When Nigerians have to board the train through its windows, something has to change. Let’s check ourselves – what could we do better on our own?
Something is terribly wrong, when a community loses women at birth, and the government is not doing anything about it. Not in a nation that is rich in oil like Nigeria.
As one of the most corrupt nations on earth, Nigeria has been crushed by greed from the powerful elite. They won’t set Nigeria free. Nigerians have to do that by themselves.
Nigeria’s HDI value for 2018 is 0.534— which put the country in the low human development category— positioning it at 158 out of 189 countries and territories.
Civil participation in social change has always worked. From history and recent global trends in countries such as Tunisia, Bolivia, Egypt, Lebanon, Sudan, Syria and France. The common man is fighting the powerful on just about any issue, from political change to global warming, animal rights, equal opportunities, civil rights, women rights to human trafficking.
The reason lies in the fact that once people realize there is power in bounding together to press for change, that change becomes possible. Oppression lasts only for as long as the oppressed are willing to take it. And Nigeria is not new to social and political change.
When the history of Nigeria is being told, prominence will be given to the role played by activists, journalists and unionists during the turbulent struggle to get the military to hand power back to civilians in Nigeria. Names of Gani Fawehinmi, Beko Ransome-Kuti, Olisa Agbakoba, Chima Ubani, Abraham Adesanya, Frank Kokori, Comrade Ola Oni, Bayo Onanuga, Nosa Igiebor, Ayo Obe, Alfred Rewane, Bagauda Kalto and such are engraved in history.
They were the ones who, individually and collectively, risked their lives and liberties to lead the people in confronting military dictators who had become oppressive in the 80s and 90s. They were the leading lights in the struggle for a return to representative democracy.
These activists, and several others too numerous to mention, were ever vigilant and quick to shout out against deception and ineptitude on the part of the dictators. They were the opinion leaders, whom the people looked up to for direction. And they were also in the forefront of protest rallies. Some paid the supreme price, many others were brutalized, and uncountable numbers had their liberties curtailed for lengthy periods.
Eventually, however, the goal was achieved. On May 29, 1999, the military handed over power to elected representatives of the people.
If truly experience is the best teacher, it would seem that the way out of the present predicament that Nigerians have found themselves in is to rekindle the fire of civil action to force politicians to effect the changes that the people deserve. There is urgent need for Nigerians to be educated and encouraged to take the political process serious and be actively engaged in civic organization in every shape and form so that political office will be reflective of people’s wishes and politicians will truly represent those they ought to server. Civic monitoring and participation at all levels of the society is desirable to save Nigeria from imploding and forestall a spurious Messianic intervention by the military.
The acute need to usher responsive and transparent leadership in public office is glaring. Politicians are incapable of doing these themselves. The Nigerian media are in the pocket of the political elite, as most of them are owned by politicians and their patrons.
There is, therefore, need for the civil society to step in and fill this gap to save the nation.
Our organization will pursue the following strategies:
