Date Published: 09/14/09

Visionless Government

Nigeria is a country blessed with both human and natural resources. But the channelling of these resources into purposeful adventures, has been a duty our leaders cannot carry out. Since the discovery of oil in 1958, the agricultural sector and the opportunities there, have been left to waste. Focus was laid on the oil sector.But this oil is yet to make a positive impact on the lives of Nigerians.

I am of the view that the myraid of problems bedevilling this country lies in the leadership. Nigeria is yet to have a leader under whose leadership will our future be effectively handled. Before we can achieve this however, the vote of every nigerian must be made to count.

With the global financial meltdowm, concerns have been raised about the safety of our external reserve, which was well over 60 billion dollars.The other day, i read from the papers that it has dropped to an amount less than fourty billion dollars. But to think of it, what use does such money have to the nigerian people? Why do we keep saving money abroad, when at home nigerians can't feed well? For instance, how much of that do we need inorder to resuscitate our agricultural sector. How much of that do we need inorder to change the sad stories of our universities(ASUU will not have embarked on this protracted strike. How much do need to provide equipments of international standards in our hospitals. How much do we need inorder to fix our railways. How much will  it cost us to build industries, thus, providing job opportunies for our teeming youths who malinger in search of jobs that are not there.

Sometimes i think our leaders are short sighted in their plans for this country. Here we are talking about vision 2020, have we ever pondered on what vision 2008 is, or what vision 2009 will be? These visions are not new. The visions 2010,2012 etc are still fresh in our memories. Let us be pragmatic in our visions and actions.

Leadership is held in trust for the people. Our leaders should ensure thet our resources and wealth are handled in that will be beneficial to all. A continuos saving of our money in the name of external reserve or whatever name they give it, is a mockery Nigerians. Because the entire knows that an average nigerian lives below a dollar per day. Let us not keep saving money the face of the glowing poverty ravaging our people. The wealth should be allowed to spread around. God bless Nigeria.

Frank O. Ijege

No. 6B, Dabo Road Barnawa, Kaduna.