Today, we live in a world where the major system of government that can reliably deliver desirable dividends to the populace is “democracy”. Democracy, a system of government that is of the people, by the people and for the people…This simply implies that, it is a selfless service that is out-rightly ‘others-centred’. It requires selflessness and self-sacrifice.
The process of consolidating democracy in our country saw the emergence of several politicians with selfish intentions, visions, social agenda and political programmes. This explains why we have not been enjoying the expected benefits of democracy even after about 11years of consistent democratic leadership in the nation. One can say that we have barely seen a true leader we can call a statesman, because our leaders are not leaders but rulers ruling with their rods of corruption.
How can we achieve true sustainable development, increasing nation-building and see the desired change or transformation? This question resonates in the heart of everyone seeking for a change.
50 troubled years have passed, we are still wading in the sea of confusion, increasing rate of corruption, abject poverty, youth unemployment, poor health system, bad transportation system, poor education system, miasmic economy, homelessness, epileptic or erratic power supply and socio-cultural integration almost in a dreadful state, a bizarre cynosure as we witness intermittent intra-tribal and religious mayhem in the Northern part of the country, with ungodly kidnapping which has become youth employment innovation in the Eastern part of the country. These pose serious threats to our existence and make our survival as a nation more difficult. A revolution might be inevitable to achieve some of the dreams of our fathers. After all, J.F. Kennedy (35th President of the U.S.A.) once said many years ago that, “Those who make peaceful change impossible make violent change inevitable.” The reason for the agitations, emancipations, quakes and crises in the Niger Delta. Also, the intermittent religious and intra-tribal clashes in the North.
We have paraded and seen more of political liars and rulers as leaders; people who lied and deceived us to power with their countless points agenda, with little or no achievement as a proof to ascertain their customary lies and deceptions (which have become national polity in governance). They left the nation impoverished and systematically looted the national treasury of which they refer to as “national cake”, thereby becoming richer than ever imagined. No wonder they had refused to declare their personal assets.
The demand of true democracy is truth, nothing more; that we begin to say the truth, nothing but the truth – “…for we can do nothing against the truth, but only for the truth.” 2Corinthians 13:8b.
“Democracy demands that the truth should be told always and that charlatans and saints should be called by their proper names.”
Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
They thought killing Dele Giwa, Ken Saro Wiwa and other notable journalists who stood for the truth is killing truth. They only succeeded in killing lies forgetting that truth will always prevail.
Jack Kemp said, “Democracy without morality is impossible.” Where is the morality of truth, honest, sincerity, justice, equity and freedom in our nation?
Disunity and lies are the bane of our national polity.
Gerald R. Ford (38th President of the U.S.A.) noted few decades ago that, “Truth is the glue that holds government together.” Truth in politics, nation governance and public service is not just calling a spade a spade, but walking and working one’s talk always. It is to fulfill all the promises made during political manifestoes and campaigns. It is to deliver sustainable development, meets the needs of the electorates and considerably improve the standard of living of the citizenry. It is for all public leaders to have a sense of accountability and as well to hold them accountable. It is for justice and equity to become the cause of the orders. It is to sacrificially love other humanity just as you love yourself. It is to always walk in absolute fear of God. These are what true democracy that will deliver needed results demands.
This was what our founding fathers conceived that enabled them to serve our Motherland faithfully, selflessly and sacrificially.
Have you ever taken time to meditate on our national anthem and pledge, especially, the second stanza of the anthem?
“O God of creation,
Direct our noble cause
Guide thou our leaders right;
Help our youth the truth to know
In love and honest till to grow
And living just and true
Great lofty heights attain
To build a nation where peace
And justice shall reign.”
Alas! More than 60%Nigerians cannot recite the first stanza of the National Anthem perfectly not to imagine the second stanza.
You can see that for our nation to really achieve development, attain great heights among others in the world and build her walls with abiding peace and justice; TRUTH is indispensable and UNITY is unavoidable. Both the young and the old, male and female…all must adopt the principle of truth and unite as one entity.
This is a clarion call to all that we should begin to assume our post and take a stand on truth, and hold each other hands-in-hands to lift high the banner of our nation among the nations of the world.
As 2011 general elections knock at our national door, I call on all and sundry to look for credible leaders and vote for truth not for political party. Your vote is your voice of truth; you cannot afford to be disenfranchised by standing indifferently. The success of this coming election will determine our next phase as a nation and you hold a stake to its success.
Consequently, as we all begin to promote and celebrate truth, hope is re-liven in us and I tell you, change we will see. Alfred E. Smith said many decades ago that, “All the ills of democracy can be cured by more democracy.” This is not just only a fact, it is very true. To many skeptics who believe the resurgence of military administration is what we need for transformation in our nation, I urge you to realize the need for the continuity of democracy.
Hereby, I see a new United People of Nigeria; I see a new sovereign free states standing united as one entity rise high as the King of Africa; her people bounded by brotherly love, love towards one another across our diverse ethnicity.
I see a new United People of Nigeria; a new nation where the sons and daughters of the Islamic adherents play together in peace with the sons and daughters of Christians on liberty or unity playgrounds.
I see a new United People of Nigeria; a new country where resilient, entrepreneurial and high-spirited brothers from the Niger-Delta join their fellow brothers in the East in genuine brotherhood to establish an unparallel economy we can be proud of.
I see a new United People of Nigeria; a new country where the languages we speak matter not and the differing faiths we practice become insignificant to nationhood, but the beauty of our unity despite our diversity guides our paths daily and informs our national mindsets of which we package and sell to the world.
It’s time to build a nation you and I can be proud of; a nation we dream for our children and children’s children, a place they can call their home.
I am still as hopeful as ever before now.
Happy 50th Anniversary to everyone both at home and in diaspora.
God Bless Nigeria! God Bless Us All!!
