An adage says; If a lie goes ahead for twenty years, one day, the truth will surely surface and overtake it. There has been backlash against Pastors in Nigeria for making various comments perceived as been anti-Buhari. The pastors complained about the bad state of the country, how Nigeria is gradually heading to a comatose state. The latest in the long line of comments came from Pastor Enoch Adeboye of The Redeemed Christian Church of God, who said you cannot go to Kaduna by road, air or train and asked who is trying to isolate Kaduna? He also asked which state would be the next to witness this siege after Kaduna? The Man of God complained bitterly about the state of the country, going further to state more than 80% of the oil Nigeria is producing is being stolen. Even the little proceeds of the 20% coming in is used to service Nigeria’s debt. What a country?
Since the latest attack on kaduna-Abuja train, after the first one shows how incapable our government is when it comes to security, looking at the number of lives wasted. Reports have it that 362 passengers were on board and eight have been reported dead while there are many others receiving treatment.
The President, Muhammadu Buhari summoned a meeting of Security Chiefs and ordered Nigerian Railway Corporation(NRC) to fix the tracks and resume lifting passengers on kaduna-Abuja route without any tangible assurance for the lives of Nigerians.
This speaks volumes on the leadership of the country, yet, the Governor of kaduna, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai admitted that the government knows those behind the dastardly acts but yet, no concerted effort has been made to arrest or curb this menace. Passengers who were on board the train said those who attacked them were Fulani/Hausas. Little wonder the Federal Government has failed to declare a state of emergency in Kaduna.
Nigeria is currently in the Ramadan period where Muslims faithful’s are meant to avoid sins no matter how small. It is referred to as “Osu alaponle” in Yoruba album, meaning a month of respect.
Sheikh Nurudeen Khalid, the Chief Imam in charge of Apo legislative central mosque could no longer bear the negligence of this government and had to lay it bare in a sermon, and he got his pound of flesh more like how it was recording in Shakespeare’s classic book- The merchant of Venice.
He drank with them, ate with them in plenty and they felt he should have kept his mouth shut. The reward of not doing so got him an indefinite suspension.
The various comments from Pastor Adeboye and the Sheikh Nurudeen Khalid revolves around insecurity to unemployment, to scarcity of resources, poor infrastructure and a whole of other challenges bedeviling the nation.
As we speak, over three or more unions are currently on strike demanding for better welfare, yet, the government is quiet, and General Buhari’s representatives are focusing their attention on other issues, leaving the major issues alone. For how long will this continue?
Now, Buharists, starting from Presidential media aides will come out and say Nigerians should be thankful to Buhari for bringing development to the country, whereas the people suffer pains and agony. Seven good years, nothing to show for it. Even the little to show has ended up being rubbished due to the President’s inability to curb activities of terrorist.
This inability of the President have caused Nigerians lot havoc. Companies are relocating out of Nigeria due to the high cost of maintenance, while those managing to exist have raised prices beyond the reach of ordinary Nigerians yet, salaries remains the same while living costs have kept on rising.
All these have forced many youths to engage in fraudulent activities, ritual killing, cyber-crime known as yahoo yahoo and get rich quick methods to escape the hardship of the country.
No doubt, Nigeria is in a mess whether you agree or not. Pastor Adeboye, a respected and revered cleric said ” Nigeria is on his way to bankruptcy if we are already not in one.”
How do we get out of this mess? It is high time all the citizens rise up beyond selfish interests and demand for restructuring the country, while holding their leaders accountable. Nigerians should look beyond ethnic and religious sentiments in the coming elections and vote for leaders based on integrity, probity and a good track record.
Nigerians should also demand for a comprehensive overhaul of the country’s security apparatus, with better funding, training and welfare for the officers.
And we need to do this soon, before it gets too late.
By Tosin Adesile
