Osun go out this week to re-elect an achiever and true champion of change in the person of Governor Rauf Aregbesola, I enjoin Nigerians to remember that we need to replicate the actions for positive change in every local government and state. We need to replicate this at the national level for the House of Representatives and the Senate, we need to give change a chance at the presidency.

Former US senator Robert Kennedy once said – “Progress is a nice word. But change is its motivator. And change has its enemies”. Therefore as we seek change for our country we should not expect the road to be easy. I leave you with the words of Professor Wole Soyinka – “The hand that dips into the bottom of the pot will eat the biggest snail”, the time has come for Nigerians to dig deep to the bottom of the pot and fight for change. We have to resolve to be bold and firm, to preach the message on every street and in every home. The message that change is possible, the message that progress in this country is about change and the time for change is NOW.

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Ife Adebayo is an IT Consultant with work experience in Germany, United Kingdom and Nigeria. He currently runs his own IT firm in Lagos, Nigeria. He is an ardent believer in the Nigerian project and encourages all Nigerians to become actively involved in making Nigeria a better place.

Ife is a registered member of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Epe Local Government, Lagos State. He was an active member of the UK branch of the party, holding the post of Youth Leader for the year 2010/2011.

 

Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija.

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