Time to sit up

I have an uncle who punctuates every of his statement with the word, Haba Jamaa (literally meaning why, my people), and whenever he says this, I keep wondering why he keeps asking people that question.

But with what is currently going on in the country, I think my uncle knew why he kept people that question and for over one year now, I have been asking myself and anyone around me 'why, my people?'

One keeps wondering why Nigeria, a country so blessed by God, a land filled with milk and honey, (well, not milk and honey in a way but something greater than those), should be saddled with very clueless leaders who do not look beyond their noses?

Also Read: "Men's Roundtable: So Nigeria won't die..."

What did we do to God to 'bless' us with people who only aspire to get to power for what they will get out of the country to the detriment of the good of the masses? How come we end up with greedy, thieving and heartless politicians who only dream of raping the country blind?

You could excuse the military as being inept in governance, only ruling by fiat; but what of the civilians who are supposed to be at one with the masses when they decide to only fight for their collective good?

Since the advent of democracy in Nigeria, our leaders have only had one thing in mind: stealing the wealth of the nation and conveniently turn around to blame the people. You would think they will work for the benefit of the people who vote them into power (though many of them believe that they have settled the people by giving them crumbs), only to amass such stupendous wealth that some of them are even richer than their states.

What our so-called legislators do is to fight for their allowances, insulting our collective intelligence (that is we have any left).

Nothing works in Nigeria while they junket all over the world feeling like nice guys. Is it not a surprise when you see a Senator in Nigeria posting photos of their mansions, expensive automobiles, yachts, their children graduating form universities in the US and Europe, while our roads have become death traps, when our educational institutions are decaying and our hospitals mere consulting clinics?

Yet they jet out to world class hospitals whenever they have minor headaches? 'Haba Jama'a'? Where are our senses? What did we do?

The present government of President Muhammadu Buhari came in when the citizens were so disillusioned by the cluelessness of the past regime, coming with great promises of changing the lives of Nigerians.

They gave us hopes of a better economy, good roads, better and improved power, revamped educational systems and health infrastructure, but after after 15 months in the saddle, it has been one excuse or the other.

Also Read: "Men's Roundtable: Season of Anomie"

They keep blaming the past regime for the woes of Nigerians, as if we do not know and voted them in for the change they promise. It is now they know how the situation was after spending close to two years in the saddle. It is now they know that there was so much rot in the system and they will need the next four years to fix them.

The ordinary masses have been relegated to the dustbin as prices of goods and foodstuff have skyrocketed; over 200,000 Nigerians have lost their jobs while over 50,000 companies have closed shops; civil servants are being owed months of salaries and there is general suffering in the land; and there seems to be no way out of the woods.

So the question on my mind today and as always is: 'Haba Jama'a'?