Nigeria a nation at 47, needs to grow up real fast

We have been so busy looking backwards, so busy shouting at the British, the Americans
the First world, the Second world and any other world that presented itself, that we forgot to
help prepare for our chance,

ok, Oil came and we blew it!, we gave it away in bribes, squandered it on useless projects
we exchanged it for imported everything, imported oil sef

Even with all the development expertise available, the oyinbos, we still act like a nouveau-riche nation
Economics as buying spree, all the money did was sharpen our evils.
it did nothing to soothe them. it meant little more than theft on a grander scale.
if before you could steal ten thousand Naira, then after you could steal ten million.

Our leaders have taught us how to blame, but not how to help ourselves.
they gave us the psychology of the victim. so that when the money came we
practised the politics of greed. we acted like those who had ruled us before.

As they exploited us, we exploited each other. As they raped our land, so we raped our land too
As they took, we took. We had absorbed the attitudes of the colonizer and we mimicked the worst of him
We learnt none of his virtues, grasped at all of his vices.

This is what people dont understand,
and now theres only one question left
even with a new governmnt in place

When WILL NIGERIA GROW UP

We r a failed experiment in nationhood, one among many
we havent matured, we still view criticism as attack

A first step would be recognizing the difference between the two.
even then, considering how far we've come, if we manage to grow up one day

wont it be too late?
will it even matter?

Stop waiting for Nigeria to grow up. Nigeria will move forward if you and I move forward individually. So let's do it!

Gamine my good friend,
its interesting to hear you comment on political issues, lol

Until now, i would have considered your questions as mere rhetorics. Seriously

But hey, i think i have an answer to your worries, if and only if Nigerians stand up and act.
I will link you to a thread am about to start. soon.

call u laher, wait up.

@seun,

I hate the fact that I always disagree with you and you always end up banning me. Seems You and I got issues 

Its a shame that i disagree that the problems of Nigeria can be solved by individual efforts. I agree that it may make a better impact, but it will never eradicate our sorrows. Our problems are rooted farther than we think.

In simple terms, we need a revolution. people may have to die, blood might have to be spilled but that I'm afraid is the only way. Watchout for my new thread too.

gamine uve got it all wrong.

Aight, there you Go

y'all can voice your opinions on this thread

https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-59930.0.html

tunrex.dj:

gamine uve got it all wrong.

What is ur suggestion then, cos i quite agree with gamine.

When we decide to grow up, that is the political leaders
we will.

Nigerias Problem was not Individualistically caused!
so it aint gona be solved that way

U may solve ur own problems, but how will it solve other pples

We need to put our eyes on other peoples wahala
cause even in helping em we help ourselves, we help Nigeria.


Seun,
U Need to Grow Up

Waxxy,
Who r u?

Oil issues alone have caused enoff problems
i know, cos i have relatives who r oil Traders

Money just aint evrything!!!!!!!!!

@gamine,
I am that useless Wale boy that calls u once in a fortnight, the same one that has an annoying accent. lol
Remember him?

ngozy:

Nigerias Problem was not Individualistically caused!
so it aint gona be solved that way

nice one, i second that thot.

ok

Sorry, lol

Yes

this Country is in big trouble
until they see the need to change

we wont move anywhere

Until we congregate a generation of selfless Nigerians who do not care about factors like money, power, ethnicity and religion, but are united in a bid to demand good governance and accountability from those thieves in power,im afraid we will keep going around in circles

Verry True
Waxxy

We have to rise above all that,
set the priorities ryt

but we keep looking at other countries
not evn for inspiration,

gotta leave u now
but my heart remains Nigerian, always

All countries have serious problems (the US has George Bush). Prosperity comes from hard work. Simple. You may think our government is corrupt, but at least they don't collect 60% of your salary and 'inheritance tax' when you die.

Yes, accepted All countries have serious Problems (LOL)

but if we r still fighting for the most basic things of life Water, Power, Food
where does that leave us??

Politicians running for campaigns keep saying
" i will provide water, power, food"
as if those things r not supposed to have been on ground, long time!!

God help this nation!!!

@Gamine,
i must admit that i am deeply fascinated by your level of political reasoning. It just confirms what ive always said about you belonging to a higher flock. The only problem is that when you start to ask these types of questions, you start to  think on ways by which you can help improve the status quo.
Now lets assume you come up with a feasible solution, Nigeria and Nigerians alike are so going to frustrate your efforts that you would be forced to leave its shores for good. This is the story of many a Nigerian in the diaspora today.

As much as i love  Nigeria, i cannot bear the fact that Nepa or whatever they are called can still not provide 24/7 electricity in AD 2007, that potable water is not so easily fetched and that police will collect N20 bribe every kilometre i travel on the highways or threaten to shoot me.

