The (Old) Road to Kigali was the title of some old pages of the press in Nigeria, when, at critical times in history, unpatriotic writers preferred the darkest hours of Rwanda’s genocide of 1994 to some challenges facing Nigeria then. Both countries are at different times and conditions in their annals today even though Uhuru is still way ahead for both. Rwanda now shifts past its darkness to industrialisation and Nigeria trails behind – after having its own sheds of innocent bloods – travelling to a stage of its own mount to greatness to come, soon.
I am back on the offensive today, not for the sake of it, but to remind us about the possible path of destiny the God of Rwanda may put Naija onto The (New) Road to Kigali. I have watched and read a number of afghanistanist’s campaign videos and pieces about the abuse of democracy and prolonged stay in office by African leaders. They still cycle. May be they saw this coming. The new Rwanda, however, is a place every African nation would want to travel.
Kigali is the main city of Rwanda where Paul Kagame lives as the President; where genocide happens and the results brings in Paul who still lives, 25years now, and doing great things for the country. First, he changes the orientation of the people and makes society’s dogma, abuse, hatred and indolence to tolerance, forgiveness, peace, love and hardwork.
The result is an amazing productive society, one that has just manufactured its first car and first mobile phone. It creates jobs by the flourish of industries and development of human skills through youth empowerment, education, women liberty and empowerment and all that. Ten years back, Paul is hated for all that angers many in Nigeria today. One of them is closing boarders and revives of institutions.
It is a process that begins with difficulty, endures through the stages with hardship before it produces the wanted. Kagame did all that with strained relations with the west, neighbours and internal resents conflicts and cries. And he prevailed, alone, as one determined man. Today, no Rwandan cares who is President again, today, tomorrow or next decade.
Those still counting him among the prolonged leaders who do nothing for their countries are some Nigerians only, the minors of the current socioeconomic system. They do it on purpose, and the purpose is, if Nigerians begin to see the good in This Level, they will ask for Advanced Level. And that is normal in a human society. The man that marries your mother is your father, for the food you eat now comes from his efforts.
The problem deceptivists have is that the ignorance and gullible people of Nigeria are shifting faculties in thoughts for a positive posture, and the campaign of prolonged leadership in democracies and the inclusion of Rwanda without care for the result of sustained leadership, is to counter the striking awareness PMB has brought home.
Democracy remains a means to an end, and whatever democratic studies and political scientists will say, with a good end, we can bypass some of the terms of democracy to get to it like Rwanda did. The academia and the pulpits in Nigeria fail the country. The ideas some bring forth countering the good policies they know for national consolidation, are shameful.
If it is ever said anywhere that rules have some exceptions, there is every reason to make exceptions to the democratic terms in office that only changes leadership in batonpass of recycled leaders who take office only for the service of ego and socioeconomic status, and not for the enhancement of national productivity or changing the indices for national growth.
The supporters of the current system do know that if we know any good such leader next to the incumbency, none of us will even think so. All we see for five years is the denials of the good things that happen; disruption of the process leading to more good and attitudes and behaviours that are vultures in wait for PMB to finish so they can take power back to the dark days.
How can such a long journey of construction of damages be just allowed to crumble for the simple ambition of one man to be President and for their supporters to access cheap, indolent economic status at the expense of, and to the detriment of the majority who sacrifices so much to get here? Justice is no more a cheat in Nigeria. We know this by the number of times they tried and failed.
But then all that happened to Nigeria in the last five years has been the wish of the Almighty and not the decision of President Buhari himself, nor the wish of his immense supporters and their votes. Nor was it the prayer of those who wished anything Buhari did not happen, nor that Buhari should not be here still, this year, this month, now. This why even if he breathes, it is a matter of public offence.
It is the will of the Majesty of God that prevailed, and it will stay as long as He wishes. What will be, will. Reason: the kind of people we are and the disservice we do every day to the Nigerian society, even with the great signs that we witnessed half a decade past. Believe is relative but what is prevalent is tangible and should be sensed by human senses and should be acceptable.
So today I am going to make it easy for you. If you know that Nigeria will be great if it is meant to be, third term will be a matter of time. It doesn’t matter what anyone says or does. It doesn’t matter what happens. The decision regarding public interest is not Nigerian, not with any one of us. It is definite something from God. Social science disagrees but it cannot counter this in any way we know.
The good that is meant to be for Nigerians that bore all the brunt of human cruelty and those that lost blood and lives, from 1950 to date, for whatever reason, will certainly be the water that will clean the way for it to happen. Get ready for it with a prepared but submissive mind, or do your best to counter it if you can. But what will be, will.
Hassan Alhaji Hassan can be contacted on 08032829772/08050551220 (text only with full names and address)a[email protected]
The views expressed in this article are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect WikkiTimes’ editorial stance.
