Nigeria Has Two Obvious Problems

There are stupendous virtues among a few people in Nigeria. You may argue about this statement, but if you honestly look inward, you will come to this realization.

There are two well-known problems facing Nigeria as a nation.

1) Problem of leadership

2) Problem of Nigerians

Because of the obvious gaps in our political landscape, the alleged leaders used various methods to manipulate the leadership selection process and hijack leadership positions. There is no point in discussing further the qualities of our political leaders in the last three decades because they expressly lack those qualities, hence the impulsive and sentimental approaches to the majority of our national issues.

By careful observation of our leaders and those they claim to lead, and according to my ratings, the problem of leadership in Nigeria contributes to about 20% of Nigeria’s problems among the two.

Problems caused by Nigerians contribute massive 80% quota in the charting of issues bedeviling Nigeria as a nation.

There are a few reasons for this, and some of them are as follows:

• 80% of Nigerians are too comfortable with the status quo and therefore enjoy life with little or no progress year after year.
• Misplaced aggressions against the oppressed rather than the oppressor. During times of scarcity, Nigerians may queue at gas stations and even sleep on the road to obtain fuel. This shows a kind of resilience, but in the opposite direction of energy. In such situations, you would notice different confrontations among the motorists. Some go so far as to assault their fellow motorist, demonstrating overwhelming dominance and aggressions over their oppressed citizens rather than their oppressor. They shy away from such direct confrontation against their oppressors because they must have been brainwashed to align religiously or by tribe.
• In times of errors, mistakes, misfortunes, and any other human-induced setbacks, Nigerians would blame everyone but themselves, sometimes including their God. There is no will to acknowledge, learn, and turn away from their mistakes. Someone must be responsible for all the bad things.
• Most Nigerians are very religious, but they have no credibility. Instead of championing a culture of value, trust, excellence, creativity, quality, stability, etc., Nigerians would rather seek out and enthrone mediocrity and defend such decisions along ethnic and political lines. They don’t seem to see the future in their everyday decisions that affect their fellow citizens. Most of their schemes, products, and services appear to be short-term, and their decisions are not based on the long-term implications for society in the coming 5 to 50 years or more.
• Nigerians pray and discuss a lot of their ambitions but take no concrete steps or actions to make them attainable. Once again, they based their ambitions on their father, uncle, government, and blame these benefactors if they fail to accomplish their ambitions.
• There is a high level of redundancy among the educated population. They use social media and other channels to speak and write so much about their nation and how they wish for a kind of leadership made from heaven, yet they don’t vote in elections, and some don’t have PVC. By doing so, they abandon decisions and leave vital choices in the hands of the uninformed or the brainwashed.
• Most times, these Nigerians have an awkward kind of reasoning. It is a natural order that families make up society, society makes up cities, and cities, in turn, make up the nation. There is no nation without the footprints of societies and families. Among most Nigerians, this structure is twisted; they overlook the contributory effect of the family footprints in the entire society but focus on the consolidated outcomes of the nation, which are invariably dependent on what they do at every family level.

Families’ activities in terms of raising values-based children, how they treat those under them at home or in family businesses, how they manage their estate or government amenities all have an impact on our national outcomes. Our leaders are formed at the family level, with or without values.

Above is a short narrative according to my observations over time. Other points may be valid additions to this write-up.

Happy readings.