I want to start this piece with a great lamentation for my dearly beloved country and her unfortunate citizens, whose only offence is that they found themselves in this mere geographical expression called NIGERIA as citizens.Is it actually appalling or unfortunate to be born in Nigeria by Nigerian parents which by Constitution qualifies one to be a citizen of this near failed nation' Or what can one say are actually the offences of the poor masses of this country that have left the entire populace in the hands of the cruel fate without recourse from nowhere. From inception, it seems the Nigerian State had been packaged to fail as said by Lord Lugard after1914 amalgamation of the country that 'The North and South are like oil and water, they will never mix''. And since then, the dichotomy, nepotism, ethnicity, religious fundamentalism/ fanaticism, corruption, poverty, tribal ,militancy, rapacity and hedonism have been plaguing the unity of this nation with its attendant evils on the poor masses, affecting our social' economic and political life as a nation. With this background, the nation seems to be unfortunate with the crops of leaders that have had a stint at the corridors of power, not been patriotic but only looking for their own gains and inflicting pains on the masses as a result of their greed and struggle for power. Their greed for power and wealth has caused the criminal neglect of the people, looting the treasury with impunity. Poor or non infrastructure with no social amenities coupled with poor wages have driven able bodied youths of this country to foreign lands where they have been used as slaves in many of their host countries. Many of the government policies are just as if they are out to punish the poor masses of this country. The monetary policies of the Central Bank of Nigeria have not helped but are worsening the situation the more. The Naira has lost its real value at international market. Fear and apprehension in the banking industry, proposal of cashless society, minimum deposit balance of N25,000, high rate of interest, collapse in stocks, are already having their negative tolls on the economic lives of the masses. There are lots of challenges still facing the nation which after 51 years of independence ought to have been solved 40 years ago.No employment for the teeming youth after graduation from universities after paying through their noses to obtain their certificates without any hope of gainful employment. Criminals are being celebrated, looters have become lords, mediocrities become rulers with ease, and hard work and loyalty seem to belong to the olden generations. Incessant bombings and security threats by Boko Haram seem to have come to stay without any major clue to when they will be apprehended and face the wrath of the law.Removal of oil subsidy and proposal to sell petroleum at N195 per litre are spreading like wild fire in dry season. Increase in electricity tariffs by the PHCN according to Professor Nnaji and Dr Lawrence Amadi come January .2012, is in the pipeline.Environmental mismanagement causing the death of poor masses in hundreds through floods is rampart these days. Cholera seems to have found its way back into the country claiming the lives of Nigerians at will. Deaths on our roads through accidents that occur due to bad and unmotorable roads seem not to have caught the attention of the ruling class, since they usually fly around in jets and helicopters. Unfortunately, the railway flag-off that was celebrated by the President recently seems to be on sabbatical again paving the way for our industrialists to buy more trailers to kill our people the more on our highways without redress. Insecurity and terrorism through the menace of untamed and pampered Boko Haram have become another negative identity for the nation internationally. The police who are being paid to maintain law and order and instill discipline among the people lack discipline themselves. Who will actually deliver the poor masses of this country from the hands of their cruel and wicked looters cum leaders' Corruption has become institutionalised that if you don't embezzle you are not correct socially in Nigeria. In order to create poverty and not to alleviate it, the government at all levels are dilly- dallying in paying the N18,000 minimum wage, imposing on workers wage slavery instead of living wages stipulated in the Constitution.Nigerians can just be killed at will with little or no response from our government to fight for their rights. No future for Nigerian masses because there are no sustainable structures to take care of their basic needs i.e. social security, unemployment scheme, old people scheme, stable electricity supply, good motor able roads, pipe borne water and adequate food security, etc. If the Nigerian political leaders want us to believe that there is hope for this country and its masses, 100 days in office is enough to hit the ground running but instead, it seems things are grounded and nothing is moving as promised and expected.It's even a shame of our nation, despite our arable soil, that's good for rice cultivation, we still spent about N360 billion and N93 billion on importation of rice and sugar, respectively last year for local consumption ,badly depleting our foreign reserves. Anyway, Kharl Marx had rightly said that''the oppressed are allowed once every few years to decide which particular representatives of the oppressing class are to represent or repress them'' Notwithstanding, it won't be long, for 2015 will soon be around. Long live Nigerians, Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria. 'Pastor Taiwo (JP), wrote in via debotaiwo@ymail.com08038264924, 08099820299
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