The kind of leaders Nigeria needs
The decomposition of Nigeria
It appears as if many of our leaders today are materialistic. They are so obsessed with acquiring property, unlike real intellectuals, who are guided by the principles of justice and truth.
Real intellectuals defend the weak, denounce and reject corruption, and face the storm of oppressive authority, notwithstanding the consequences. They are, so to speak, good Samaritans of some sort.
Today’s intellectuals, sad it as it may be, are at the forefront of supporting government policies, even if the policies are inhuman; and spewing out propagandas against government’s perceived enemies even if they are pro-justice. What we need in Nigeria are leaders who represent various ideas, who despite obstacles dig up forgotten issues or issues swept under the carpet in an attempt to doggedly fight for the rights of the people. I do not take seriously anyone who argues that the main problem in our country is President Muhammadu Buhari, because the logical conclusion to such an argument is that the solution to this problem, therefore, is his removal.
This kind of simplistic argument is inspired by lazy thinking and analysis divorced from any real scientific reasoning.
What many people do not understand is that even if President Muhammadu Buhari were to step down today, there would still not be a fundamental change in the conditions of citizens because he is not the cause, but the product of the decomposition of Nigeria. The problem of this country is bigger than the man. Much bigger. It is rooted in a structural, institutionalised and systematic reality that is deeper than Boko Haram, the herdsmen and other recent developments that many people are so preoccupied with. Make no mistake, I am not saying the president should be exonerated from the rot. I am saying it is false consciousness to argue that he is the source of the rot. Necessarily, when we reflect upon where we are, and whether indeed ours is a dream deferred, we must analyse not where we fell, but where we slipped, or we run the risk of thinking that the problem was the obstacle on the road, as opposed to the slippery shoes that we are wearing. And so, if history must teach us anything at this point, it is that unless we diagnose the problem correctly, we will remove the president and later, in retrospect, find ourselves having to admit, as we have before, that we were wrong about the problem being President Muhammadu Buhari.