The pain of a country called Nigeria

A nation so rich, yet so poor; so blessed, yet so backward. Nigeria is supposed to draw strength from its diversity and leverage on it to the advantage of the citizens. But what do we see? Instead of unity in diversity we have confusion and discordant voices in a forced unity. 

There is so much suspicion and mistrust. A lot of bitterness and ill feeling. Sectional and regional interests take the upper hand over loyalty to the nation. There is a lot of unfair dealing with one region/section shortchanging the other because of being in authority. 

The murderers, arsonists and armed invaders are not terrorists and need to be helped and settled but those making demands to end the repression of their people are the terrorists! If the vision of the leaders are coloured by ethnicity, how will that vision foster national cohesion? 

When those who parade the corridors of power are selfish leaders who fleece the nation under the guise of rendering service, who are deficient in integrity but only rich in crooked ingenuity, who use political psychology and regional sentiments to cling to power; the nation will remain in trouble. 

Seeing what and where we ought to be as a nation but seeing where we are in reality brings so much pain. The leaders of this nation appear to have no particular destination in mind. And if we do not know our destination, how shall we arrive there?

When we have a leader who has his own mind and an overriding passion for the collective greatness and unity of Nigeria, the country will move forward and the pain of this nation called Nigeria would be assuaged.