Posted by Wale Olafimihan on
I chanced upon President Olusegun Obasanjo's closing remarks after his monthly media chat last Saturday.
I chanced upon President Olusegun Obasanjo's closing remarks after his monthly media chat last Saturday.
What piqued me the most was Mr. President's tongue-lashing of Nigeria's critics, who he said do not see anything good in their country.
While I empathise with President Obasanjo, who tries his best to hide his country's imperfections from the prying eyes of the world, the fact remains that Nigerians feel the way they do because of the utter disappointment they feel about their country.
If Nigerian professionals abroad could make waves as they are doing in other countries, yet find it difficult to perform the same feat here even when they choose to come back home, doesn't Mr. President know that something has gone awry?
In a situation where the only set of people that could feel the nation's rising 'prosperity" are those in government, how patriotic can the citizens be?
Isn't it rattling to hear in the media, of our nation's stupendous external reserve, when poverty is currently ravaging more than 70 per cent of the nation's population, including the erstwhile middle class?
Nigerians now go abroad for qualitative education because the nation's education sector is in shambles, with no hope in sight. Pray, which citizen will be happy with such a country? The reality that stares Nigerians in the face is rather harsh. And until a deliberate policy is put in place to address the national ills, Obasanjo and his successors should be ready to hear and read more about Nigeria's doomed destiny.
Wale Olafimihan,
G30, Constitution Rd.,
Kaduna.
The Punch, Wednesday July 13, 2005