I am unapologetically a Nigerian of both parents. I hold no citizenship of any other nation. So, I am committed to defending Nigeria and the sovereignty of the people. Nobody can stop me from defending Nigeria state.
But my loyalty to Nigerian State is not loyalty to those who forced their ways to power or who forced unqualified people on us.
I will not blindly defend those who force themselves on us and have ruined the potential of every good and forwards looking Nigerians. The actions and inactions of our leaders have landed us where we are today. Those leaders don’t deserve any respect. Only leaders who lead by examples deserve respect.
The potentialities and greatness of most Nigerians of extraordinary courage are on a daily basis being diminished. The hopes of many Nigerians are on a daily basis being dashed by the reckless manner of governance in virtually all parts of Nigeria. Most of those who have ruined us and the future of Nigeria did so by their total disregard to the rule of law.
The hopes and aspirations of good governance are on a daily basis in jeopardy in Nigeria. Just look at the lawlessness in every facet of our national life. Those who always breached our laws have no moral and legal rights to hold other citizens accountable for breaching the same laws.
In most cases, governance has been reduced to personal comfort and estate of those who lacked legitimacy to lead us. That is why democracy is thrown to the dogs. See how thuggery and thuggish approaches to governance have become the potentials lots of this great country.
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Young men and women have taken to crimes and criminalities to earn a living. It is difficult to see good examples to follow in good governance except in few and exceptional cases. It is indeed very few to see leaders leading by examples.
Nigeria has been held in the jugular by the very people that Nigeria made. It is a sad reality. But we must not give up. Nigerian leaders take joy and pleasure in engaging in constitutional sacrilege. This is the sad reality.
How many in power today have regard and respect for the Nigerian constitution. I see none except very few. We must insist and demand that the Nigerian constitution be respected. Those who engage in constitutional iniquities should not demand respect and loyalty from the right thinking members of Nigerian society. The way wrong doings are being rewarded is the reason doing wrongs keep multiplying in our system. A system that rewards evils and wrongs can not progress.
The only way we as a people can get to the promised land of our dreams is to keep to the rules and regulations of doing what is good and right in Nigeria. As long as we dance around rules and regulations and there are no punishments for misbehaviour, we can not attain the desired growth and development.
I have come to the understanding and to terms that those who violate rules and regulations most in the conduct of affairs in Nigeria are those who have responsibilities to do what is right.They are the one who see what is wrong and called it right. The duty to do what is good is vested in those leading us. Let them resolve to do good, and Nigeria will be great.
– By Jibrin Samuel Okutepa, SAN
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