for a mere 0.78k. Today, $1 hovers around N700. Once upon a time, Nigeria was a net exporter of refined petroleum products. As of today, imports currently account for over 80% of Nigeria’s refined product supply, creating a huge potential for local refining. Peugeot cars were once put together in Kaduna, Volkswagen cars in Lagos, Leyland in Ibadan, and ANAMCO in Enugu. Together, these giant structures flooded the market with locally assembled cars, buses and trucks. What happened to us? Nigeria Airways was about the biggest in Africa at that time as Nigerians cruised around the world in the big bird. Greed and gluttony fashioned and permitted by ‘owners’ of Nigeria grounded the big bird and we are not sure if it will ever fly.
There is nothing Nigerians cannot do only if the ‘owners’ of Nigeria let them. We heard that our local automobile assembly, Innoson Motors, supplied 80% of the jeeps that the Nigerian Army’s been using over the last 10 years. How long will Innoson stay afloat without the interruptive brigandage of the ‘owners’ of Nigeria? The Innoson testament affirms the fact that if only ‘owners’ of Nigeria will let Nigerians breathe, there’s nothing Nigerians cannot do for Nigeria. I saw the picture of the official car of the Anambra State Governor, Charles Soludo. It was not made in America, not put together in Japan and not made anywhere in Europe. But it was made by Innoson Motors in Anambra State, Nigeria. There is nothing Nigerians cannot do for Nigeria if the system lets them breathe. Upon the doggedly dependable and broad shoulders of Nigerians rest the present and future of many nations. This is the story of Nigeria. Young and old are doing great exploits in their careers and scattered all over major cities all over the world. Presidents of foreign nations count on them; so do governors of states. Multi-billion-dollar corporations desire them and small upcoming businesses do not ignore them. These men and women come from all ethnic backgrounds and their hearts pant for Nigeria; a nation blessed with men and endowed with means. These are the brains that the misbehaviours of ‘owners’ of Nigeria have chased out of the nation. Nigerians will never breathe easy until these demons breathe their last. For now, Nigerians are stuck until they unstuck themselves. If Nigerians don’t make aggressive demands for freedom from the hands of their oppressors and tormentors, ‘owners’ of Nigeria will continue to own Nigeria and enslave freeborn Nigerians.
But I rope my hope around millions of others, all around the world, that the best days for Nigeria are not too far out. We continue to dream that tomorrow will be greater than today and yesterday. As we celebrate this particular year, I sense that something unusual is about to happen to, and for, Nigeria. I sense a quiet revolution of sorts at the polling booth. I sense a putting to sleep of those ‘owners’ of Nigeria who have killed Nigeria softly. I echo the voices of many who hope that this new year begins the end of misery and mess in Nigeria. I believe that a new season is around the corner when a new Nigeria will be ushered in. The people are more than the ‘owners’ of Nigeria. Nigerians are more powerful than these phantom powers who see Nigeria as a plantation of slaves. The voice of the people will be heard whether the ‘owners’ of Nigeria like it or not. The Nigerian environment will no longer condone the status quo of lockjaw’s deplorable mess. I sense a change. I sense a sweet aroma. By this time next year, I sense a new and refreshing Nigeria. So, help us God.
Twitter: @FolaOjoTweet
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