Beyond the jamboree

A few days ago in Nigeria, we celebrated two significant dates – Children’s’ day and Democracy day. Coincidentally, these two celebrations are interrelated and I could not but give my two pennies worth concerning them. It is my utmost desire that these pieces would spur you into making our nation and indeed, world a better place.

S.O.S

Map of Nigeria

I’m not by any means politically oriented but if Aristotle’s quote “all humans are political animals” is anything to go by, then, it means I’m not totally out of the picture. This time 14 years ago, our dear nation was a few days old in democracy with lots of promises from the people that be, and of course, innumerable expectations from her citizens – you and I. It’s over 14 years now and obviously, our expectations are still unserviced.

At this point, I have to state succinctly that I avoid castigating or criticizing politicians simply because I’ve never been in such position. Besides, the good book says “uneasy lies the head that wears the crown” and subsequently commanded that we reverence all in such positions. That notwithstanding, I still feel that things could have been better, indeed can be better, and definitely would be better, only if we want. I need not tell us of the myriad of resources at our disposal; yet, there is no food in our plates, good clothes on our bodies or good shelter over our work-knackered bodies.

It is bad enough that the present leaders have let us down; it becomes somewhat unbearable that it is resulting in future leaders letting down their guards before their turn. You will be amazed how much people are giving up on this nation by the second. This is evident on the desperation to leave the country by many in search of greener pastures. Also, value and patience are now foreign words and the few still maintaining these good virtues are seen as fools as their contemporaries go through the back door and “come out smiling” in no time.

It is depressing that those who criticized leaders a few decades ago are now being more condemned as leaders themselves – apparently, the system rubbed off them. Going by this, it means hope has long been buried. What can we say of a nation whose citizens believe anyone coming out political office without 9-digits in his account is not smart even if he led for a month? As a matter of fact, his relatives would literarily give up schooling and working because of his potential looting. Even children nowadays aspire to be politicians in order to have fleet of cars and countless houses. That’s not the way to go.

While we all agree with the saying: the worst democracy is better than the best military rule, 40 million unemployed Nigerians is a bad dividend to show for it. Yes, former American president, John F. Kennedy said “think not of what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country” but Nigerians, need a glimmer of hope to crown their sacrifice and hardwork as well as to spur them to do more.

This write up is not in anyway aimed at condemning our leaders but to plead with them to save our nation. Remember, it’s our nation; no one else will patch it up but you and I.

Beyond The Jamboree       

Children having fun at an amusement park

          

Now that the much celebrated Children’s day is over, the reality still stares us in the face as we still have countless unanswered questions pertaining to our children. We cannot deny that our children need help. By running away from these questions, we only increase the unanswered questions geometrically. If the youth are the future of our nation, our children are the future youths and invariably, our future. To this effect, we parents and adults have a lot of work to do.

It is no news that our value system has broken down and this has led to innumerable loopholes in our society and our children are mostly at the receiving end. As a result, children in their vulnerability suffer lots of ills. We know of the alarming rate at which preteens are abused by adults of both sexes who are sometimes as close as their uncles and parents. Even when this is done by other people, the children are not able to confide in their parents because of the obvious gap in communication. This is sometimes due to lack of quality time parents spend with their children in the quest to make ends meet, or simply insensitivity. On the part of the children, it is due to lack of trust for their parents or fear. As a result, only few of these victims eventually get healed of this evil. What a world!

Failure to keep an eye on the children has led to the pollution of their tender minds through our trendy music lyrics and videos (even the minds of the academically dull children). With this, there is no limit to havoc, be it morally, academically or even spiritually. Because of lack of proper parental guidance, children being who they are, cannot help but dogmatically prioritise fashion and entertainment over academics and morals. It is therefore unsurprising that recent research shows that more children molest other children than adults do to them.

Another paramount issue concerning this matter is divorce. We need not a psychologist to know that separation of parents leads to psychological distress in children which could result in endless destruction. While two adults with seemingly irreconcilable differences cannot be forced to live together, adults should take their children’s wellbeing into consideration when embarking on such a journey as relationship or child bearing and even divorce.

As we all know, life as a whole is an institution. A good foundation for the world all begins from our individual families where you and I belong. Just as Michael Jackson sang, “Heal the world we live in, save it for our children.”


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