Time for Patriotic Lullabies For Nigeria

By Gabriel Onoja

On the western coast of the African continent is seated Nigeria, a large, sprawling country. Precisely, it is a land, which in Biblical terms could be referred to as “full of milk and honey". Nigeria is multi-ethnic, multi-religious and displays a rich cultural heritage, which have been the envy of other civilizations around the world.

Endowed with fertile lands that enable farming nearly all-year round, this land is also home to the best specie of fruits and crops. It is rich in oil, much as in agricultural produce, with solid mineral deposits in most states of the federation.

Colonial influence berthed on the land in 1851, when British forces captured Lagos and years later, annexed it formally as a colony in 1861. Nigeria became a British protectorate in 1901 and colonization lasted until 1960, when the British overlords granted it independence.

Nigeria has had a staggered political history and from becoming a republic in 1963, the military putsch of 1966 ended democratic rule abruptly. It entered the phase of a civil war in 1967 which lasted until 1970. Nigeria became a republic again in 1979 after a new constitution was written and about four years later, it was again terminated by another military coup. And for three decades the country went through years of military rule until 1999, when democracy was restored with the enunciation of the fourth republic, which has survived till date.

But despite Nigeria’s enormous wealth, the country has continued to crawl to nationhood. The pace of development is not commensurate with the resources of the land. Years of military dictatorship plundered the rich resources of the land and unsteady policies seemed to have caged this African giant. But the people's hope for a better country resurfaced in 1999 with democracy. Though, there have been setbacks, but nevertheless, the country has also made some significant inroads in development.
Like any other nation in the world, Nigeria has her own share of internal tensions. But it has been able to manage these mostly ethnic and religious tensions over the years, overcoming several uprisings that nearly threatened the foundation of her existence.

To recount, Nigeria survived a bloody civil war which lasted for three years; political riots such as the “Wild, Wild West;” religious rebellions from the Maitatsine uprisings of the early eighties to today’s Boko Haram insurgency and the renewed agitations for secession. In spite of everything, the country has been able to manage and effectively tame its internal monsters that had no foreign backing.

Nigeria has not slipped into absolute anarchy as in Sudan, Rwanda, Egypt, Liberia or Sierra Leone. Nigerians have demonstrated preference for peace and the capacity to absorb their differences without condescending to the violent quest for self -extermination.

The emergence of President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) in 2015, as Nigeria’s democratic leader has given fresh assurances of a better and prosperous future to all Nigerians irrespective of tribe or religion.
However, it appears some vested foreign interests in the internal affairs of Nigeria are unhappy with the unity and peace Nigeria continues to enjoy. The country has proved wrong, prophesy of its break-up in 2015. So, these foreign interests bent on disintegrating Nigeria have resorted to back-door tactics in fuelling voices of dissent in the country.

It is repeating the obvious to say the violent agitations in the Niger Delta for resource control has stretched beyond the normal. The militants' violent obstinate engagement of the Nigerian state has raised more questions than answers. Militants who are dangling the swords of blood have rejected dialogue or mock the process. They have turned a blind eye to government's efforts in addressing the problems of poverty and degradation of their land through years of oil explorations. They have advertised more, a tendency to listen to external voices than the government of their country.

Biafran secessionists, whether in the form of MASSOB or IPOB in the Southeast have also deliberately refused to subject themselves to the voice of reason. Instead, they unlawfully press for secession and very often, deploy violence to argue their grievances instead of dialogue.
The Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast which is at the cusp of total extinction by the Nigerian army led by COAS, Gen. Tukur Buratai, terrorized the nation for years in a manner that left many gasping for breath.

In all the instances of these insurrections, the masterminds do not exhibit their acts of devilry with bare hands. Sophisticated weapons are used to torment Nigerians and shatter the peace of law-abiding citizens. Yet, what foreign organizations like Amnesty International (AI) sights first is the alleged mass killings of unarmed protesters by security agents. It freely accuses security agents of war crimes and human rights violations, thus given vent to the speculation of their subtle back-up of separatists groups to destroy Nigeria.

And once AI echoes such baseless accusations, allies in western media amplify it to high heavens, crucifying the Nigerian government and its security agencies for alleged heinous crimes against humanity. This is the circle of viciousness against Nigeria.

