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A woman charms a man into marriage and they live a deceptive
life for about 50 years and the magic fades, either by sheer luck or divine
intervention. The scale falls from the eyes of the man, but it appears too
late.

Children and grandchildren are now involved, families are
already knitted together, grandsons and grand-daughters-in-laws have extended
the family tree; a lot of events and activities that one cannot just wish away
have taken place.

The fact, however, is very disturbing. The man’s eyes are now
open, his mind is free. He can now think his own thoughts and say his own
words. Should he remain silent and complacent, or does he try to change things
objectively for the better?

Even if he is able to chase the wife away, he has to live and
work with his children, grandchildren, and the in-laws that have sprouted all
these years of unholy union.

This seems to be our dilemma these past years in Nigeria.

It is troubling when a society, made up of different people,
different ethnicities, and different religious backgrounds, begin to speak with
one voice and sing the same song when it is obvious that they are not
developing; and some people still want them to continue to paddle this same
canoe on this river of backwardness and stagnation that will lead them into the
final sea of destruction. More so, when it is a democracy where the majority
seems to always have its way.

Decisions made during the years of bondage, even if they seem
palatable but unjust, must be changed. Some people have decided to correct all
the injustice that have happened during the years of voodoo, the years of
deafness, blindness, and uselessness.

Many people have criticised the federal character principle. It
has now given birth to zoning and, like its father, zoning is suffering a
similar fate. I believe if we open our eyes wide enough, we would understand
better why our country’s development has stagnated for this long; why some
people relish laziness, why a lot more enjoy corruption, and a great majority
see looting as their birthright. All these destructive elements are camouflaged
in ethno-religious extremism.

Some Nigerians are so used to sitting down in their seating
rooms, playing cards and controlling an unfortunate illiterate crowd of
teenagers into committing all sorts of crime in the name of ‘self
preservation’. Fortunately, some eyes are beginning to open. Even the half
literate ones are speaking up and taking their destinies in their own hands.

Open eyes

Our situation in this country is a rather peculiar one. One
group of a particular ethnic zone, and it is debatable whether they are the
majority, have been having their say and their way. Inception and destruction
loom, like the hangman’s noose, over our heads if we continue to behave like we
are still under their spell. The scale has fallen off our eyes, and it just
cannot continue to be business as usual. That is why the position of the
Northern youth, as well as the recent position from the Northern leaders
summit, is a very welcome development. It has rekindled the dying hope inside
most of us that we can indeed be one Nigeria.

Saul was the king, but Jonathan his son could not sit and do
nothing in the face of selfish and tyrannical decisions of his father against
David, his father’s perceived enemy, but his own bosom friend. He acted against
his father’s orders. That is maturity, that is progress, and that is genuine
love.

The end of the reign of quackery, laziness, wickedness,
illiteracy, and thievery is imminent; excellence can no longer be sacrificed at
the altar of federal character, quota system, or zoning.

We are beginning to think and speak for ourselves, and we have started
acting for ourselves. We are in the days where even if you are in the majority,
you cannot continue to hold us down. The ship of progress is sailing, and
people should climb on the bandwagon or jump over board. We are counting down
to the days of meritocracy and genuine growth.