The current crises to hit the west African country of Nigeria, which sees it grapple with the senseless killings meted out on its citizenry by the Islamist Boko Haram,as well as having to deal with removal of fuel subsidy in the midst of profligacy by a corrupt government, is put in perspective.
It seems that years of corruption by successive governments that have ruled Nigeria since its independence, and an amazing lack of will of its citizenry to call its leaders to account, has led to a situation that threatens the fragile peace and weak stability that the country has lived with since the end of its civil war 32 years ago.
Taking into consideration the much publicised kidnapping of oil workers and ordinary citizens in Nigeria's south, and the senseless carnage meted out on ordinary Nigerians by a 'Boko Haram' that is beginning to reach beyond its northern Nigeria enclave, One feels that evil has indeed occupied a vacuum...A vacuum created by successive governments that have had scant regard for the basic needs of its citizenry. A government made up of individuals that continually come up with innovative ways keeping power and untold riches gained by dishonest means, for itself.
In the current protests over removal of fuel subsidy, one however sees an opportunity..
An opportunity for ordinary Nigerians to hold their government to account as regards what would be done with money saved from fuel subsidy removal, and beyond that to seriously question government about the way they are being governed.
One feels that this, more than any crack down on the likes of Boko Haram, would guarantee peace, unity and achievement of the much vaunted potential of the ordinary Nigerian.
