Bad leadership isn’t something Nigerians aren’t used to, but as we continue to go round in circles, we continue to pay the ultimate price whilst looking for whom to blame.
A recent report on debt relief granted to 25 countries by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), did not come as a surprise considering the current challenges caused by the outbreak of covid-19 pandemic, and it’s effect on world economy especially on poor countries.
According to the report, countries to benefit from the debt service relief, are Afghanistan, Benin, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, D.R., The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali and Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Tajikistan, Togo, and Yemen.
From the list, Nigeria is excluded to non other, but the dismay of Nigeria’s leaders who had expected the country to make the 25 country list, but were left red-faced.
Reactions on social media wasn’t quite that of fury. In fact, a good number of Nigerians supported Nigeria’s exclusion arguing the country isn’t poor, but is suffering from bad leadership.
One facebook user said if despite the high level of corruption in the country our leaders still remain among the highest paid in the world, boasts of being the biggest economy in Africa, and budget huge sums of money for renovations, Nigeria certainly isn’t poor, and should by no means, be on that list.
But Nigeria’s problems are out of this world. Almost all indicators are spelling doom for a country still unsure of the status of its president, yet our religious lenses are failing to see the realities staring at us in the face.
Like former Minister of Defence, retired General Theophilus Danjuma puts it, “We are in a big hole as nation.”
We must stop seeing the outside world as our problems and begin looking inward. The former General added,” people who put us in this hole have continued today. So, we’ve to wake up. Only we can save ourselves.”
These ‘people who put us in this hole’ aren’t the Chinese, Europeans or the Americans, but those who for years, have failed to bring out the best out of the union called ‘Nigeria’.
We can’t stop external influence in a highly connected world, but until there’s a powerful shake up and a system where checks and balances and accountability is the acceptable standard, we will continue to hear dooms day predictions from those who see us with the eyes of reality.
It is not all bad news though; the Buhari administration has continued to receive support from the International community as it battles the spread of covid-19 in the country.
From free medical equipments by the UN and China, to €50 million donated by the EU, Nigeria has certainly enjoyed support from the international community.
However, Nigerians who have been confined to their homes for weeks, are yet to benefit from government palliatives meant to ease the sufferings of families struggling to meet their basic needs.
Reports of violence and disobedience to lockdown directive by the Buhari administration is seen as evidence that Nigerians are hungry, and may not put up with government’s laxity in providing palliatives, for too long.
