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Kay Soyemi (Esq.)
Social Commentator
SW9, London
UK

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On several occasions, I have had to contend with armchair critics who are quite happy to mudsling and bemoan the fate of a country blessed (or cursed) with a lot of ignorant and selfish bastards in the name of leaders and rulers. Typically, Nigerians have generally emulated the ills of these leaders and almost all Nigerian families pray for their kindred to get to that position where he or she would be able to steal and loot the country dry on behalf of the immediate nuclear family. Chances are that out of 140 million Nigerians, there are less than a thousand who would swear with a clean conscience not to emulate the general crop of visionless and worthless leaders who are milking the country dry, if given the chances. This number includes the so-called critics who are paper patriots. I make no apologies for this assertion either.

What If there is a Revolution in Nigeria?
by Kay Soyemi

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A lot of times, I have heard Nigerians express the wish that we have a revolution in the country so that we would have progress. A lot of times, I have also heard other Nigerians ask the question, “Who’ll bell the cat?” Indeed, among the Yorubas, there is a popular saying, "whosesoever head is used to crack the coconut!” The late Afro-beat king, Anikulapo Kuti, put it so appropriately in one of his song, “I no wan die…mama dey for house, papa dey for house, I wan enjoy, I no wan die!”

So, it is indisputable that Nigerians agree that a revolution is indeed a sure way forward for our country. The general debate however has been the matter of whether this is a necessity or otherwise and the responses differ as much as who you ask and what time you do.

In some instances, people would tell you, if you care to take a free lecture on the subject, that other advanced and industrialised countries have gone through a period of bloodshed before they got to where they are today. Yet others would tell you that in this age and times, never mind the Nigerian society, the very thought itself is not only retrogressive but outright barbaric.

But the lure of a revolution would not go away. It is increasingly becoming the swan song of so-called radicals, the oppressed youths, students and the concerned adults who feel helpless in the wanton rape and looting of our collective heritage by rapacious leaders, rulers, officials and politicians.

At this stage, I must confess that I have recently added my voice to the chorus of people who openly advocated the decimation of our thieving public officials and leaders the same way JJ did in our neighbouring country. In my own defence I must also state this was a momentary lapse arising out frustration at the inability of Nigerian leaders to get it just right for the sake of the country. I was rightly condemned by some rejoinder that I am supposed to be an Esquire and above such advocacy!

Yes, I agree that there could be no just reason for taking a human life but there equally exists no justification for the raping and wanton looting of our collective heritage by rapacious people to whom we entrusted it. Hence my frustration was expressed in those memorable words credited to the late Mamman Vatsa – “Let the blood flow and people would be afraid of the Naira”

Whilst I have, since the correction, not changed my opinion on the matter of dealing decisively with corruption and thieving officials, I have equally applied myself to fathoming another way to move our country forward, hence the question, ‘What if there is a revolution in Nigeria?’

The immediate answer that comes to mind would be bloodshed. A lot of it. There would also be chaos on the streets. Indubitably, there would be a power vacuum with the potentials for tyrants to jump in and fill such a void. The examples in both France in 1872 and Russia in 1917 are too painful to contemplate. There would just be too many ‘innocentees’ in a country of 140 million black people. Chances are there would be a massive outcry and opprobrium from the posturing Western nations and other sister African and black countries would probably hoot with glee at the so-called giant of Africa wiping its dirty and hairy bum clean in public. You may even have some who would snicker and say what do you expect of the black man in this day and age of techno wonders? Having said all these, the thoughts and desire for a revolution becomes less desirable to any sane man.

But what do all these opprobrium matter if at the end, we have a sanitised Nigeria devoid of thieving officials, corruption and people are suddenly afraid of the Naira? What does the outcry matter if suddenly, the common man in Nigeria becomes the focus and beneficiary of all government actions and policies? Maybe, the end justifies the means. Maybe not. Maybe there is another way to skin a cat than by hanging it.

So we come to a cross road called 47 on our journey to nationhood.

It is just before junction 50.

Still we ask the question, which way Nigeria?

Too many protagonists and antagonists of the cry for revolution in Nigeria still base their arguments on an essential but possibly irrelevant fact – Nigerian officials and leaders do not appear to care for the common man and is not concerned with an equitable sharing of the national cake.

But I would contend that there is indeed a revolution needed in the country and it is to be led by every Ade, Ojo, Aina, Fatima, Mohamed, Chukwu or Ngozi. The revolution has to start from the grassroots in order to be truly effective and does not require a drop of blood. What is needed is a lot of guts, determination and will power to change our mindsets.

On several occasions, I have had to contend with armchair critics who are quite happy to mudsling and bemoan the fate of a country blessed (or cursed) with a lot of ignorant and selfish bastards in the name of leaders and rulers. Typically, Nigerians have generally emulated the ills of these leaders and almost all Nigerian families pray for their kindred to get to that position where he or she would be able to steal and loot the country dry on behalf of the immediate nuclear family. Chances are that out of 140 million Nigerians, there are less than a thousand who would swear with a clean conscience not to emulate the general crop of visionless and worthless leaders who are milking the country dry, if given the chances. This number includes the so-called critics who are paper patriots. I make no apologies for this assertion either.

But to get back to my point, which is a call for a revolution in Nigeria, I would pose the question, how many of our so-called critics have been back to Nigeria and used his or her hard-earned money to develop and sustain projects for their immediate communities without expecting a future payback such as an elective post from the ‘benefiting’ community? Probably not a many lot.

How many of us know Nigerians who live abroad and re-mortgages their properties in order to go back home and contest some elections in the hope of wining an elective post and some chances at magnifying this ‘investment’? Chances are we all know or have heard about one, which serves to illustrate my point.

The revolution needs to start at the grassroots mentality and the focus needs to change from sharing the national cake to how to bake it.

Just imagine if every Nigerian starts to think about developing something to benefit his or her immediate community without the expectations of a return favour.

Just imagine a Nigeria where everybody is positively involved in a competition to outdo his or her neighbour in providing for the benefit of all.

Just imagine a Nigeria where its citizens abroad recognise what the impact their contributions, freely given, would be in enhancing the lives of their respective communities particularly, and the country generally.

Then, you would truly witness a revolution.

I know a lot of armchair critics would question my sanity with the above writings. I am aware that people would also ask me about the situation in the Niger Delta. I know people would pointedly ask me what I expect of our thieving political class to do in such a situation. Perhaps, I would also be asked why do I sound so naïve.

Alas. I am aware that whatever answers I give, I would not satisfy all comers, I am not a do-gooder and I am not denying the rights of any group nor defending a morally corrupt political elite but the questions would still remain – What would it be like if all Nigerians start to ask what they can do for the country? What if there are Champions For Nigeria?

What if this is the revolution?

God bless Nigeria.
 

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