The Mind Of A Savior

AMBASSADOR EZEWELE ABIONANOJIE

 

The secret that leads to a free and fair society where justice lords over the dos and don’ts of the people in the society is freedom; while the secrets that open the life gate to freedom are courage, passion and commitment.

There is no magical wand to secure a free and fair society without sacrificial contributions from dedicated and passionate individuals who have determined to move against the storms of injustice and bad governance. It is never a matter of abracadabra to bring about a better society. Rather, it demands an athletic display of ‘operation do it yourself ’. No truth can be truer than the truth! In any society where corruption rules over the affairs of the society, it is a proof that the good people of the society have abdicated their responsibility by exercising unproductive calmness instead of standing up for what is right irrespective of the external conditions.

On the ground of fear, some have chosen to remain silent and keep condoning odd situations at the detriment of their future; hiding under the vices of wishes, prayers and hopes while doing nothing concrete to bring about their desire change. It is an indubitable fact that every object remains in a state of rest unless an adequate force is applied to it. The corrupt situation in virtually every land of Africa will know no change unless the people of Africa are passionately determined to enforce the type of change they desire. We have guided our individual interests selfishly and misguided our collective future unknowingly. I can’t see a long term benefit in building and beautifying a personal cabin in a sinking ship. The major problem why we are where we are is that many are waiting for others to arise and risk their lives, properties and freedom in exchange for a just society. If you wait for others and others are waiting for you, who will bell the cat? As you wait for each other, you will wait until you will all be wasted away.

There is no extra terrestrial calling in becoming a savior. It is a matter of one’s vantage point of view born out of altruistic passion that pushes one to dare the unpredictable for the benefit of humanity. Show me any savior of his people and I will show you a true lover of his people. Becoming a voice and a source of hope is not directly proportional to ageism or the color of your school certificate.  HRH Ogbidi Okojie , the Onojie of Uromi, had no formal education when he opposed British rule and fought the British army in 1900 with bows and arrows for more than six months before he was betrayed by his younger brother. No matter where you are, no matter who you are, no matter your qualification, no matter your age as far as you are an adult, the man who feels for others struggles for others. If it is by age, how old was Samora Moises Michel of Mozambique when he led the Mozambican Liberation Movement FRELIMO against colonialism, exploitation and injustice? How old was Thomas Isidore Noel Sankara of Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso) when he proved vial his selfless and audacious revolution movement beyond reasonable doubt that African solution best fit Africa’s problems? How old were they? How old was Chief Anthony Enahoro of Nigeria when he moved the motion for Nigeria independence? How old was Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela of South Africa when he stood against the apartheid in his country? How old was Patrice Lumumba of Democratic Republic of Congo when he started playing significant roles in the transformation of his country, Congo, from a colony of Belgium into an independent republic? How old were they? They were between their early 20s and early 30s. How old was the Sultan of Sokoto when he stood for the liberation and the unity of Nigeria? They started making positive waves in their early ages until they midwived a process that spoke volume of their greatness.

The only thing special about them was their burning desire galvanized by passion to bring an end to the oppression of their people. Their love for others was the fuel of their engines. Yet, many of us out there in our 30s, 40s and 50s are still feeling too small to provoke the type of change we desire. And many of us are still hoping and waiting for a messiah to come to our rescue. As you have been waiting in futility for a light to come since your adolescent age till date, why can’t you embrace the mantra of ‘operation do it yourself’ and rise against the bad system that had turned Africa into a huge land of refugees? Everyone has the capacity to transform himself or herself into a light for others to see and discover the little oil needed to light up their individual lamps. As you keep waiting for light to come and it is not showing forth, why can’t you become the light and brighten your environment for the benefit of your people? It is a matter of decision! I will say it over and over again that death penalty on corruption is the only way to scare the corrupt away from the rudder of public affairs. A certain amount and above should attract death penalty while the below should attract an imprisonment ranging from 50 years to 200 years. Our laws are full of exits. They are too porous. It has become a governing tool in Africa that once you favor the government in power, you become a saint and once you are against the government, you become a rogue. Africa leaders are only practicing an autocratic style of pseudo democracy, THE GOVERNMENT OF THE LOOTERS FOR THE LOOTERS AND BY THE LOOTERS.

This type of government won’t take us anywhere! We must demand a harsh penalty on corruption and stand for it until corruption disappears from the corridors of our public offices. According to Martin Luther King Jr. “A man who does not have a cause to die for is not fit to live”. Securing a better society chiefly for the benefit of our posterity should be our utmost concern for the building and the beautification of our individual cabin in a sinking ship will not amount to anything good in the long run. For this cause we should live. For this cause we should sacrifice and if need be, for this cause, we should be ready to face the unpredictable.

 

Ambassador Ezewele Abionanojie is the author of the book ‘The Enemy Called Corruption’ and writes from Lagos.

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