I don’t know what good governance means. That’s because I live in Nigeria and over the last three decades of my existence it has always been from one story of weakness to the other in the simple administration of a state. I only read about good governance in my high school government textbooks ( I read, I was not taught because we had no teachers). I enjoyed the theory except that the leadership crisis in our clan had made the practice of it impossible.
In the 21st century, we are still deliberating on social amenities. Those who promise these services go abroad to have them and when they return with promises, we clap for them on political campaign grounds. I think we have a bigger crisis with followership in Nigeria than leadership. We are like zombies living below a dollar per day and you still find some of us threatening the weak with that foul clause, “Do you know who I am?” You are nothing, sir! You are poor, period!
We can live better than this. We can disband this impotent 8th Assembly and procure resources to better our future. We can say we demand economic justice and we will find it. We can crave for the pursuit of happiness. We can aspire to reach our potentials, involve more women in governance and develop the strategies for charismatic embellishment. We can turn around our school system, empower the youths to lead in different spheres of endeavour and create a country of our dream.
Arise o’ compatriots, let us put our past behind and grow a new seed of prospect; the seed of faith. To serve our nation in a new perspective, to be faithful, loyal and honest. To uphold our oneness with dignity, power and trust. So help us God.
About the Writer: Evans Ufeli is a lawyer and the author of acclaimed novel, ‘Without Face’. He is also an Alumni member of the Writers Bureau, Manchester, a highly sought-after conference speaker with a passion for the concept of change. He lives in Victoria Island, Lagos. You can contact him via Facebook: Evans Ufeli, Email: evanylaw@yahoo.com, Twitter: @Evansufeli and Phone: 08037712353. He blogs at
www.ethicsafrica4u.wordpress.com.
