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"Don't Touch My Tribesman", But What Does A Bigot Benefit? By Lola Oguntade

July 31, 2015

When I see Nigerians that are tribalistic and bigoted, I fear and pity them at the same time.

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We are supposed to come together and make Nigeria great again, however, we don't seem to get it.

Look at Olusegun Obasanjo, who was the president of Nigeria for 8 years, he is from Ogun state, but ask people of Ogun state, of what benefit is he to the people of the state?

Niger state has produced two heads of state, Ibrahim Babangida and Abdusalam Abubakar. I was privileged to serve in the state during my National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), when I got to my place of primary assignment, I started crying, the first question I asked was this: "am I still in Nigeria?" The people said "yes." Niger state was so underdeveloped; I witnessed poverty and unspeakable suffering so much so that I think they were better off without a government.

Goodluck Jonathan is from Bayelsa state. A state with just 9 local governments, several people in that state don't have toilets, they don't have running water, no hospitals so much so that his wife had to travel to Germany each time she had a running nose. Even though he was in power for 5 years, they are still suffering.

Talk about the former minister of petroleum resources, Dieziani Alison-Madueke, go check out what her village looks like, you will be shocked. If I continue, we will have an endless list.

Last month some universities in the United Kingdom did their graduation. I saw pictures of sons and daughters of those who have stolen our collective wealth on Facebook and Instagram. These are the people who are supposed to make our education sector solid, most of their children are citizens of foreign countries, they've abandoned this nation, the truth is they no longer care about us, their kids are not citizens of this country, their kids are no longer your tribesmen or kith and kin. They don't care about us. What are the benefits of being a Nigerian? We pay for almost everything, but we get no services. Our country is blessed, but we have selfish and greedy leaders.

Since last week, we keep hearing of theft of public funds, so much money that some former government officials people have embezzled. It is mindboggling! They now steal in billions and trillions, yet the masses are suffering.

I wonder what one person needs so much money for.

Even if you build a mansion, you can only sleep in one room, on one bed. In the end, we are all indebted to death. The highest you can get is befitting burial in an expensive casket. If you are a Muslim just a white wrapper. In the end, it is "vanity upon vanity."

The earlier you agree that the failure of leadership is a big part of our problem the better! No one can save us but ourselves. So I come back to the young suffering, unemployed and deprived citizens who are first to to step up to defend corruption, nepotism and theft of our commonwealth because someone accused is from their tribe, church, mosque or social circle or because they have been promised a token gift, well, now you know, your condition will not change regardless of whether the president, minister or governor comes from your village so long as he does care about anyone.

May this new government succeed! I am looking forward to seeing a better and rewarding future for Nigeria and Nigerians

Oguntade Lola