Light everywhere like it is the first day of
creation!
I see beautiful houses and mansions. I see skyscrapers.
I see good hospitals; schools too. I see good roads and transport systems. In
fact, I’m on a train; on my way to catch an appointment in the capital city.
The light rail system is second to none. Read more
I see an industrialized economy where the dividends of democracy have been delivered to the people by the government of the people. This is a nation where agriculture is the backbone of the economy. I see exporters, so many goods leaving the border.
I see an industrialized economy where the dividends of democracy have been delivered to the people by the government of the people. This is a nation where agriculture is the backbone of the economy. I see exporters, so many goods leaving the border.
I see the birthplace of great ideas as
companies’ troop in their numbers. I see a nation where everything works.
I see nation where leaders are true to their
words; Men of integrity. Yes, men with passion and women with dreams and
purpose driven youths. I see a Police force with the verve and vivacity to
truly fight crime. I see a nation where night never falls, as people go about
their business without fear. I see a nation can clothes, feeds and shelters its
people… a nation where farmers are king.
A nation of wealth, prosperity, substance, a nation of… God, where on earth is
my thesaurus?!
As if to answer my question, I hear a loud
sound from behind and my vision goes blurry. As I struggle to keep the image
flowing, the sound gets louder…
And then I wake up.
I have been dreaming, I realize. I had fallen
asleep in one of the very frustrating traffic no-shows that have become
synonymous with Lagos.
As I try to
adapt to my new environment again, I saw an army of beggars approaching. I see
hungry people. I see people putting their lives at risk just to sell their
wares, haggling with one potential buyer here; struggling to keep up with
another who has collected an item without paying.
I see little
boys wash windscreen of cars for a few naira which may or may not be given to
them by the driver. I see people ‘lapping’ in buses
because they cannot afford the fare. I see long queues in filling stations. I see
a nation with people proud to be called ‘second hand’ as they gracefully
patronize ‘Okrika’ clothing. I see dilapidated buildings, poor infrastructure,
abandon social amenities. I see a frustrated people.
In few
words, I see poverty, crime, sickness, hopelessness, corruption.
Corruption,
oh!
The
cankerworm that has eaten deep into the fabric of the nation… It’s all too much
for me to take.
We live the
exact opposite of my dream.
Yes, in my dream, it was beautiful. It felt
so real; my dream of my nation.
That was the Nigeria in my dream. That is the
Nigeria of my dreams.
Three years ago I dreamt and with each
passing day the dream becomes clearer. As we celebrate our 53rd independence,
there is no better time to truly envision tomorrow. What do you want Nigeria to
be like? What is your dream Nigeria? ‘Eko o ni baje’ one man says, ‘Nigeria
would not spoil’ we should all scream.
Nigeria may not be all we want it to be today
but it could be all we want it to be tomorrow. Together we can make our dream
Nigeria a reality.
Eseoghene
Odiete is the Creative Director of Hesey Designs and also a Public Relations
consultant with C and F Porter Novelli
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