Nigeria is in a state of utter dilapidation and needs urgent measures to save us from the mess we're in. I commend Seun's optimism and belief in individual/entrepreneural efforts but i still disagree that this will solve the problem in totallity.The foundations of our country has not been laid right so there is no fair playing ground for entrepreneural effors as it were. Even the good Book says " If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?" Psalm 11vs 3.

It is time we forget that illusory "better life" that our leaders have promised us for so long and take what rightfully belongs to us by force, Nigeria needs a revolution.

Sad to say this but our leaders have been a reflection of ourselves and we in deed deserve whatever we are getting or have gotten. I have to agree with Seun on this one though. The Govt can't solve all your problems because it takes individual ingenuity to succeed and prosper and the Gov't can only serve as an enabling environment. Bottom line is individuality first and collectively second. I do think Nigeria will move forward if Yar'adua just follows the damn policies Obj started.

In my own opinion, Nigerians are Nigeria's problem and i agree with seun cos there's need for nigerians 2 develop a change in their thoughts and attitude towards nigeria. As a leader u ve 2 as an individual, decide that its not goin 2 b business as usual and followers 2 would ve 2 decide first as individuals b4 teamin up with like minds 2 make a change.

Even if our government is what we want, without hard work we would get nowhere. Ask the French people.

Seun,
i am afraid i have to disagree with you here.
on individual bases, which country of the world do you this is making more eforts than nigerians?
a country blessed with all the natural resources of the world yet her citizens are scattered all over the world in their eforts to make life.
how many people are loosing their lives on our bizare roads on daily bases or are you saying the individuals shld go and mend the roads.
how many individual comapnies fold on daily bases because of high costs of productions or are you saying the individuals shld go and make laws guiding productions in nigeria?
how many people have lost their fortune in our banks in the pasts?
the major problems of nigeria lie on government policies like in the area of security, power supply etc. there are basic armenities of life which the government owns here citizens.
in which other countries of the world do you think the niger delta can exist outside nigeria. niger delta is a broad day robbery. rob peter to pay paul.
we are known for sufering and smiling.
is it not obvious that the only working progressive policy of our government is the policy of money laundary which permits every leader in nigeria to try as much as he can to relocate any amount possible.
what could be more frustrating than a government that canot trace the killers of Ige? how possible was the leadership of Obj and atiku and till now, the case is heading to no victor, no vanquished and they will go home trilonaires at the expense of the citizens.
i still want to show my respect for the por masses of nigeria as they have remained loyal even in the presences of clear evidences of ungodly leaderships.
the point is that government has refused to live upto her own side of the bargain hence growth has become dificult.
trace countries of the world or let us say africa and tell me which has more individual eforts like nigeria

While I will not condone laziness in any form, it is only in Nigeria that MOST of the hardworking people are never encouraged to develop in whatever capacity they find themselves.

                                                                                HOW

The one who works hard in this country is trampled on as a fooolish person. The other day, someone without the requisite qualification was elected into the post of councillor in one state in the South South. Somehow, he got there through thuggery and violence. But he got there anyway. Today, he's erected one big mansion in his village. He's bought so many lands in his locality - (well, at least in Nigerian parlance, such things denote ''success'' and a sense of fulfilment) that many of us who works hard and know we have better qualifications and exposure wonder where we went wrong in life. The only thing that kept many of us going is the fact that we know many politicians are corrupt people in this country and that he's one of them. But to think that hardwork will land you in a blissful place in this country is wishful thinking!

on individual bases, which country of the world do you this is making more efforts than nigerians?

It is only in Lagos that people do a little amount of work. In my town, you will find a lot of people sitting in front of their houses doing nothing most of the time. Many small companies have employees sitting around doing nothing. Apart from the fact that Nigerians do a lot of nothing, what's worse is that we hardly read or use our brains.

People don't want to work; they just want to make money. They wish God/Government would send them money.

Seun:

It is only in Lagos that people do a little amount of work. In my town, you will find a lot of people sitting in front of their houses doing nothing most of the time. Many small companies have employees sitting around doing nothing. Apart from the fact that Nigerians do a lot of nothing, what's worse is that we hardly read or use our brains.

People don't want to work; they just want to make money. They wish God/Government would send them money.

I do agree with u Seun but not totally. Yes everyone needs to pull their own weight to make things happen for them but the govt does need to provide an enabling environment which even u would agree is not in place.

Seun:

All countries have serious problems (the US has George Bush). Prosperity comes from hard work. Simple. You may think our government is corrupt, but at least they don't collect 60% of your salary and 'inheritance tax' when you die.

The nigerian govt has absolutely no moral justification to even consider this!

watchung:

Sad to say this but our leaders have been a reflection of ourselves and we in deed deserve whatever we are getting or have gotten. I have to agree with Seun on this one though. The Govt can't solve all your problems because it takes individual ingenuity to succeed and prosper and the Gov't can only serve as an enabling environment. Bottom line is individuality first and collectively second. I do think Nigeria will move forward if Yar'adua just follows the damn policies Obj started.

