But hope is gradually pulverised by the crushing everyday demand of life’s existence. Nigeria is bristling with citizens whose search for a better standard of living, security and stable economic environment remains so elusive. And, slowly may turn the country to a graveyard of hope. It has already caused a massive exodus of citizens to where they reckon as Oasis courtesy of ‘Japa.’ It’s common to hear vociferous recitation of ‘whys’ and ‘wherefores’ for the continued slide of the country into the dark hole of nothingness further down the road. Yes, scaremongering has practically taken a foothold.
So, the loss of hope is at the foreground of the damning prognosis for the country. Make no mistake, there’re rhymes and reasons for the way the citizens feel. It has been a long history of dashed hope in the face of manifold potential and resources and there’s no letup in the deterioration of the socio-economic situation of the country. Leaders break faith with citizens. Expectations are continually deferred. Change remains so distant, pushing cynicism to the centre stage which dissolves into hopelessness.
A recent empowerment outreach to those bearing the brunt of the country’s socioeconomic challenges in some parts of Kaduna State during the holidays proved to be a microcosm of the depth of ravages of the parlous situation on Nigerians. Heartrending narratives of the quotidian struggles and survival left not a few drowned in emotions.
The curtains just fell on 2022 and it marked somewhat the nation’s annus horribilis as about 133 million Nigerians were said to be under the affliction of multidimensional poverty according to the National Bureau of Statistics.
So much can still be done to turn the tide. A friend who had stayed in Kigali, Rwanda for over a decade won’t just cease rhapsodising about the amazing progress given the circumstances leading to the building of the shining new country. In my friend’s eyes, as long as Rwanda could emerge as a reference point in development and good governance on the continent, he’s implicitly sure that Nigeria can overcome the myriad of challenges and infuse hope to its teeming citizens. However, optimism is not without a caveat- it must have a competent hand to guide it not least in skirting the many thorns along the path of development and progress.
The nation’s state of affairs and the implicit lack of hope and role of effective leadership bring to mind the intriguing exploits of Captain Michael Abrashoff of the once troubled USS Benfold- a state of the art destroyer- packed with powerful technology. But, it was peopled by a dysfunctional crew; the zeal to perform was lacking which apparently forced the ship to remain largely a shadow of its huge capacity.
According to Abrashoff, the departure of his predecessor elicited a huge storm of derision by the entire sailors which didn’t just send shockwaves but a strong message that constrained him to think towards becoming an exception. The ship’s fortune changed no sooner than he assumed command. The restrictive attitudes were jettisoned through his novel leadership approach. Today, USS Benfold which is named after Edward Benfold, a corpsman in the Korean War, is today a pride of the pacific fleet with a myriad of sailors aching to be part of it.
No better time to begin the process of restoring hope than now- 2023 provides that opportunity. The country is already charged with disillusionment and cynicism which only would be remedied by disruptive leaders that are read to work and institute changes amidst the sea of hopelessness; people that will inspire citizens through the words of former President Barack Obama to the United Nations General Assembly in 2014 that “we choose hope over fear. We see the future not as something out of control but as something we can shape for the better through concrete and collective effort…”
Armed with the mental picture of the ordinary citizens that they see working to eke out a living from precarious sources as they move around the country canvassing for their votes; the stories they read of citizens prostrated by injustices and unavoidable deaths from the inaccessibility to good health care and services as well the ubiquity of terrible infrastructure; the now and then strikes by academic staff of higher institutions that impinge on the quality education, and so on, should influence the service to the country by the elected individuals in 2023. It should be service to the people over politics and self- aggrandisement. Hope must be restored.
