Dear Nigerians, it’s time for all of us to become politicians

monjola sotubo

March 11, 2016 9:13 AM

As American actress and politician, Helen Gahagan Douglas said, “I realized that public affairs were also my affairs. I became active in politics because I saw the possibility, if we all sat back and did nothing, of a world in which there would no longer be any stages for actors to act on.”

President Muhammadu Buhari addressing a crowd of supporters

Nigeria is in a state of disarray; citizens complain daily of broken down systems and leaders who seem to have no solutions to the nation’s problems.

The country is in organized chaos, healthcare is non-existent, we have no electricity, no good water, no fuel.

The education sector is a mess, the economy is in shambles, unemployment rates are through the roof, roads are bad, infrastructural and human development is almost zero.

Kidnappings have become the order of the day, people get murdered in broad daylight yet the killers go scot-free. We have no advanced crime detection systems, our police force has become a problem rather than a solution.

People are getting on planes with ladders and boarding passes are being written with pen and paper. Buildings are collapsing on innocent Nigerians because the developers want to make extra profit.

Nigerians are fleeing the country in droves, willing to take up residence in almost any nation but theirs due to the madness.

Nigeria is in a very big mess and this is inexcusable because this is a country that can legitimately boast of having some of the world’s brightest minds.

So where did we go wrong? Why is it that many of the people who have been elected into public office are touts and thieves? Why are intelligent, decent, creative and hardworking Nigerians being represented by a greedy and belligerent minority?

It’s because the intelligent, decent, creative and hardworking Nigerians sat back and allowed the greedy and belligerent minority to take over.

The common impression has been that politics is dirty and is only meant for evil, dirty people. That’s why the Nigeria of today is exactly what you would expect from a nation that has been controlled by dirty, evil people.

Citizens have become content with complaining about their bad leaders instead of pushing forward good leaders because the good people are staying away from politics.

Well, that has to stop now. Good Nigerians have to stop letting the bad ones dictate the tide. Responsible Nigerians have to run for office and show that it is inconsiderate to spend billions on vehicles when the nation is trying to save money.

Sensible Nigerians have to get elected to show that there’s no sense in spending N300 million on a vehicle for one person no matter what kinds of cars he drove as a young man.

It’s time to stop complaining, time to stop waiting for God to come down and give us good leaders when we have them right in our midst. The good people who have the means need to start supporting the good people who have the desire to lead. We all have to become politicians, either directly or by proxy, if we ever hope to move our country forward.

As American actress and politician, Helen Gahagan Douglas said, “I realized that public affairs were also my affairs. I became active in politics because I saw the possibility, if we all sat back and did nothing, of a world in which there would no longer be any stages for actors to act on.”

Therefore, my dear Nigerians, it’s time to step up and be the change you want to see. God bless Nigeria.

monjola sotubo