We are at yet another trying period for our democracy. As speculations intensify about Mr President's health, Nigerians cannot help but wonder what the very near future holds for our nation. As someone put it to me recently "we are back to playing politics". Indeed it's fair to say that in the past year and half or so, governance rather than politics has dominated our national polity. Opinions may vary about Mr President's policies and actions or inaction, but one thing we can agree on is that for the most part Nigerians have kept the focus of the debate on governance, much unlike the previous administration whose years were dominated by political hullabaloos and grand corruption culminating in the 2015 General elections.
Mr President's health challenges have in recent times rekindled a familiar and bitter taste of political bickering over who should replace him come 2019. The rumour mills have been running on overdrive, talks of a resignation and even certain death have been amok in recent weeks. What's more, the speculation that the Vice President who in fairness has managed to steady the ship in these troubled times, might take over from the boss and step aside for a Northern candidate in 2019. This situation develops at the risk of stalling any concrete development policies already on the way. As we all know the trend in Nigeria is that two years before election year politicians abandon governance for politics. Mr President's health status has forced us into that scramble several months in advance, particularly as it becomes clear that he will not be running in the next elections.
The president appearing at the Friday prayers yesterday has helped to quell some of the more grave speculations but now more than ever, Nigerians need Mr President to come forward and open up about his health and his plans moving into the second half of his first term. If he won't see it out, we need to know now. Personally I would prefer his health is improved so that he can see out these first four years and save us the chaos which is sure to follow if he leaves prematurely. Vice President Osibanjo is already under a fair degree of pressure from some elements who want him to concede to not run in 2019, particularly the northern oligarchs who have already begun to map out a succession plan.
In any case it is certainly going to be another strong test for our democracy and for us as citizens. We must remain steadfast, alert and continue to demand accountability from our leaders, force them to focus on governance rather than stack up their war chest for the succession battle.
The most rampant phenomenon in this fast paced world we live in today, is the absolute lack of patience in most people. It is in everything, some of us are too impatient for traffic so we drive way too fast, we are too impatient to eat healthy so we prefer instant noodles, we are heading to the future so damn fast, we don't care what composites our present. I am a typical example of this madness but lately, I have been learning about patience. It is a wonderful feeling to not be in a hurry, the problem is that we have somehow managed to convince ourselves that the only way to be successful or happy is by doing it first! It is a scam. Life teaches us, along with time that a true sense of fulfilment does not depend on the when but the what and the how well. As a victim of the Nigerian tertiary education system, I know firsthand what it feels like to not be in control of one's own progress at a certain time in life. I spent the greater part of the last two years at home because of...
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