But the soul-searching moment has come for all Nigerians, including the militants, secessionists or onlookers. A peep round the world, particularly in Africa where armed struggles against the state have been entrenched for years does no one any good. If allowed to simmer and intensify beyond reasonable limits, both the aggressors and the onlookers suffer same fate, by depriving themselves of the needed peace in their communities and countries.

So Nigerians should begin to resist the temptation of allowing external forces arm them against themselves, because when the crisis explodes beyond boardroom dialogue and Nigeria is set ablaze, the foreign sponsors would quietly retire to their safe countries and abandon Nigerians to lick their wounds.

Nigeria’s history is replete with complaints of discontentment, but it has never been stretched this far. Nigeria has always shown itself as a country, with a people who can manage their differences and co-exist peacefully together. It is once again time for Nigerians to prove that what bind them together is their shared ancestry, diversities and afflictions and resolve not to surrender to the evil plots of external forces against themselves.

Onoja writes from Jos, Plateau State.

I wonder what this government will achieve at the end of its tenure.
Let me start by saying that you don’t apply for a job you know that you cannot do. APC applied for this job knowing the problems associated with it. They used the problem to campaign that they will solve it as soon as they get them. PDP was punished by being sacked by the people. APC got the job, only to continue to blame the already punished PDP. Having said that, Not every Nigeria is an Idiot. The best people to fix Nigeria are unfortunately not in politics
1. Right people with honesty, integrity and technically experience in their chosen portfolio should be made to manage the ministries.
2. Ask each ministry to itemise the problems associated with their ministries
3. Have an economic summit with more of Nigeria technocrats than politician to discuss the already identified problems.
4. The submit will come out among other things, the solutions to the problems, prioritise the problems according to importance.
5. Some problems are functions of others. That is if one is fixed, it may automatically fix some others e.g regular supply of electricity will reduce cost of manufacturing and will make Nigerians to pay less for goods and services. The cost of production of goods using generator is much more compare with same using NEPA.
6. Suggested important areas that need quick fixing, NEPA, Education, Ajaokuta steel and Agbabu bitumen. Those two will increase income and employ thousands of people
7. NEPA can be fixed by encouraging private companies to go into solar energy.
8. Close border on big generators importation that is giving the caliphate millions of naira. This is because the money they are making from the importation make them conspire with people in government to frustrate NEPA from working efficiently
9. Set up a genuine anti corruption agencies with people completely detach from politics.
10. Bring in young intelligent Nigeria to help in fixing this problems e.g those Yahoo Yahoo boys are very intelligent that if giving the opportunities, they can help the country information technology in a positive way rather than being criminals.
11. Put money in the hand of honest agriculturist to invest in agriculture leaving the importation of rice etc open until we are able to sustain ourselves from within, then close the border. Not closing the border when we are yet to be self sustained.
12. Review the governing system in Nigeria which is too expensive to run. The combination of America presidential system and Britain parliamentary system is crazy
13. Transfer some government responsibilities such as road maintenance and construction to private organisations
14. Encourage Nigerian made goods such as Onisha made until they become perfection. Example is India, many years they were riding bicycle including their prime minister, today they are one of the best automobile provider. Let government close border on car importation, improve on rail transportation and make it affordable to people. Then use that period to improve on our own car making. This will employ millions of Nigerians.
15. Let government overhaul the health sectors, employ cleaners, train more medical personnel and ban government officials from seeking foreign treatments.
16. THESE ARE ENOUGH FOR THE FIRST 4YEARS. AFTER THE END OF THIS GOVERNMENT.
17. ABOVE ALL OUR LEADERS MUST BE READY TO MAKE SACRIFICES IF WE ARE GOING TO BE ANYWHERE NEAR IMPROVEMENT

