Nigerian Youth and the 2011 Responsibility Revolution

By Tor King

Before I begin this article, let me categorically state that my intent is not to stage a revolution. But if after reading, you think I have crossed the lines, forgive me. It is borne out of the continuous genocide that Nigerians have long endured from the captors who engage themselves in the reproduction of corruption.

There is no doubt in my mind as to where we are headed in 2011 if we fail to oust the PDP government; I see a Nigeria going up in flames after another rigged election; I see youth taking up arms in defense of their votes; I envision a Middle East live in Nigeria and worse, I see the International Community taking advantage and making fortune out of our misfortune. In 2011, the ‘‘colonial masters’’ will be back to take control of a nation that is out of control.

Do not be led into the deceit of the bogus claim that we are the giant of Africa, a position that is not enviable not even by comparison with the poorest countries of the world. In 1993, 14 million Nigerians voted for MKO Abiola, the widely acclaimed winner of the 1993 presidential elections and their votes were thrown into the waste bin.

At the end of the 2011 general elections, the government would have expended 90 billion naira on another election that will assemble another 15 million electorates. The big question is ‘‘what will happen if our votes  do not count’’? The government has not shown any significant sign of a free and fair election. Don’t make the mistake of asking me whether Goodluck should contest or not, it’s the craziest question I have ever heard in my entire life- the minimum guarantee for a free and fair election is for the PDP not to contest at all! What manner of political party will rig election from councillorship to Presidential level?

PDP has never ceased to tell us that they are the largest political party in the world. They have however failed to admit that they equally parade the most bankrupt and reactionary politicians in the world. No political party in Somalia would accept Babaginda as its member after going through the first paragraph of his profile. No opposition party in Nigeria will accept Obasanjo to vie for councillorship elections, worst, not even the best rigged election in the world will produce Yar’adua as President and revalidate it at the Supreme Court! Yes, we can, the PDP will claim.

  I hate to be fooled that my country is blessed with enormous natural resources. I am an everyday victim of gross injustice, endless suffering, I have watched helplessly the killings of innocent children in Jos metropolis. I have endured hunger and starvation. My siblings are unemployed. I do not have equal rights with the children of the rich- my school is no where in top ranking even in the poorest countries in Africa. My country produces the worst graduates world over. I cry each time I see the children of the corrupt class as the sole beneficiaries of the labors of our heroes past. I suffer in the midst of plenty, in a country that my fathers fight and died for! I labor in vain, with no roads to transport my goods; I go to school eager to learn with no available teachers to teach, the police shoot at innocent citizens, I wait earnestly in pains at my hospital bed with no doctors to attend to me. 

In my trails and tribulations, I try to convince myself that things will get better, I am reminded of the travails that our founding fathers endured from the hands of the slave masters and how the present government is set out to destroy the descendents of our founding fathers whose blood was shed for the liberation of this country. I feel a sense of guilt each time I see thousands of Nigerians assemble to watch premier league matches while the spirits of Ken Saro Wiwa, Abubakar Rimi, Gani Fawehinmi, Dele Giwa, Murtala Muhammed, Fela Kuti, Bola Ige wail and wait for her youth to put an end to the PDP government. At random, we throw punches at opponent fans and pledge support to a particular team for life. Are we truly the descendants of Awolowo?

As we point accusing fingers at the designers of this unjust society, we must not fail to admit of collective failure to stage a bloody revolution. However, we owe the next generation a huge debt to lay a brick or two upon which a new Nigeria can be built. Young people all over the world have shown that ideas flourish where fresh minds gather; their groups even though decentralized defeated the armies of injustice. In Haiti, Wyclef Jean is set to be the Obama of Haiti, Ghana has taken a lead in Africa. I am tempted to ask, who will be the Obama of Naija Land in 2011? Nigerians, you have the list- Between old breeds like Jonathan, Atiku, Babaginda, Bafarawa, Buhari, Okotie, Momodu, Utomi and the new breed Nuhu Ribadu? I ask again in a simpler manner, who you go vote for? Make your choice, change or continuity?

Teerser Adamu at the ''Iwu Must go Rally'' that influenced the removal of corrupt INEC Chairman, Prof. Maurice Iwu in 2010

Tor King, 24 is a Political Strategist, writes from Abuja
torking2011@hotmail.com, +2348132075273