SIR: If we sit back and examine where Nigeria is today, we will all agree that we are losing the country. All is not well with us as a nation. From unemployment to insecurity, the story of our country is not getting better.
I grew up in Adikpo the headquarters of Kwande Local Government in Benue State.
In the late 90s and early 2000s, there were these women selling bush meat and dried fish. They used to buy the product from Maiduguri and bring to Adikpo. What used to happen then was that these women will close from market like Tuesday evening around 6pm and go to Katsina Ala where they join other women from there to board night vehicles to Maiduguri. By Wednesday morning they are in Maiduguri to do their transactions. By evening, they return to Katsina Ala through another night vehicle. So by Thursday morning, you see them bringing new stock to the market. This was how Katsina Ala Market which opens every Thursday was always having stock of bush meat.
Today nobody dares these routes at night. Even during the day when one needs to travel through these routes, one keeps the eyes at all corners and knees bent in praying for safety. The issue of insecurity has affected every facet of the economy in all parts of Nigeria not just Benue or Northern Nigeria. Part of what has caused this insecurity is unemployment.
Within Benue State, the situation keeps deteriorating daily and the story is same across Nigeria. Places like Kwande, logo, Guma, Gwer west and other local government areas in Benue State, no week passes without stories of someone being hacked down by criminals. The most worrisome region Benue State is the Katsina Ala – Ukum – Logo axis where youths have allegedly taken up arms to terrorize the area after the death of their commander Mr Terwase Akwaza. These have made many people to lose their businesses, creating another economic hardship. This was an area where before now the youths were predominantly farmers and were always so proud of their farm profession and lifestyle. From 2011, the place started witnessing a drift and today it has become a ‘no go area’.
No one who has an opportunity of a decent job will leave it to go and stay in the bushes like wild animals. This shows how unemployment has given us a deadly blow and the situation may get worse as time passes on.
Our greatest challenge is leadership. The same people we knew 20 years ago are the same crop that has remained in control. These leaders have misled the people and instead of stepping aside now recruit and arm militias to help perpetuate themselves in leadership. They have made things worse but they will never admit. They will never leave the stage. This issue is visible across all regions in Nigeria.
What shall the people do to get out of this situation? We must make deliberate efforts to fight poverty and empower our youths. Good people must stand up to rescue our society. If we want a better Nigeria that will be safe for our children, we must act and act now to support and project new people with fresh ideas into leadership. Nigeria deserves fresh blood to be injected into the polity.
As the situation is now, every Nigerian ought to be concerned. Even if you are wealthy, don’t think your children are safe. Even if you send them abroad, they will still have the mental attachment to their fatherland and will always suffer the mental injuries hearing stories of how terrible Nigeria has become.
Today I urge every Nigerian to act. The time for a regime change has come. Let us bring in new leaders with new ideas to serve us.
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Comrade Martin Iorsamber, senatormartino@yahoo.com