Life is like a stage where actors and actresses demonstrate their prowess in order to impress their audience. At the stipulated time, every actor and actress will bow out of the stage either honourably or dishonourably. But it is advisable to always leave the stage honourably and when the ovation is loudest.However, this is the tragedy that continues to unfold in many African countries where 99.9 percent of the leaders look for unacceptable excuses to unconstitutionally elongate their tenures in office thereby continuing to corruptly enrich themselves and also further pauperise their poverty-stricken, battered and hapless citizens.It is for this reason that many people are wondering why aging President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, after spending 30 unbroken years in office since the country's independence, plans to contest this year's election. Is it not a shame that after running out of ideas concerning how to fix his country and after persistent calls from his people and the international community to step down, Mugabe who will clock 88 years this year, is still eyeing the presidency' He is fond of claiming there is no vacancy to be filled in the presidency.Some years back, we had the same ugly experience in Nigeria. A civilian president was still in office and had just spent only two out of his first four years in office. Then came a stiff scramble by some ambitious members of his political party for the coveted seat. Having observed the president's visible inadequacies, they vowed to ensure he was not fielded for second term.But a highly influential chieftain of the party christened, Mr. Fix who was believed had limitless capacity to fix anything and anybody fixable, roared aloud and said there was no vacancy in Aso Rock.But what Mr. Fix failed to realise or appreciate is that nobody, no matter how highly placed or powerful, knows tomorrow. Nigerian politicians and African leaders strongly believe that they know what will happen tomorrow. However, only God knows tomorrow. He is unstoppable. Whenever He wants to act, nobody can stop Him.At last, the president died. The vacancy Mr. Fix arrogantly claimed was non-existent became glaringly vacant. The vacancy has since been filled. Nigerian leaders do not learn from history.Whoever thought that a few years back, there could be economic downturn in Europe that would make many parts of the world, including Nigeria, to sneeze uncontrollably' Whoever knew the devastating and highly infectious crises in the Arab World that unseated and also led to the untimely death of thousands of innocent persons and the destruction of valuable property could occur'Whoever imagined that powerful President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt could be removed from office unceremoniously' Same applies to his other colleague-casualties. And to cap it all, whoever thought fiery and highly dreaded Libyan leader, President Muammar Gaddafi could be caught like a mouse and eventually assassinated thereby bringing to an unhappy end his long and controversial tenure in office'These were some of the ugly events that could have been prevented if these leaders had listened to the voices of the downtrodden and the underprivileged in their respective countries.Nigeria is a member of the global community and Nigerians have been following with keen interest and are also listening with rapt attention to news concerning happenings around them.Those characters, most of whom are political prostitutes, political clowns, political adventurers and political sycophants at the corridors of power who think the unsettling situation that prevailed in the country, especially due to the rising rate of criminality, abject poverty, unemployment and corruption, amongst others, in the midst of plenty in 2011, could not threaten the stability of the nation in 2012, must be living in fools' paradise or fantasyland. From all indications, 2011 was a very bad year for the generality of Nigerians.Those that corruptly enriched themselves and thereby used their enviable positions at various tiers of government to increase the sufferings of the ever-increasing population of poor Nigerians in 2011, should now cover their ugly faces in shame.But if care is not taken, 2012 would be a tougher year for Nigeria and Nigerians, especially the large population of those subjected to abject penury by our leaders over the years.I am not a soothsayer, a star gazer, a prophet of doom, an alarmist or a palm reader. But judging by the various people-unfriendly government policies and the reactions of the citizenry to these measures, this year will witness wonderful happenings that could shake the country to its foundation.Nigerians should be aware of religious leaders from the various religious groups who are known for not telling our leaders the bitter truth. They are those that will predict that 2012 promises a bed of roses for Nigeria and Nigerians. It was the same they predicted in the past. Was 2011 a bed of roses for Nigeria and Nigerians'Nigerians should be prepared for difficult times in 2012. Our leaders have urged us to further fasten our belts until we can no longer breath but unfortunately, many of them who are expected to lead by example, are enmeshed in high-profile profligacy.President Goodluck Jonathan should remember the unusual circumstances that led to his emergence as the late President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua's successor. He should not forget in a hurry the unprecedented manner in which millions of Nigerians, desperately desiring a change for progress, irrespective of political, religious or ethnic inclinations, trooped out in large numbers to ensure his victory at the April 2011 poll.Mr. President has no excuse for non-performance and the way he handles his assignment will determine the way Nigerians will participate in future crucial elections.It is unacceptable for the president to claim he is neither a lion, a General nor a Pharaoh. He is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and he is constitutionally empowered, after meaningful consultations, to take decisive actions whenever the stability of the country is threatened. He is expected to do this without fear or favour.Nigeria is a difficult country to rule. It is like a critically sick child that requires urgent attention. Nobody forced the president to seek election. He offered to serve and he ought to have realised the implications. Failure in this regard could lead to unpleasant consequences.It is disappointing that Nigeria is still dancing in cycle since May 29, 2011. It has all been motion without movement. Nigeria has been fumbling, wobbling and wandering in the wilderness. This is saddening.On May 29, 2012, it will be a year the Goodluck Jonathan administration would have been in office. However, no meaningful development has taken place in various sectors of the economy. Those that wanted to prevent Jonathan from contesting and those that threatened to make the country ungovernable if he won the election must now be smiling in their closets.This is why nothing is moving. Governance is virtually at a standstill. Incidentally, the short-lived Yar'Adua / Jonathan administration was known to be on slow wheels while it lasted. We cannot continue like this if Nigeria is to be among the 20 most leading economies in the world by 2020. No meaningful development can take place in a crisis-ridden environment as it is being witnessed especially in some parts of the North. If any part of the country is unsafe, other parts of the country which have almost been taken over by high-profile armed robbers who now specialise in invasion of banks, are certainly unsafe too.If 2012 is to bring peace to Nigeria and Nigerians, the president should muster the political will to handle the hydra-headed rising wave of criminality threatening the stability of the country. Those that threatened to make the country ungovernable for him, which has now come to pass, should be prosecuted.Adherents and sponsors of Boko Haram are not ghosts. They should be fished out and brought to book.The president must not shy away from his responsibility to ensure Nigeria is peaceful and that the citizenry are guaranteed conducive environment to work and live in any part of the country. Nobody can be above the laws of the land.We can no longer afford to be losing precious lives of innocent fellow citizens through the dastardly acts of Boko Haramists. The president should act fast to prevent possible disintegration of the country by 2015 as predicted in certain quarters. Everything must be done by the president to ensure this prediction remains only a prediction.AppreciationBY the way, how time flies! And so, this weekly column has been on for three unbroken years. But it is time to leave. This therefore makes this write-up the last to be authored by me in this column.I thank the readers for their patronage over the years. Your unalloyed interest in the column was a source of encouragement I shall forever cherish.I also thank the Management of the Western Publishing Company Limited ' publishers of the Compass titles, for providing me the veritable platform to air my views, unhindered, on various issues of national and international importance.Goodbye!
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