Nigerians must believe again!

THE year 2015 is behind us but the future seems either blank or filled with uncertainties. Too many of us wonder where the restoration is going to come from, and hope the cross-over prayers on the eve of the New Year are answered.

Some of us have pencilled down the numerous prophecies for the year, to serve as a light to our activities; yet within our sub-consciousness lies that scare. The media chat of Mr. President, news headlines from economic regulatory authorities and global breaking news continually put us on edge. Reports, evidences, facts and figures all point to the fact that things may not be getting any better very soon, if we continue to put our hope in the wrong places and refuse to believe and accept our own potentials and roles as individuals.

What is true is that man always finds a way to break through, as long as he has the will. What is true is that, no matter how difficult, catastrophic, devastating, demeaning, or heart- rending the situation or experience has been, we must be courageous to seek inner strength, peace, forgiveness and accept the situation not as victims but as heroess who will dare to face the odds and come out as conquerors. We must not be weighed down by our losses, pain, deformity, and shame.

However, what is “fact” is not necessarily the “truth” or the “end.” This is true because we are Nigerians; we are believers; and because in the past, we have dug deep within ourselves in the most dire situations and prevailed, having realised our boundless power and strength. What is true is that man always finds a way to break through, as long as he has the will. What is true is that, no matter how difficult, catastrophic, devastating, demeaning, or heart- rending the situation or experience has been, we must be courageous to seek inner strength, peace, forgiveness and accept the situation not as victims but as heroes who will dare to face the odds and come out as conquerors. We must not be weighed down by our losses, pain, deformity, and shame.

It is a fact that in 2015 we lost loved ones; many of us have lost our faith and believe in anything real. We may have lost opportunities, time, resources, hope, courage, beauty, and trust. But it is not the truth that we will never again find happiness, love, success, a better Nigeria or meaning in life.

Despite the loss, hurts and pain, we can rise to the top and be that element of change; serving as a source of strength to others and a light of hope. We must rise above our pain and not give adversaries the satisfaction of seeing us broken in disunity, pain, pity, tears, anxiety and improvishment.

We must give ourselves no choice other than break free from yesterday’s abuse, pity, shame and servitude. We must disentangle from the chains of self-doubt, self-pity, and self-destructive tendencies. We must as an entity love ourselves more; believe in our power, dreams and aspirations; because only then can we truly cause the change we desire for and in Nigeria.

Our economy may be heading south; naira may likely continue to lose its value; the battle against corruption may never have a public declaration of victory; unemployment may continue to be on the high side and state governments may continue to be irresponsible, unable to generate enough internal revenue independent of federal oil sharing.

However, even with these challenges, we can change the tide to ensure they do not become the established truth. We can come together to defend our nation and take pride in what is our own. We can choose to consume made-in-Nigeria products; thereby improving naira value; expanding local businesses and increasing employment opportunities for our brothers and sisters. We can choose to engage via advocacy visit, letter writing and mails to our public and political servants to ensure they are held accountable for good governance.

We can provide and present solutions to our governments at various levels, knowing that they cannot remedy Nigeria on their own. We must choose to be sensitive and courageous enough to report all suspected crime, domestic abuse and corrupt practices.

We must, as a moral demand, pay our taxes and ensure they are duly remitted. We must be courageous to be heroes and heroines, bold enough to speak out for the weak, oppressed and marginalised. We must choose to be vessels of good news message of love, hope and truth, rather than carriers of horror news, pain and gossip. We must be bold enough to take those business and professional risks; unafraid to try out those ideas; because only then can we become relevant – legends, icons and marks in our families, businesses, offices, industry, society, community, nation, generation and time.

Just as we defend our existence like every other creature, we must fill our hearts with enough love and consciousness, big enough to extend to our environment: The air we breathe, the soil that produces our food, the plants and trees, the animals, and waters.

Our generation only boasts of riches today, because our fathers have laboured for us; we owe it to our children to do more. We must bring out our best for children (born and unborn). We must cut out time to listen, kiss, love and hug them every day; we must show them the beauty of earth; the joy of planting a tree and watching it grow. We must come back to being humans rather than machines.

We must care so much and try to do that which is right for ourselves, our environment, our nation and most of all our children. We must give our children not only wealth, a good name, morals and reputation to inherit, but also a prosperous Nigeria; one healthy and rich with the abundance of natural resources.

Our generation only boasts of riches today, because our fathers have laboured for us; we owe it to our children to do more. We must bring out our best for children (born and unborn). We must cut out time to listen, kiss, love and hug them every day; we must show them the beauty of earth; the joy of planting a tree and watching it grow. We must come back to being humans rather than machines.

We must believe again, because only then can we truly love and protect ourselves, our families and nation. We cannot continue to fail ourselves. We must lead our lives… take out time to watch a child play and plant a tree. God bless us all.
Ofoegbu writes from Abuja (08170944306)