THISDAY

Moghalu: The Heart of The Matter

- Nkeiruka Abanna, abanayar@yahoo.com

Professor Kingsley Moghalu, one of Nigeria’s finest minds, is at it again and as usual, he is so apt this time. The thing about this mastermind is his capacity to identify the crux of the matter, as well as proffer applicable practical solutions. But the challenge is that we really do not pay attention to the right counsel. Please read “Now is the time” on the back page of Business Day’s Opinion. He and other like minds have been spearheadi­ng the way forward for us as a nation for so long. We can no longer afford to ignore their recommenda­tions any more.

There are far better approaches to governance than bloodshed, terrorism, mass murder, insecurity of lives and property, poverty, cultural and religious discrimina­tion, halfbaked education, corruption, etc. Our heroes past laid down their lives for this nation. Will their labour be in vain?

Just as enjoyed by other countries, good governance is our fundamenta­l right as a nation. Nigeria has all it takes to take its rightful place in the world. We are tired of being disrespect­ed by neighbours both far and near. We are tired of being labelled corrupt. We are tired of being labelled lazy. Nigerians, both young and old, deserve a good history and future and now is the time.

The fabric of our society has never been so fractured by its very own. We once had strong values, qualities and a life envied by many. What went wrong? How did we descend so low to be trampled upon even by the dogs we once fed? How come those whom we preferred to feed on our best tables rather than hand down our crumbs now turn around to mock us openly for years? How did Nigeria become an object of mockery among nations? Is this how the story will remain? Is there no way out?

We are all responsibl­e for allowing a drop of oil soil our land. It is that oil that has now tainted and permeated every aspects of our society. We need not agree to tear our precious garment into pieces, no. We need not settle for less and a life of uncertaint­y in our own land. We need not agree that our youths are desperate, lazy, hardened criminals, drug peddlers, asylum seekers, etc., as observed by the world. We have all it takes to change this story and now is the time.

Gone are the days of our “siddon look” attitude. It’s a new dawn, a new era which beckons on all Nigerians both home and abroad to arise, lend their hands, voice and action so that we can unanimousl­y rebuild our nation’s fallen walls again. Gone are the days of deception, lies and empty promises. Gone are the days of pretence and “I don’t care attitude”. Gone are the days of “I live abroad, so it’s none of my business.” As long as you have the blood of Nigeria flowing inside of you whether directly and indirectly, this is a wake-up call to serve our Fatherland. We cannot continue to play the “ostrich” yet expect things to work. Nigeria is our land. Our nation belongs to us all and now is the time to prove this right.

All we need is just one man, our hands on deck and our voice backing him strongly, as we rebuild our walls back to a superior glory than the former. There were nations once worse than us and they came through it. Nigeria can come through too, if we all unite for this common cause. It’s Nigeria, a fertile land of peace and progress. This glory must be restored and now is the time.

In our diversity lies our strength which is what must unite us. Nigeria has lots of highly cerebral, visionary and transforma­tional individual­s both home and abroad who can midwife our hopes into fruition, if we are audacious enough. Now is the time.

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