There is obviously no enabling environment in nigeria.

Nigeria,
Were i was born to be
My Fatherland,
No matter where i go
i will always be proud to say

Nigeria is where im from,

Really would i be?

Im definately Proud of Naija and im happy changes r under way, but the Mindset is still the same

PPle striving for their ownselves, we r jsut coping the individualistic way of things
like Seun, run things for ur own self
For a nation like ours it wont work
it only creates a greater divide between the Harvards and the Havnads

We should begin to think beyond our own needs n that of our children's children

@ALL

The opinion of all will gear us toward our destination and to the prime hight of our Nation we shall all reach the promised land full of all aspirations free of Nepotism and above all this comes growth and development.
Remember Rome was not built in a day, the UK,US JAPAN all whent 2rwu wat we are xperiencing now.

WE ARE KNOCKING AT THE PROMISE LAND AND THE DOOR WILL BE OPEN AS ITS NOW,

chidichris:

Seun,
i am afraid i have to disagree with you here.
on individual bases, which country of the world do you this is making more eforts than nigerians?
a country blessed with all the natural resources of the world yet her citizens are scattered all over the world in their eforts to make life.
how many people are loosing their lives on our bizare roads on daily bases or are you saying the individuals shld go and mend the roads.
how many individual comapnies fold on daily bases because of high costs of productions or are you saying the individuals shld go and make laws guiding productions in nigeria?
how many people have lost their fortune in our banks in the pasts?
the major problems of nigeria lie on government policies like in the area of security, power supply etc. there are basic armenities of life which the government owns here citizens.
in which other countries of the world do you think the niger delta can exist outside nigeria. niger delta is a broad day robbery. rob peter to pay paul.
we are known for sufering and smiling.
is it not obvious that the only working progressive policy of our government is the policy of money laundary which permits every leader in nigeria to try as much as he can to relocate any amount possible.
what could be more frustrating than a government that canot trace the killers of Ige? how possible was the leadership of Obj and atiku and till now, the case is heading to no victor, no vanquished and they will go home trilonaires at the expense of the citizens.
i still want to show my respect for the por masses of nigeria as they have remained loyal even in the presences of clear evidences of ungodly leaderships.
the point is that government has refused to live upto her own side of the bargain hence growth has become dificult.
trace countries of the world or let us say africa and tell me which has more individual eforts like nigeria

All these efforts are geared towards negativity, towards curruption and

selfishness. We need first and foremost to discipline ourselves before we

can think of disciplining our Government officials.

We must!
Enthusiastically pursue the solution,
instead of finding faults,

We need solution Providers in this Contry
not Problem Preachers!

Gamine, do you realise that you are also implicated? What solution have you provided so far? I can tell you mine!

Is no surprise that it is an arab descendant(ghadaffi) that is pushing for a powerful African continent while we the main Africans are busy killing ourselves and lagging behind in innovation and development.
We can move forward individually and socially when we decide to do so. We should create equality by having credible elections and accountable and disciplined officals. Then we should begin from Nigeria in somehow eradicating traditional rulers because they are also a big part of corruption and are instruments for dividing us.

My solution is on the way

Seun, is Nairaland ur solution?? to whut problem??

Anyways,
As much as possible i will try to do something Good, Postive, Life changing in Nigeria

Same old, same old s'hit around Nigeria talk!  Yawning and wiping eyes----off to bed and have a happy 4th of July coming up you Nigerian Americanos--lets have some fun over here and leave those sufferhead suffering and smiling yahoo Naija patriots!  Still waiting for Y'ardua to release ministerial list of looters-----almost 6 weeks after handover!!!!!! Have a happy 4th!  Do not drink and drive! Enjoy the fireworks!   At least we have something to live for here! I have bought my flag and my blue white and red outfit for all the kids! Useless Naija country!

MILITIA:

Same old, same old s'hit around Nigeria talk! Yawning and wiping eyes----off to bed and have a happy 4th of July coming up you Nigerian Americanos--lets have some fun over here and leave those sufferhead suffering and smiling yahoo Naija patriots! Still waiting for Y'ardua to release ministerial list of looters-----almost 6 weeks after handover!!!!!! Have a happy 4th! Do not drink and drive! Enjoy the fireworks! At least we have something to live for here! I have bought my flag and my blue white and red outfit for all the kids! Useless Naija country!

Thanks militia for all the encouraging words and especially for letting us realize how pathetic our situation is. But remeber Agaracha must come back!

Complaint upon complaints everywhere! Who here has contributed his/her own quota towards national transformation?
@poster
We don't want your candid thoughts, we want ur candid deeds, capische?