OPINION: IS NIGERIA A BLESSED STATE WITH A CURSE?

By Azeez Oladimeji

Even if my young age, may not fully permit me to say much about series of events, most importantly politically. I would to the best of my  knowledge as a good student of history.

mostimes I think I'm convinced beyond a reasonable doubt to make a brief analysis on some political events, that  has at various time unfolded within the four wall of Nigeria, precisely from her independence till date; which has on its own triggered my inquisition.

We are blessed beyond measure, Human resources, natural resources, and all you could think of. Yet, it is our polity that has caught my attention, permit me to say; If I'm not mistaken,  there has been about fifteen (15) different political changeovers either,  as parliamentary,  military, interim or democratically elected government; starting from Alh. Tarawa Balewa up to the present administration of president Muhammadu Buhari. But what baffles me the most about all these political changeovers under whatever guise is that,  among them; there have been only unique four which has at different time gave rise to Optimism of Nigerians. But unfortunately,  virtually all of them were caught short due to a factor or the other specifically beyond human comprehension.

Although, I wasn't among the direct witnesses of a supposed beautiful military regime led by the late Gen. Murtala Rufai Ramat Muhammed in 1975 which lasted for only six months, yet I can still vividly recollect because it is  fresh in my brain, as I used to be told by my late grandma back then; how seriously she would wished I witnessed the period, owing to facts that word could not be enough for her to say a beautiful and prosperous nation ready to be built by then.unfortunately,  the whole merriment was short lived as his life was brutally seized by a power hungry and over ambitious military coup group led by Lt. Col Buka Suka Dimka.

Fast forward to early eighties, precisely (1983).The then Major Gen. muhammadu Buhari and Major Gen. Babatunde Abdulbaki Idiagbon led military regime was ushered in. I was told of how they promised to revive the glorious status of Nigeria. Most especially,  on the area of war against indiscipline which has at the time became part and parcel of our national lives, down to the price regulation of goods and essential commodities in the market across the board. They promised to make sure the whole mess littering the country would be cleaned up. Many Nigerians were jumping for joy upon hearing all these non- lips servicing promises but with backup action as they said. The populace were so excited with hope that in no distance time, Nigeria would become a dream land for all. Gloomily,  we all heard what became its end even if we did not directly witness it, as the period was short lived by another military coup popularly known as (palace coup) led by who Nigerians know as Maradona himself.

Recently, in around the middle of 2000s precisely in 2007, when another opportunity for rebuilding Nigeria was brought before us, as a democratically elected government led by the late president Umaru Musa YarAdua. In which I'm sure, majority if not almost all of us can say one or two tremendous plans he had for Nigeria through his then popular programme called (7 points agenda) and the reduction of petroleum pump price from existing #70 to #65 in less than two days he came into power. Many people including me were amazed and glad that, such a rare opportunity could still beckoned in Nigeria, in an era where enormous corruption has become a norm and national practice among our leaders. We all merry by his pure and sincere effort towards making Nigeria a great Nation she should be once again. But still unfortunate for Nigeria and Nigerians again,  he wasn't able to brings all  his terrific dreams for Nigeria into realism and fruition; as his health failed him by been struck with deadly cancer disease which at the end he  loss battle to his life. in slightly over two years of his time in office. And most sadly, when he tried to put the whole plans into motion. This concisely depicted the reoccurrence of our perceived curse.

But as God would favour Nigeria and Nigerians ones again and hoping it won't be the last, in 2015 the second coming of president Muhammadu Buhari summoned in which the larger percentage, if not all of Nigerian glaringly welcomed based on the result of the election specifically between the then incumbent president, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. Prior to last presidential election, I'm sure and with vibrant conviction and validation; more than seventy percent of Nigerians hoped and believed in President Muhammadu Buhari potentials, based on his past leadership track record and antecedent,  as the one and the only one who could make a turn around of Nigeria fortune for good, among all the aspirants jostling for the presidency then. Favourably enough, he emerged the winner in spite of all odds, such as federal might,  power of incumbency and the likes, we all are feared back then. The wish of the majority prevailed at the end and the man of the people became the president of federal republic of Nigeria. Dejectedly, we are still facing the curse as we have almost always experience,  when it comes to having a loving and caring leader, who will see us as human, not has animal as we have always being ruled over the years. Except those four distinct periods I have so far based my emphasis upon, when we had a mere flash of a good governance and leadership. The present optimist of the masses is down and suffering of ill health which has been brought to the knowledge of the public and of course; brought into jeopardy all his good intentions towards the revival of Nigeria's loss glory.

It is on this note I have been ruminating, which thus  brought out the heading of my writeup "IS NIGERIA A BLESSED STATE WITH A CURSE?". As this period will not be the first but forth time Nigeria would experienced such. I mean a time Nigeria would be facing a similar problem we all are facing presently in Nigeria,  in terms of loosing our good leaders to trivialities, such as coups and ill-heath.

As I began to question myself; as series of questions would not stop begging for a candid answers from me. I still wallow in thoughts, were so many questions like these freak me out; can we say and believe that the beautiful one is still not born?. Or we should conclude that, all these are happening to us is as a result of our forefathers' sin?, our present generation sin?, a generational curse?, or a mere coincidence and so much more yet to be answered.

I  have been unable to proffered any satisfactory answer to any of them...then I ask "Is Nigeria a blessed State with a curse?.

As edited by Igboamalu Chimezie Nelson

AZEEZ OLADIMEJI
Is a student of the University of Illorin in Nigeria. He is a final year student of public Administration.He is a prolific writer and passionate about content development.