Lasisi Mohammed, Generational Responsibility
Generational
Responsibility
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
Respected elders and younger
members of our community. Ladies and Gentlemen. I thank God Almighty for giving
us this opportunity to dialogue about the way forward for our dear country - NIGERIA.
Our challenge at this point
in time can be summed-up by analyzing the responsibilities, and performances of
four generations through their actions, inactions, misappropriation of
priorities and expectations.
Generation Builders
This is the generation represented by Chiefs Awolowo,
Ajasin, Akintola, Anthony Enahoro, Alhajis Ahmadu Bello,Tafawa Balewa, Aminu Kano,
Drs Nnamdi Azikiwe, Okpara, Gaba Nenge,Rewane,Ikoku, Ekong, Arikpo, Mbalu, and their
associates just to mention a few. Despite their disagreements, they built Nigeria
to such a high level that we all look back to it with pride to this very day. They
also created the best Educational System in Africa , one that was competitive with
its counterparts anywhere in the world. In addition, they brought into existence
the first Mass Communication system in Africa , that is radio and television stations,
and constructed the tallest building on the continent. Under their able leadership,
tangible progress was made. Their achievements made us proud, caused us to stand
tall, and enabled us to hold our heads high in the world community.
May God Almighty forgive those of them that have passed
on, and keep them in the company of the righteous, and may God continue to bless
those of them that are still with us. We do thank you from the bottom of our hearts.)
Generation Destroyers
From 1966, when the late
General Aguyi Ironsi, took over power from an elected government, Nigeria has violently
changed from a Federal Republic to a unitary form of government, in which all power
comes from the center. This generation has taken us on a roller-coaster ride of
ethic violence, unprecedented corruption, and false promises that made things worse
for our people year in and year out.
They have come in different
nationalities and religions, but the bottom line is that for over 40 years, our
people have continued to undergo unimaginable suffering in the land of plenty. It
was under the rule of these destroyers that the best Presidential election in the
history of Nigeria won by the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola, a member of the above mentioned
generation, was annulled. Then Abiola was allowed to die in jail. May God forgive
and keep him in the company of the righteous.
It was under this generation of destroyers that the Federal Attorney
General and Minister of Justice was assaulted in broad daylight with officers of
the Nigeria police present. Years have passed and no one has been arrested, let
alone prosecuted for the crime (assault). A week after the assault fellow compatriots,
the same Chief Law enforcement Officer was brutally murdered in his bedroom, and
what has been done about it? Not much. That is generation destroyers. They have
no shame. It is this same generation that introduced letter-bombs to our political
lexicon, which they have been using to eliminate their suspected political opponents.
The leadership of this generation
has continuously sabotaged efforts by well-meaning members of the generation to
do the right thing. They have destroyed
our educational, health, and agricultural systems. They have destroyed our roads,
energy, power, military, and other structures, and infrastructures they inherited.
What they have not burnt down, or outrightly destroyed, they
have used stolen resources to acquire. This is “highway robbery,” but they call
it privatization. At no time in our history have we had more resources than we have
had during this era of Generation Destroyers. However, at no time in our collective
history have our people undergone what seems like an unending suffering than the
era of this group.
They have forced us out of
our land, and today, we send billions of dollars, and other international currencies
back home to keep bodies and souls together. Yet we are called foreigners in our
own land by this group.
This is not a call for revolt. This is a realization of where
we are, where we could have been at this point in time, and where we must be. We,
therefore, have to chart another course. One that moves us away from destruction,
and towards rebuilding and healing our homeland.
Today, we have Generation
Rebuilders. This is our generation. We are the generation that must restore
hope into the society and give the younger generation a better chance in life. We
are better educated, more exposed to the world, and God Almighty has given us more
resources than the Generation Builders. One of the leader of that generation (Papa
Awo) only had three years of former college education. With all we have at our disposal,
we must ask ourselves why we can't face our destiny and take on the job of reconstructing
our homeland? The task seems enormous, but we should not be afraid.
In the area of unity, we should live by our tradition, Ija
Irepo Lo Ye Wa (In unity let us stand). It is important to note that problems on
the Continent, as well as the ones in the Diaspora, are not insumortable. But without
unity, it becomes extremely hard to tackle. The current problems in Nigeria must
be resolved through a Sovereign National Conference in which among others, the government
created problems, like what our people are going through in Lagos State where local
government funds are been withheld without good reasons, and recurring issues like
resources control, revenue allocation, power sharing, state/local police will be
resolved without delay in favor of what the people want. Let us continue to discourage
members of Generation Rebuilders who are emulating or may want to emulate the retrogressive
tendencies of Generation Destroyers.
Generation Healers
We thank God - Almighty, that a new geration is springing up behind Generation
Re-builders.
Iam very grateful to God
for the necessary bridge that is increasingly been erected btween these two generations
of Nigerians. We sincerely hope that the continued efforts of the leadership of
generationdestroyers to cling power, and consequently prevent the re-building, and
healing of Nigerian project will end sooner than later.
All effort must be make to
help, and encourage generation Healers to fulfil it's destiny.
Vigilance, focus, and unity are the keys.
Let's learn how to forgive each other. We are bound to have
different opinions on issues and methods, but the goal of Rebuilding Hope in Nigeria
must be the same. We can agree to disagree and not be disagreeable in the process.
Our slogan should be unity not uniformity. In fact, we are obligated to do this
for the sake of our younger generation. This is our time to change things for the
better. We should not fail. We must not fail. Failure is not an option. With the
help of God, our friends and well-wishers, we will get to the Promised Land of Hope,
Progress, and Prosperity. May God Bless America . May God Bless Nigeria . And May
God Bless and keep you all always.
Thank You.
Lasisi Ogunmola Mohammed
Immediate Past National President
of Egbe Omo Yoruba in North America .
(National Association of
Yoruba Descendands in North America)