Opinion: Nation builders emerge in times of adversity

by Bobby Udoh

So, as we demand for President Jonathan to rise up and take this adversity as an opportunity to deliver great leadership, we must rise up and take this adversity as an opportunity to get involved in nation-building and build a developed Nigeria.

Our country Nigeria is in a state of great adversity.  We are witnessing unprecedented acts of terrorism in recent months carried out by the terrorist group, Boko Haram. We are also witnessing unprecedented killings by Fulani herdsmen, settlers and cattle thieves in the North.

In addition to the huge volume of killings, we are witnessing unprecedented levels of corruption in every sector of our nation and with the power of Social Media, the evidence is before us.

Unemployment is on the rise, electricity has not improved, educational and healthcare systems have worsened, religion has long become commercialised, our values systems have been destroyed, commercial kidnapping on a steady rise in the South and the level of our human development is so low resulting in poor human capital resources, etc.

I cannot help but reiterate that Nigeria is in a state of great adversity. It was into this state that the kidnap of over 200 girls from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State occurred.

The result was a very poor initial reaction and an appalling current handling of the incident. The poor management of the unfortunate event has included the Nigerian Military, the Nigerian Police, the DSS, the Borno State Government, the school authorities, the Information agencies and many of us the citizens.

Like in the other crisis facing us as a nation, the response to this incident has been divided along religious and ethnic lines. The President, his wife and many of his South-South, South-East and Christian groups have expressed doubts about this incident.

So, we continue to slide into further adversity whilst we all play politics with the challenges that are destroying the present and future of our nation.

There is good news however and that is, it is in times of adversity that builders of nations emerge. This is the message we must communicate in our homes, our communities, our religious gatherings, on Social Media and every other available platform.

I doubt President Jonathan anticipated this amount of crises when he took over as President in 2010 but he and his supporters must be told that this presents the best opportunity for him to emerge as the great leader Nigeria has long sought after.

It doesn’t matter if these violence acts are committed by a region to discredit him and bring down his government. It is for him to use the mandate given to him by the people to turn this adversity into an opportunity for the display of exemplary and courageous leadership. No more excuses from this government and from her supporters.

What about us the citizens? Absolutely no more excuses from us as well because this time of adversity calls for the builders of our homes, our communities, our churches and mosques, our politics, etc.

This adversity must produce citizens who will shift focus from themselves and dedicate their lives to addressing a sector that causes them most pain. Some will address the adversity in Education, some in Politics, some in Healthcare, some in Science & Technology, some in Agriculture, some in Sports, some in Religion, and some in other much needed sectors.

So, as we demand for President Jonathan to rise up and take this adversity as an opportunity to deliver great leadership, we must rise up and take this adversity as an opportunity to get involved in nation-building and build a developed Nigeria.

To build a developed Nigeria, it is critical to have credible leadership in the Presidency and State Government Houses but that is usually a product of credible leadership being displayed in our homes and communities.

Throughout history, adversity has provided the opportunity for nations to emerge into greatness. Our case will not be different.

The challenge is before you. What will this adversity produce in you for Nigeria?

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