By Charles Okeibunor
In 2014, I traveled to a beautiful nation that made me wonder. But each time I savored the beauty of the host nation, I found myself, questioning why my country didn’t measure to the standards I was seeing.
Have you ever been in faraway land and whatever you see makes your mind wander back home?
Then suddenly, I had an epiphany… I realized I could subsume the myriad of our national problems, into two major headings. Just two, no more, No less.
- Leaders who have no shame
- Followers we are not united
This combination summarized the outcome of why we were where we were as a nation.
I asked, don’t our leaders visit this nation? How then do they feel when foreigners from this nation come visiting and meet us the way we are?
Do they not feel any shame at the wide gaps?
Then October 2020 happened.
From no where, Nigerians from all works of life, without a leader, without a commander, without inducement spoke with one voice.
They arose irrespective of tribe, regardless of religion or the almighty political affiliation in different states all at once saying “enough is enough”.
Day and night, they sang from the same hymn sheet. Determined they had had enough of eating shit from those meant to protect them, who now only beat, hit and obliterate them.
For that moment, the office of the citizen became supreme.
I could see a sense of Purpose.
I could see a sense of ownership.
I could see a sense of belonging.
One night of October 20, 2020 the cloud gathered, the oppressors had had enough of our melodrama and they ended it!
Gun shots fired. Many maimed for life, many lost their lives and all were scarred for life.
Though extinguished the mission was accomplished.
You are going to say “But How?”
Here is how…
For everyone that went to the protest ground. For everyone that cleaned after their brother. For everyone that danced with their sister. For every one that lost possessions. For everyone that was wounded. For everyone that spilled their blood. For everyone that gave their life. They all proved one thing, that Unity is possible.
That Unity is effective and that was the ultimate goal.
In these days, we may have drawn back to the abyss of tribalism, religionism and ‘partysim’. Yet it won’t change history that we were once united against a common enemy.
Now that the “unity box” is ticked, all be it in trial mode
When will we have leaders with shame?
When shall we taste conscious and conscientious leadership?
A day when we can now afford to wonder, because our mind has no more need to wander…
Hopefully, some day…
Charles is a Lawyer, Executive Coach and public affairs analyst.
This piece is specially dedicated to the heroes of October 20th 2020.
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