YOU ARE VERY ON POINT, CONSTRUCTIVE and UNBIASED. You said an average Nigerians mind. Thank you, God Bless you

pilot70:
I wonder what this government will achieve at the end of its tenure.
Let me start by saying that you don’t apply for a job you know that you cannot do. APC applied for this job knowing the problems associated with it. They used the problem to campaign that they will solve it as soon as they get them. PDP was punished by being sacked by the people. APC got the job, only to continue to blame the already punished PDP. Having said that, Not every Nigeria is an Idiot. The best people to fix Nigeria are unfortunately not in politics
1. Right people with honesty, integrity and technically experience in their chosen portfolio should be made to manage the ministries.
2. Ask each ministry to itemise the problems associated with their ministries
3. Have an economic summit with more of Nigeria technocrats than politician to discuss the already identified problems.
4. The submit will come out among other things, the solutions to the problems, prioritise the problems according to importance.
5. Some problems are functions of others. That is if one is fixed, it may automatically fix some others e.g regular supply of electricity will reduce cost of manufacturing and will make Nigerians to pay less for goods and services. The cost of production of goods using generator is much more compare with same using NEPA.
6. Suggested important areas that need quick fixing, NEPA, Education, Ajaokuta steel and Agbabu bitumen. Those two will increase income and employ thousands of people
7. NEPA can be fixed by encouraging private companies to go into solar energy.
8. Close border on big generators importation that is giving the caliphate millions of naira. This is because the money they are making from the importation make them conspire with people in government to frustrate NEPA from working efficiently
9. Set up a genuine anti corruption agencies with people completely detach from politics.
10. Bring in young intelligent Nigeria to help in fixing this problems e.g those Yahoo Yahoo boys are very intelligent that if giving the opportunities, they can help the country information technology in a positive way rather than being criminals.
11. Put money in the hand of honest agriculturist to invest in agriculture leaving the importation of rice etc open until we are able to sustain ourselves from within, then close the border. Not closing the border when we are yet to be self sustained.
12. Review the governing system in Nigeria which is too expensive to run. The combination of America presidential system and Britain parliamentary system is crazy
13. Transfer some government responsibilities such as road maintenance and construction to private organisations
14. Encourage Nigerian made goods such as Onisha made until they become perfection. Example is India, many years they were riding bicycle including their prime minister, today they are one of the best automobile provider. Let government close border on car importation, improve on rail transportation and make it affordable to people. Then use that period to improve on our own car making. This will employ millions of Nigerians.
15. Let government overhaul the health sectors, employ cleaners, train more medical personnel and ban government officials from seeking foreign treatments.
16. THESE ARE ENOUGH FOR THE FIRST 4YEARS. AFTER THE END OF THIS GOVERNMENT.
17. ABOVE ALL OUR LEADERS MUST BE READY TO MAKE SACRIFICES IF WE ARE GOING TO BE ANYWHERE NEAR IMPROVEMENT

From head to Toe, you hardly find any patriotic Nigerian and it all boils down to the foundation that was laid for the nation. I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE ARE GOING FROM HERE, Cus i only know we got here because of GREED, SELFISH AND PERSONAL INTERESTS, not national interest.
The Nation has lost its values, i think right from the ABURI ACCORD crisis of 1963 when we took our national {in-house} to solve in ghana

jeremyliness:
Time for Patriotic Lullabies For Nigeria

By Gabriel Onoja

On the western coast of the African continent is seated Nigeria, a large, sprawling country. Precisely, it is a land, which in Biblical terms could be referred to as “full of milk and honey". Nigeria is multi-ethnic, multi-religious and displays a rich cultural heritage, which have been the envy of other civilizations around the world.

Endowed with fertile lands that enable farming nearly all-year round, this land is also home to the best specie of fruits and crops. It is rich in oil, much as in agricultural produce, with solid mineral deposits in most states of the federation.

Colonial influence berthed on the land in 1851, when British forces captured Lagos and years later, annexed it formally as a colony in 1861. Nigeria became a British protectorate in 1901 and colonization lasted until 1960, when the British overlords granted it independence.

Nigeria has had a staggered political history and from becoming a republic in 1963, the military putsch of 1966 ended democratic rule abruptly. It entered the phase of a civil war in 1967 which lasted until 1970. Nigeria became a republic again in 1979 after a new constitution was written and about four years later, it was again terminated by another military coup. And for three decades the country went through years of military rule until 1999, when democracy was restored with the enunciation of the fourth republic, which has survived till date.

