The 21st century leader, Nigeria needs

Nigeria has had a turbulent history and continuing crisis. Marked by upheavals, ethno-religious riots, pogroms, a civil war or ethnic war and terrorism have left the country dripping in blood. Some have suggested Nigeria’s green white green flag be replaced with red in recognition of the blood that has and continues to be shed. More blood is spilled on a daily basis because of decades of bad governance, misrule, human rights violations and looting which has resulted in accidents and all forms of carnages owing to bad roads.
Many more die through perilous trips; dangerous sea and desert crossings in their bid to escape the anarchy at home and seek greener pastures abroad. Nigeria is thus for a great majority of its supposed citizens a land of injustice and death. A nation state is supposed at the very minimum to provide for the security and welfare of its citizenry; that is after all the fundamental basis for which a state exists. However, Nigeria has since independence failed in fulfilling the basic responsibilities of a state to its citizens. It is no surprise that many voices are increasingly asking if Nigeria is worth the bloodshed that has kept it afloat.

No nation fails by accident, just as no nation succeeds by accident. The success or failure of a nation is driven by the choices its leaders make and to a lesser extent the inherent values within the society. Nigeria has thus not failed by accident but because successive leaders chose to make Nigeria fail through the choices, they made. These choices have bordered on the five cantankerous vices of tribalism, corruption, religious fundamentalism, human rights violations and bad leadership. From the earliest leadership in the first republic Nigeria had predominantly divisive leaders that thrived in exploiting and furthering ethnic divisions. These leaders manifested and emphasised ethnic hatreds/divisions which overtime afflicted the larger society.
Corruption also crept up quite early in the nation’s history as the leaders proved to be willing to engage in electoral fraud, census fraud, 10 percent kickbacks and all forms of attendant corruption. Ethnic riots and later day religious fundamentalism and terrorism particularly in the North was likewise tolerated and in most cases sponsored by the leaders. Successive Nigerian leaders have continued on the same train of tribalism, corruption and religious fundamentalism leading to the ethnic jungle, monumentally corrupt, dysfunctional and terrorised nation Nigeria has progressively become. With the 2015 elections, persecution and marginalisation or the 97percent versus 5percent demarcation on account of which regions voted for the president and which did not has become a new, disabling, undemocratic and unconstitutional vice that has joined the long list of existing vices that has arrested the nation’s development.
As the 21st century progresses, Nigerians must opt for a leader who understand the modern nuances of democracy and governance. A leader who understands that democracy fundamentally vests citizens with the right and choice to freely vote for whom they choose without fear of retribution. A leader who will depart from decadent tribalism and for the first time make nation building the most fundamental element of government in recognition that the nation cannot prosper except there is  harmony and peace.
A leader who respects the fundamental rights of all and promotes unity by consent on the basis of justice and equality rather than unity by force premised on injustice, marginalisation and hate. An ardent reformer who will undertake critical structural reforms and return the nation to progressive federalism. A leader who harnesses the latent potentials of the nation, and places her on a deserved pedestal amongst the comity of nations. This is the 21st century leader Nigeria needs.
It is an indictment of the present generation; that of over a 150 million people, we have not yet succeeded in producing a leader who meets these ideals. More often than not, we have remained stuck with the older generation and those that played ignoble roles that led to the tribalism, bloodshed, corruption and human rights violations that truncated the nation’s noble aspirations. Those that supported Sharia in violation of the nation’s secular constitution. Those that supported and politicised Boko Haram as the nihilistic terrorist group was slaughtering thousands of Nigerians. Those that promoted sectionalism hate and disregarded the nation’s diversity.
Yet, the future is always more promising than the past. Frantz Fanon once declared “each generation must discover its mission, fulfill it or betray it in relative opacity.” Our generation therefore stands at the crossroads of history; between a decadent past and a glorious future. Between a leader that represents the dark ills of the past and a 21st century leader that meets the challenges and responsibilities of our time.