My Nigeria, My dreams

The euphoria that engulfs me whenever I watch the green-white-green contingents in international sports competitions is ineffable. I don’t pray for any other favour than to see my country’s side emerge top of the challenge. I feel very much on top of the world whenever they successfully make it to the medal ceremony causing our beautiful national anthem to be played to the hearing of people from all parts of the world. Viewing this, I become vehemently willing to proudly tell anybody that cares to listen that I am a Nigerian. I craved for such moments to endure a least for a longer time. But along the line the feeling is intercepted by the realities that my Nigeria is saddled with.

My Nigeria means a lot to me. It has a lot of connection with my happiness, my fulfillment, and in short, my life. I have grown to believe the fact that even if run to another land, and may be eventually obtains their citizenship; I will forever be interrupted with the thought that ‘I am a Nigerian.’ Of course, no place like home.

My Nigeria means the whole world to me that I can’t stop dreaming for an ideal society and a better future for her. I dream of a Nigeria where every citizen would be seen as one and not discriminated by their ethnicity or state of origin; where university admissions and job opportunities would not be based on quota system and nepotism but on meritocracy. It is not an anathema if my Nigeria conducts a free and fair election even at the party levels. I long for a day that our academic institution would be equipped to be capable of breeding our future leaders; when strike and demonstration would be regarded outdated and dialogue made the main approach to resolving disagreements.

I will continue to be optimistic for a better Nigeria; a country where the police will actually be a friend of the people and not corperate robbers extorting the motorist on the highways, and not victimizing the common man with impunity. I am hopeful for the day the police will stop victimizing a suspect even before he is charged to the law court.

I know the day will come for my Nigeria, when universities and other tertiary institutions accreditations would no longer be a mumbo jumbo used to deceive ourselves; when political offices would not be seen as an opportunity to amass wealth, but as a call for service; when the court would stop passing judgments based on the pocket size of the accused: the richer the accused, the lighter the sentence terms; and vice versa.

Yes, my hope is still alive for my Nigeria. And I know that someday, the citizens would stop chanting praises for corruption and corrupt people; and be bold enough to shun corruption and ill-gotten wealth. Then, embezzlers of public funds would have no hiding place, as it won’t be business as usual. And the tradition of collecting a token from the lootings of our public office holders as fine or bail by our judges and giving them a pat on the back will be no more.  Then the peace, order and neatness of our society would be taken as the collective responsibility of every individual. 

Regrettably, anomalous and dishonorable situations have been regarded synonymous with the name Nigeria. Whenever anything unbecoming for a responsible society happens, people are quick to utter, “This is Nigeria for you.” Rhetorical questions such as, “Are we not in Nigeria?” or “no be Nigeria again?” are used always to portray Nigeria as a state of failure, and it demoralizes even the spirit of the patriotic. I believe that my Nigeria can overcome whatever societal decays that might have befallen her. And I see this change to begin with you and me

Therefore, to realize a Nigeria of my dream, a nation that I will forever treasure so much and be proud to identify myself with in the gathering of citizens of other nations, I have been trying to contributing my own quota as a practical attestation to how much my beloved Nigeria means to me. For example, I have decided to always discard my waste only at the designated places, or keep them in my bag till I reach a waste bin. I have decided to always join the queue and try as much as possible not to jump it till is my turn, even if the person attending to the queue is my friend or brother. I have also decided to reject every unmerited positions, prizes and rewards; to return every overpayment made to me and take only what I dutifully and genuinely worked for.

I have  discovered that sincerity and honesty are the best weapon to tackle corruption, so I have decided not to write 7:58am when I report to work by 8:10am at the place of my industrial attachment. I also resolved not to cheat in my examinations and to continue to shun bribing the lecturers for better grades. 

If I can keep to my resolutions without going back, my Nigeria would assume the state I crave for. It is my responsibility to salvage her of all her inadequacies. Yes. It is my responsibility first and foremost, if I insist she matters to me.

I can’t express with mere words my attachment with my Nigeria. That’s why I would always be lost in thought dreaming for her future. I vehemently believe that someday, the thought of being a Nigerian would not only bring me a euphoric feeling, but will cause a lasting unfathomable joy to run in my veins.

By Amatanweze Kingsley Offorbuike T.