“Every generation out of relative obscurity will discover its mission, it either fulfills it or destroys it…” These where the words of frank fanon, the words that kept ringing in my head one faithful night.
It all started while I was lying down in my room after an evening shower, trying to reminisce on how my day had gone at the office and wondering how many hours I had left to continue this rat race the next day.
Quite expectedly, PHCN struck as usual. The quiet environment, previously filled with this heavenly decorum went agog with noise from the most important gadget in most Nigerian homes (The Generator). It was so dark and gradually getting hot, so I had to get my small generator working (I Pass my neighbor). Moreover, I had lots of work to conclude before sleeping.
I was in a very relaxed mood, playing some light music while putting things together when I heard a knock on my door. With a glance at the door, I saw it was my very good friend (guess he knew I needed company). He was holding an audio compact disc in his hand and it happened to be Wande Coal’s album, titled M2M. An album I had so much longed to listen to. Without waste of time, we immediately got the album playing and went into some discussions until this particular track three titled “Se na like this” caught our attention. I was sent into a serious thought as I heard these lines:
“…I no fit wait make things for change…once upon a time them tell us say $1 equals N1, once upon a time people go travel from Lagos to London them no need Visa, once upon a time, you go graduate from school government go give you car, now every thing don dabaru”
What was I thinking? I was actually wondering if these stories he was referring to where myths or stories told at bed time. They where neither myths nor bed time stories, they where stories even our own parents, uncles and aunties told us. We still hear them today. They are stories of the good old times when Nigeria was the giant of Africa, when Nigeria was one of the worlds biggest exporters of Palm products, Cocoa, Coal, Tin etc, when Corruption in which ever form was a sacrilege, when schools where funded and teachers and lecturers did not know the word STRIKE, when students graduated without delay, when jobs where created and electricity was not held by anybody, when lives and properties where fully secured.
At this point, the big question struck me, “Must we remain like this?” Wande Coal said he couldn’t wait to see things change, so do I and I guess, so do all Nigerians. We need to get back to the old popular saying that charity begins at home. In the words of Professor Wole Soyinka, “unless we are singularly shortsighted and confess no further interest in the kind of society that must be raised on the ashes of this one, it is obvious that certain foundations must be raised.” These foundations must be raised by us individually, it must be raised by us collectively, because it behoves on our generation to leave a lasting legacy for the generation yet unborn.
In answering that question, knowing quite well that we won’t continue like this, I did what Nigerians are best known for, I turned to God.
I prayed that God will make my generation know they are the heart beat of this nation, I prayed that God will provide distinguished persons and worthy leaders who will join me to lead my generation (you laugh).
Leaders who will remain true nationalists and just defenders of our common cause of building an egalitarian society. Leaders who will remain unrepentant vanguards of peace and guardians of justice. Leaders who will divorce themselves from irresponsible acts of violence, corruption and vandalism. Leaders who will remain models of professional and academic excellence. Leaders who will have a clear vision for this nation. Leaders who will make a positive change. Leaders who will show us where we are going. Leaders who will assume responsibilities. Leaders whose inspirations of living will lie in the hope that they will leave this world better than they met it. Leaders who will say “Amen” with me!
