I hope you were all able to pick a thing or two from the 'Food for Thought' post...my previous post that is? So, next time you are about to get down to quarrels and conflicts, please, do remember that we have winners and losers and that YOU and your enemy are the losers and the winners are far away somewhere feeding fat on their proceeds from selling the poison to you and of course the tools (weapons and ammunition) by which you get to 'dig' the fight to its conclusive ends.
The most painful part is that most often than not,those that sold the tools are the ones that shall be selling to you all that you'll need for reconstruction and rebuilding your destroyed abodes and the drugs and bandages for treating the wounds and injuries you incurred during the war!
Having said that, it's time to continue our discussion on how to fix Nigeria.The last time we talked about fixing Nigeria,I emphasized on the importance in patriotism in building a new Nigeria of our dreams.We must be proud to associate with Nigeria and in fact make the promotion of Nigeria and everything good about her known to the world as our personal business.Today,however,it's time to talk about arguably,the greatest cause of our socio-economic woes that has made every other thing extremely difficult to achieve....POLITICS!
What is Politics?
I'm sorry,I'm a teacher so,you shouldn't be surprised to see the fact that I always like to begin my arguments with the definition of some or all the jargon associated with the subject matter.This one won't bean exception of course.
Politics is a word, in my personal that has been greatly abused in Nigeria.You can hardly talk about National issues without mentioning the word politics.So,I would like us to define and understand the true meaning of the word politics. According to a dictionary politics is....
"the activities associated with the governance of a country or area, especially the debate between parties having power."
From the above definition of politics,we can see that politics is all about governing, as in running a system,organizations,association,governments and any other set of group of people.This simply means whenever and wherever you have two or more people coming together as a team, as one, there's politics.Politics therefore,is not just a politician thing...it involves you and I even if we don't want to be involved.
The most painful part is that most often than not,those that sold the tools are the ones that shall be selling to you all that you'll need for reconstruction and rebuilding your destroyed abodes and the drugs and bandages for treating the wounds and injuries you incurred during the war!
Having said that, it's time to continue our discussion on how to fix Nigeria.The last time we talked about fixing Nigeria,I emphasized on the importance in patriotism in building a new Nigeria of our dreams.We must be proud to associate with Nigeria and in fact make the promotion of Nigeria and everything good about her known to the world as our personal business.Today,however,it's time to talk about arguably,the greatest cause of our socio-economic woes that has made every other thing extremely difficult to achieve....POLITICS!
I'm sorry,I'm a teacher so,you shouldn't be surprised to see the fact that I always like to begin my arguments with the definition of some or all the jargon associated with the subject matter.This one won't bean exception of course.
Politics is a word, in my personal that has been greatly abused in Nigeria.You can hardly talk about National issues without mentioning the word politics.So,I would like us to define and understand the true meaning of the word politics. According to a dictionary politics is....
"the activities associated with the governance of a country or area, especially the debate between parties having power."
From the above definition of politics,we can see that politics is all about governing, as in running a system,organizations,association,governments and any other set of group of people.This simply means whenever and wherever you have two or more people coming together as a team, as one, there's politics.Politics therefore,is not just a politician thing...it involves you and I even if we don't want to be involved.
It's either You are Making Decisions or Decisions are made on Your Behalf
Now,I suppose you can see why we are in the peculiar mess we find ourselves today.We have left politics in the hands of the so called politicians who keep on wielding power us as they wish and enriching themselves a great deal in the process.
Shying away from politics has cost so much and unless we stop shying away from it,we would continue to live like slaves for eternity!
We run a democratic government which is a government of the PEOPLE by the PEOPLE and for the PEOPLE. We are the people in that popular definition not the members of the elite or political class.It is us that are the people who should decide how we want to be governed.
Ideally, the elite and political classes are expected to listen and follow our instructions because, they are the civil servants and we are the CIVIL society they are there to serve.
We wish to take Control,but How???
It's simple!We should follow the due process.In case you haven't noticed,everything has a guiding principle by which it operates...natural and man made alike.As intelligent creatures,we are expected to learn the rules and follow them well if we must have our way.There are do's and don't's to be learnt and applied accordingly.