But despite Nigeria’s enormous wealth, the country has continued to crawl to nationhood. The pace of development is not commensurate with the resources of the land. Years of military dictatorship plundered the rich resources of the land and unsteady policies seemed to have caged this African giant. But the people's hope for a better country resurfaced in 1999 with democracy. Though, there have been setbacks, but nevertheless, the country has also made some significant inroads in development.
Like any other nation in the world, Nigeria has her own share of internal tensions. But it has been able to manage these mostly ethnic and religious tensions over the years, overcoming several uprisings that nearly threatened the foundation of her existence.

To recount, Nigeria survived a bloody civil war which lasted for three years; political riots such as the “Wild, Wild West;” religious rebellions from the Maitatsine uprisings of the early eighties to today’s Boko Haram insurgency and the renewed agitations for secession. In spite of everything, the country has been able to manage and effectively tame its internal monsters that had no foreign backing.

Nigeria has not slipped into absolute anarchy as in Sudan, Rwanda, Egypt, Liberia or Sierra Leone. Nigerians have demonstrated preference for peace and the capacity to absorb their differences without condescending to the violent quest for self -extermination.

The emergence of President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) in 2015, as Nigeria’s democratic leader has given fresh assurances of a better and prosperous future to all Nigerians irrespective of tribe or religion.
However, it appears some vested foreign interests in the internal affairs of Nigeria are unhappy with the unity and peace Nigeria continues to enjoy. The country has proved wrong, prophesy of its break-up in 2015. So, these foreign interests bent on disintegrating Nigeria have resorted to back-door tactics in fuelling voices of dissent in the country.

It is repeating the obvious to say the violent agitations in the Niger Delta for resource control has stretched beyond the normal. The militants' violent obstinate engagement of the Nigerian state has raised more questions than answers. Militants who are dangling the swords of blood have rejected dialogue or mock the process. They have turned a blind eye to government's efforts in addressing the problems of poverty and degradation of their land through years of oil explorations. They have advertised more, a tendency to listen to external voices than the government of their country.

Biafran secessionists, whether in the form of MASSOB or IPOB in the Southeast have also deliberately refused to subject themselves to the voice of reason. Instead, they unlawfully press for secession and very often, deploy violence to argue their grievances instead of dialogue.
The Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast which is at the cusp of total extinction by the Nigerian army led by COAS, Gen. Tukur Buratai, terrorized the nation for years in a manner that left many gasping for breath.

In all the instances of these insurrections, the masterminds do not exhibit their acts of devilry with bare hands. Sophisticated weapons are used to torment Nigerians and shatter the peace of law-abiding citizens. Yet, what foreign organizations like Amnesty International (AI) sights first is the alleged mass killings of unarmed protesters by security agents. It freely accuses security agents of war crimes and human rights violations, thus given vent to the speculation of their subtle back-up of separatists groups to destroy Nigeria.

And once AI echoes such baseless accusations, allies in western media amplify it to high heavens, crucifying the Nigerian government and its security agencies for alleged heinous crimes against humanity. This is the circle of viciousness against Nigeria.

But the soul-searching moment has come for all Nigerians, including the militants, secessionists or onlookers. A peep round the world, particularly in Africa where armed struggles against the state have been entrenched for years does no one any good. If allowed to simmer and intensify beyond reasonable limits, both the aggressors and the onlookers suffer same fate, by depriving themselves of the needed peace in their communities and countries.

So Nigerians should begin to resist the temptation of allowing external forces arm them against themselves, because when the crisis explodes beyond boardroom dialogue and Nigeria is set ablaze, the foreign sponsors would quietly retire to their safe countries and abandon Nigerians to lick their wounds.

Nigeria’s history is replete with complaints of discontentment, but it has never been stretched this far. Nigeria has always shown itself as a country, with a people who can manage their differences and co-exist peacefully together. It is once again time for Nigerians to prove that what bind them together is their shared ancestry, diversities and afflictions and resolve not to surrender to the evil plots of external forces against themselves.

Onoja writes from Jos, Plateau State.

fistonati:
YOU ARE VERY ON POINT, CONSTRUCTIVE and UNBIASED. You said an average Nigerians mind. Thank you, God Bless you

you mean your mind..average koh,beverage ni...

speak for yourself dont even try again..

you are only one voice...finish..