By Martin Ugboma
For me, it has at all times come right down to a easy query.
If our good lord was to name me, who amongst the Presidential candidates would I relatively willingly depart my youngsters with for tutelage?
For 2015 and 2019, it was Muhammadu Buhari. As an idealist younger man, I detested the dearth of significant financial growth throughout his days because the army Head of state. So, I informed my pals I might maintain my nostril and vote Buhari.
PDP made it straightforward by depriving the east the prospect to supply their Presidential candidate, in a fashion that steered the Igbos don’t depend and have been in all probability delusional to anticipate that the celebration respects a promise to current a Southerner for President. Atiku, their chosen candidate, had a gorgeous advice from his earlier boss and embarrassing names from the Economist journal. It was a no brainer.
From Buhari (Khalifa), I totally anticipated a frontal assault on corruption which for many of us had change into a lifestyle. I used to be optimistic that the Police and Judiciary could be cleansed to create the platform for growth. I dreamt that the period of weekend and midnight injunctions from my neighbor to cease me from internet hosting my daughter’s birthday the following day could be over. I believed 2015 was not the time for financial coverage, however sanity. Nigeria desperately required a cleaning of the system and a return to widespread sense and civility.
Khalifa took energy. And for a short interval, physique language was sufficient to knock some sense into the system. PPPRA not demanded $1m funds for the allocation of 5,000 m/t of kerosene or AGO. The Police didn’t insist on their little bribes unfold out by the giver in mint notes or direct POS transfers. Discretion crept in as all of us loved what we hoped was the calm earlier than the rolling of heads.
We waited.
One,
Two,
Three months.
Nothing.
Nothing occurred.
Not even a ministerial listing.
The storm by no means got here. Lagos to Abuja flights went again to being the goal for money thefts as all of the Managing Administrators of tank farms , proudly owning Oil & Gasoline corporations resumed the common journeys with their stash of money for the PPPRA.
The Policeman on the highway resorted to his bribe being given with respect – smoothened out and handed over like an providing to the gods and never an unholy worth of extortion.
Khalifa was unwell, and understandably extra involved with mortality. He craved for peace with our maker, and nothing else mattered.
Not corruption, not banditry, not the rising convoys of ineffective Authorities officers. Service chiefs have been nonetheless rewarded with life altering promotions with out demonstrating capability of their new roles.
So, we suffered.
Nigeria suffered.
I hear he requested for our forgiveness.
I forgive him. He constructed us the 2nd Niger bridge.
In 2023, I voted Tinubu.
He was the person for me as I relied on his observe document in Lagos state, the flexibility to retain credibility, construct performing groups even with folks he could not like. His rise from former Governor of Lagos state to a political powerhouse is a research in resilience and politicking. Retaining the loyalty of many who’ve labored for him and constructing alliances and disciples from each nook and nook of our nation. He understood how Governments create wealth.
I acknowledged {that a} brimming pot would additionally improve the urge for food of presidency officers, however then, the Holy e book reminds us all that the laborer deserves his wages.
I used to be not fooled by the previous Governor who had the cellphone numbers of all of the senior prefects in secondary colleges throughout his eight years in Anambra state. I believed that was not his job as he had a Commissioner of Training and plenty of different officers who may meaningfully apply that data. Micro-managing as President would absolutely not get us wherever. He didn’t meaningfully develop the states’ IGR, and so, at greatest, was only a good supervisor of assets. He constructed nothing.
The removing of the ruinous petrol subsidy, floating of the Naira and tax reforms I totally supported, although I acknowledge the haphazard implementation and the dearth of seen cushions from inevitable penalties of those insurance policies.
Butter disappeared from our breakfast tables. Eggs adopted. Bread and rice, and now we battle with garri – the giver of life. It has been coronary heart wrenching watching the damaged faces when the cashier on the until provides us our invoice on the check-out counter. Me? Ebubedike, shamefully dropping the Blue Band butter I had hoped would sooth my eager for the N14,000 lump of French butter?
Whereas the lots undergo, authorities officers wrestle with our musicians for consideration within the social media house with coronary heart wrenching shows of wealth and affluence.
Bello Turji nonetheless reigns.
Igbos now maintain conventional weddings in Lagos and Abuja and Monday sit at house continues within the East due to IPOB.
Within the Delta area, we nonetheless pay those that had robbed and bullied us to guard our oil and fuel infrastructure.
And nonetheless, the Service chiefs trot round with shiny new epaulets.
Painfully, these failures aren’t the explanations I’m now totally dedicated to voting for Peter Obi within the subsequent Presidential elections. I’ve frequently joked that in Nigeria whereas Hausa/Fulani/Yoruba rule they anticipate the Igbo man to dutifully tag alongside, carrying their briefcases. However now, it has change into apparent.
Jagaban is taking away the briefcase.
My folks have accepted lopsided appointments to authorities positions. We’ve accepted that our children should rating 250 and above in JAMB for admissions their classmates get for a rating of 190. We’ve accepted that if a Hause/Fulani/Yoruba and Igbo man with equal {qualifications} transfer to Abuja, the Hausa/Fulani could be first with a authorities appointment. The Yoruba would observe. And a few years after, they may name upon their Igbo buddy to execute a contract given to considered one of their youngsters.
It’s our lot as a result of we dared to battle the civil warfare.
It’s our lot as a result of we’ve failed to prepare and assume long run.
It’s our lot as a result of we’re Republicans.
However painfully, it’s now obvious that Jagaban has excised Igboland from his Nigeria. He has made it abundantly clear that the little we’ve needs to be taken and given to those that have already got, so they’d have in abundance.
I are not looking for my youngsters to wrestle to breathe in my nation. I are not looking for them searching for a change of title and state of origin to outlive of their homeland. I are not looking for them scrambling for crumbs from the desk of their masters.
Because of this, similar to I did with Buhari, I’ll maintain my nostril and vote Peter Obi. It’s my hope that this alternative will yield fruits that take us again to us again to the phrases of our anthem
Although tribe and tongue could differ
In brotherhood we stand
Nigerians all
Are proud to serve
Our sovereign motherland
BY: MARTIN AZUBUIKE UGBOMA
E MAIL: martin.ugboma@yahoo.com
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