Having said that,it's time to highlight the Due Process steps one after the other.The following steps concerns us as Nigerians not as Hausa/Fulani,Igbo or Yoruba.
No. 1: Orientation of the General Public
Yea,yea,yea! I know you'll think it doesn't make sense and it won't work.But,fortunately or unfortunately,this is the starting point for all that wish Nigeria well and want to make her great again.You can't fix Nigeria with ignorant people.You'll need well educated,well informed people who can continue and make good and correct decisions with little or no supervision.To fix Nigeria,we'll have to raise an army of intellectuals.
Sadly, most Nigerians don't know a thing about democracy and therefore,can't contribute meaningfully to national development.In fact, to so many out there,there's no difference between the military rule and the civilian rule.That's why you'll hear some people wishing and praying for military take over!
The public need to know how it's going down.I might have to treat each of this steps in separate post coz there's so much to say on each.
No.2: Regular Town Hall Meetings are a MUST!
Democracy is definitely incomplete without town hall meetings.It's in town hall meetings that the people meet and discuss political matters with their reps.This is where the people meet directly with their Senators,National and State Reps,their Governors,their LG chairmen even Ward Councillors!Without this all important institution,we can't really say we are in a democracy.
No.3: Everyone Above 18 years should get a Voter's Card
Check out the case of Senator Dino Melaye who is currently under fire!The process of his re-call has begun and there's no stopping at this point despite the solid support he is enjoying from other Senators in the house.
Your voter's card is your power to elect and remove any political representative of yours.Without your voter's card,you definitely have no say in government.
No.4: We Must Respect and Tolerate Each Other
As a country of very diverse cultural and traditional heritage,it's important that we act and enjoin civility in dealing with each other.We should always opt in for the dialogue medium of settling matters of conflicting views.In matters that concerns us all,we must act as civil gentlemen in presenting and pursuing them we should NEVER use force in its mildest manner to make the other party bend in our favor.
When arguments does not suffice,we should result into voting and every party should accept,respect and comply with the outcomes of such voting process.After all,democracy is a game of numbers!
No.5: We Must show PRIDE in our Nigerian-ness!!!
This is in fact the most important of all that there is in Nation building.As you can see if you have been following this blog,Pride in Nigeria was one of the first things I discussed in the beginning of this current theme: 'Fixing Nigeria'.Here it is again resurfacing and it will continue to.
Unless we are happy and proud about a particular thing,we won't be able to excel in managing it.We all were born as Nigerians,none of us had the luxury to choose where we would like to be born and bred.This is also the same with those that were born into the United States of America and into the UK or any other developed country.
They had to work at it.The citizens of the developed countries had to work at it and show pride in their respective countries.They had to put their country first even before their own personal interests.This is why they are always on top,they'd prefer products made in their countries to those from other countries.To cut the long story short,LET'S ALL LOVE NIGERIA!!!
Politics is everything about our national life,we can not leave it to the politicians because,originally,they are mere accomplices and we are the masters that they serve.They civil SERVANTS and we are the CIVIL SOCIETY they are serving.I hope this suffices???
God Bless Nigeria!
Long live Nigeria!!!
This is in fact the most important of all that there is in Nation building.As you can see if you have been following this blog,Pride in Nigeria was one of the first things I discussed in the beginning of this current theme: 'Fixing Nigeria'.Here it is again resurfacing and it will continue to.
Unless we are happy and proud about a particular thing,we won't be able to excel in managing it.We all were born as Nigerians,none of us had the luxury to choose where we would like to be born and bred.This is also the same with those that were born into the United States of America and into the UK or any other developed country.
They had to work at it.The citizens of the developed countries had to work at it and show pride in their respective countries.They had to put their country first even before their own personal interests.This is why they are always on top,they'd prefer products made in their countries to those from other countries.To cut the long story short,LET'S ALL LOVE NIGERIA!!!
Politics is everything about our national life,we can not leave it to the politicians because,originally,they are mere accomplices and we are the masters that they serve.They civil SERVANTS and we are the CIVIL SOCIETY they are serving.I hope this suffices???
God Bless Nigeria!
Long live Nigeria!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment