It is
discouraging, unpalatable, utterly ridiculous and uncompromising to say the
least for any human created by the merciful father the most High, not to
truthfully boast or rather meticulously pronounce in the mist of his bosom
friends that actually I am a Nigerian. It is preposterous in its entirety for
able bodied men to begin denying their fatherland.
Sometime in October last year,
October first to be precise, when on my way to a special business trip I met my
old school mate at the Danbatta- in Oganye Lanpaye senatorial district. Please
let me remember what ensued that faithful day! Yes after embracing my friend,
Mr. Felix, whom I usually call Felly for short; I subsequently wish him Happy
Independent Day He looked at me scornfully and sorrowfully too and ask me
once again “what do you just say?” Please, just follow in the discussions that
follow afterwards:-
Me:
Mr. Felly, I said happy independent Day Celebration
Mr. Felly:
It is shocking and embarrassing that since we met last in the year 1960, you
have still not changed your belief and unguided principles and utterances to
say the least.
ME:
How do you mean my friend?
Mr. Felly:
is it not disheartening to note Mr. Bosom friend that since independence in
1960, nothing tangible has been noticed done? This land that has been so
blessed by God with more than enough human resources and natural endowment
begging to be milked or tapped from the nooks and cranny of the country (Nigeria).
Is it not frustrating my friend to
note that there are still graduates who are roaming the streets of the country
without good employment? For the past years, these ones cannot afford for
themselves three square meals a day; The citizens cannot sleep peacefully for
the sake of whether they can be the next victims to be attacked by the men of
the underworld. This means that our security is loosed. The situation has
become so porous that even the truth has been thrown to the wind. A country
where the poor is getting poorer everyday, the middle class has been wiped
completely wiped out. Consequently, it is now the game between the upper class
and the lower class. No more middle class in the setting of Nigeria. The most
important and most cherished class of people “the farmers” are even left to
wroth away just like a rotten mango. Our class in the society (those in the
grass-root) is gradually being wiped away. Soon there will be no segment name
those in the grass root anymore. All these are happening to us in the country
we can still send our children to school, buy things from the market. Whether
you like it or not, in the last day every one of us will still go to six feet
below the ground surface. Whether those in the grass root now being gradually
wipe away, those in the middle class that is no more and even those in the
upper class who thought they own the world, will all go there.
Mr. Felly:
No matter what kind of intimidation I may face, I will not hesitate to mention
that there is a sector of the economy that must not be left to blow away just
like chaff. The abandoned sector, which they has failed to develop
for many years now. The
Agriculture sector has really
suffered. Farmers were in these times; treated like people being affected by
leprosy. They forget to remember that without farmers, the nation does not
exist. Even when a program is set up to assist the farmers, it is being
hijacked by the rich and well to do, in the society (those in the upper class).
Can the leaders tell the masses why Nigeria is among the nations suffering from
food shortage today? Is it because the farmers are not ready to produce food
for their people to eat? Or is it that the country don’t have good and
productive land to farm in? The fact is that Nigeria has been said to be the
largest single cassava producer in the world. The question is, is Nigeria
cassava appreciated in the world market? If no, Why?
ME:
Hmm… I am left of words but do you not know that we are still better off than
those in Sudan, Chad, Guinea Bissau, or even Cameroon? Why can’t you also see
it from this angle?
Mr. Felly: My old friend, I tell
you. If you continue to look at it like this for the next few years to come, it
might be considered that you are in the dark. People will say that darkness has
fallen on you; Mr. Felly said to me “my old friend, you look like a Bakassi
Person. People that has been attached to the Cameroon.”
I tell you; when I left my friend Felly, I started to realize the truth about what
he has just told me. From the discussion, I have learnt that we in the grass
root have been trampled upon for a very long time now. The widow has been left
unkempt for. The children have not been given their place of things, you cannot
distinguish the graduate from the illiterate, and the farmers who are the
pillars of the nation are automatically treated like slaves in their own
fathers land. No! I won’t be a party to it anymore. I will join the train the
Gofta train; those in this train has made up their minds to fight the cause of
those intimidated and cheated on. Those on whose expense the rich gets richer;
and the powerful get on stronger. We in Gofta say no to human inhumanity to
man.
