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When
designers first started planning the massive Orlando Power Station in Soweto,
Johannesburg’s largest township, they had no idea that it would become one of
the most recognizable landmarks in South Africa. Originally intended to meet
the massive electricity demands of the controversial township, the two large
cooling towers that came to define it were for more than 50 years white and
drab. It wasn’t until after the plant was decommissioned that this important
site came to life. (Photo: landlopers.com)
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Nigeria
is called the giant of Africa. But is Nigeria truly the giant of Africa?
Perhaps, Nigeria is the potential giant of Africa with clay feet and spindly
legs. We have the potentialities to make Nigeria the greatest and biggest
economy in Africa; but clueless, visionless, inept, and corrupt leadership has
continued to hinder our national growth.
Is Nigeria not with equable weather conditions,
human and material resources, fertile land mass, and many waters? With
purposeful and patriotic political leadership, Nigeria can be transformed to an
earthly paradise.
Nigeria
is far from being an earthly paradise. Millions of Nigerians, who are
under-employed, survive on less than one dollar a day. And millions of
unemployed university graduates pound our streets daily searching for the
non-existent and elusive blue collar jobs. The worn-out soles of their shoes
and discolored collars of their shirts are proofs of their penury and
privation. Yet, members of the ruling political elite, the church founders, and
some moneybags live ostentatious and expensive lifestyles while the poor burrow
in the dirt and scavenge in refuse dumps for food. The disparity between the
poor and the rich is widening, daily. And, the impoverished malcontents in the
country mull such alternatives as migrating to foreign countries, or taking to
a life of crime.
Today,
millions of Nigerians are living in Europe, America, and other African
countries. They left the shores of Nigeria for economic reason. In order to
amass wealth in their host countries, those Nigerians living in the Diaspora
engage in such crimes as drug –smuggling and armed robbery. Now, the number of
Nigerians serving time in prisons in foreign countries is increasing,
exponentially. Thousands of our compatriots are on death-row in Asian
countries, too. And, the Nigerian government is seeking reprieve for them.
Today,
South Africa has become the Mecca and the place of refuge for Nigerian economic
migrants. And, Nigerians of the Igbo stock are fast populating the country.
But, daily, we are regaled with tales of how some Nigerians were killed in gun
fight in South-Africa, the rain-bow nation. Only a few towns in Anambra state
do not have causalities of the gun-violence in South-Africa. Those killed were
alleged to be involved in illicit and illegal drug trafficking.
Like
America, South Africa has a gun culture that permits people to own guns. So,
some people in these countries do use their juggernauts of death to dispatch
their friends and relatives to the great beyond when they’re emotionally
troubled. And, armed robbers, terrorists, and kidnappers carry out their
operations with guns, too.
Lucky
Dube was a great musician. He specialized in the genre of music called reggae.
And, he was a topnotch reggae musician, whose songs resonated with the
persecuted people in the world. Reggae as a genre of music is used to fight
oppressive governments. And reggae musicians are seen as protest musicians.
Bob
Marley, Sunny Okosun, and Lucky Dube- all deceased now – belong to the class of
protest musicians. Lucky Dube, the great cultural ambassador of South Africa,
was shot dead in Rosettenville, Johannesburg, South Africa, as he dropped off
his daughter and son. Lucky Dube lived between August 3, 1964 and October 18,
2007. His eventful and illustrious life and career were brutally abridged by
Sifiso Mhlange, Lodwe Gxowa, and Mbuti Mabe.
Again,
Senzo Meyiwa, the South African football captain, was killed while staying in
his girlfriend’s house. The killing of Meyiwa sparked off outrage in South
Africa. Zanokhule Mbatha, who was suspected of killing him, was arrested after
a nation-wide manhunt.
The
government of South Africa should enact laws that will curtail the possession
of guns by its citizens. And, those that violate the country’s gun laws should
be punished by the existing gun laws in the country.
Nigerians
who are living in that country should abide by the laws governing South-Africa.
They should desist from engaging in criminal activities, which can attract
unpalatable repercussions to them.
Originally published on www.opinionnigeria.com
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