STATE OF THE STATES

When I write about Nigeria, I weep for what I see but immediately smile of joy is formed at the corner of my lips because I am convinced that the last generation of children/women beggar is those I watch and with the sincere support from concerned world citizens, a better Nigeria to be proud of will be donated to next generation Nigerians.

An adage from the Western states in Nigeria says “it is the exact stone that we used stone the palm tree that the palm tree sends back to the sender”. Corruption reigns in all the three-tiers level of government in Nigeria, it thrives with the assistance of the atmosphere and manure provided by the snail-like democracy entrenched by the present democratically imposed government operational in Nigeria only. You are in danger of extinction immediately you demand to know how the public treasure is managed.

There is a difference in the usage of just one English word in Nigeria, it is the word PUBLIC, it refers to national resources secretly managed by government officials and every other Nigerian citizen not privy to be in position of authority is not privileged to discuss or to know the intricacies therefore all official concerned must be secretive, cautious and avoid situation for discussion. Public funds are money spent in private by the leaders which the citizen must not be aware of or be privileged to the actual and disbursement.

Examples, budgetary allocation, disbursement and implementation, salaries of lawmakers, governors, etc in the same vein,, every PUBLIC property is what the government provided and must be destroyed by the citizenry, it is give and take, we stone the palm tree, with that same stone, it stones us back immediately.

There are thirty six states in Nigeria, to be factual; Governors and lawmakers of majority of these states are as corrupt as former Nigerian leaders. To be fair to some State Governors who are really keen at setting their people free from clutches of hunger will I count three state Governors in Nigeria who are really working towards Better Life for the Masses.

On March 4, 2009 a lawmaker of Ogun State in Western part of Nigeria confessed that they are so fraudulent and should be arrested by the Economic Financial Crimes Commission. It was as if host of heaven were pouring cola of fire on him as he was making his confession. He went further to say that their salaries are much more than what Ph D holders earn in the country. He was ready to reveal their secrets if the EFCC was ready to lock them up as they all have built mansions and have chains of cars on getting to office. Where do they get that money?

These representatives whose salaries can cause uproar in Nigeria are mostly ordinary level certificate holders, this lawmakers comprise mostly of people who failed in chosen profession. These are people we send to make law that will enable us rid out society of corruption! This is what is replicated in all the States of the federation. Do not forget, daily we read how our grey hair pensioners die on queue after days of waiting to collect their pension whereas some official without conscience have paid these money in fixed accounts for years in order to yield interest.

A governor was forced out of power in my state this year, a former Minister of Aviation, and lecturer in a University of repute for that matter, he was arrested and quizzed by EFCC, over Billions of naira, months after he was sent out the new governor could not move into the governors quarter because of fear of magical power the former buried in the place. I learnt that the new is yet to enter into the building. The irony of the issue is that the new governor was a former Minister of Housing who has to answer to diversion of funds whilst he was running the Ministry.

Our leaders spend millions of naira on voodoo, they travel to any extent for that and human lives have no value to them.

No one will place freedom on a wooden or golden platter for us; we are going to demand for the right to information and good governance. W e are concerned, scattered in and outside Nigeria, ready to sacrifice whatever it takes, my children must never thread the path I thread, must never witness what I witnessed and must never suffer what I suffered.

It is a trend, a chain. That must be broken by blood or by iron, iron sharpened iron, some are made to bind the wrist not the fist, some to break some heart of stone, while some to chain the grave of those that might not live to serve full jail terms, we shall continually write and expose till the pen dries, a time will come and very soon when justice shall take its place in Nigeria state, and none shall be above the law in our land.