First, it was former President Olusegun Obasanjo who lamented about the “widespread corruption, poor leadership and immorality” under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Obasanjo spoke to an international audience in his keynote address at the Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum at the Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America, lamenting the present despicable state of affairs in Nigeria.
Davido, one of Nigeria’s Afrobeat superstars, on the other hand, joined his voice with that of Obasanjo when he stated in plain terms, in a recent podcast that, “Nigeria’s economy is in shambles.” The music ambassador warned about the inescapable serious danger of anyone contemplating to relocate to Nigeria given the precarious state of the economy.
As would be expected, the attack dogs of the government were unleashed on the two eminent Nigerians for speaking out the truth. Some people have ignorantly criticised the statements coming from both famous personalities.
Unfortunately, there’s no rational or strong points raised in condemnation of the obvious positions of these two prominent Nigerians. Majority of government spokespersons who spoke against the former Nigerian president had nothing but bitterness to emit towards the elderstatesman for his effontery in coming against the present government as he had done to successive ones. All the points raised against the undisputable statements of Obasanjo and Davido are shallow, borne out of sycophancy and selfishness. The men spoke the truth and nothing but the stark truth about Nigeria’s current state of affairs. They merely spoke the minds of the vast majority of the suffering people of the country.
Fortunately, both of them are Yoruba. Hence, no one is attaching any ethnic sentiments to the undeniable facts they reiterated about the extremely poor state of governance and the constantly terribly dwindling economy. There’s no doubt that Nigerians have never had it so awfully. Thus, more and more people are freeing themselves from the shadows of ethnicity and parochial sentiments to speak truth to power. The ranks of people willing and determined to speak out against this poorly performing government will continue to swell in the face the excruciating suffering and challenges facing the people of Nigeria. The government has no option than to look for a way of doing the impossible, which is to ameliorate the excruciating pains and hardships inflicted on the populace owing to ineffective policies, and perhaps, unbridled corruption.
The fact that Obasanjo and Davido are both Yoruba made it imperative that defenders of this excessively nepotistic and incompetent government cannot find anyone or ethnic group to accuse falsely for instigating them against a Yoruba leader of Nigeria.
We have all known Obasanjo to be bold and patriotic in condemnation of bad governance in Nigeria. Ever since he left office, he has not shied away from this onerous task unlike his colleagues, former presidents, who do not really care if the country is going down.
Patriotism is not about hiding from the truth or remaining aloof when the country is crumbling. It’s about sticking out one’s neck in defence of the interest and well-being of the vast majority, no matter whose ox is gored. Obasanjo is one Nigerian leader who has manifestly demonstrated great love for our country. He’s not one in the mould of ethnic bigots like Buhari and the present president, who is even worse. He has his own shortcomings, but cannot be compared with very low performers like former President Buhari and his successor. Undoubtedly, Obasanjo is a credible voice as far as national affairs are concerned.
On the other hand, Davido was coming out for the first time perhaps, to voice out his mind on the vital state of the nation. Kudos to him for forcefully adding his very loud voice for the world to know exactly what is going on in our dear country.
Musicians, by their calling, are like prophets. They have the instruments to speak for people to hear. Many of them on the global stage prophesied of many things that came to pass. Some delivered messages that liberated the minds and people in chains across the world. The late Bob Marley easily comes to mind. In Nigeria, the music industry has produced its fair share of such prophets. They are really countless. Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Sonny Okosun (both of the blessed memory), Idris Abdulkarim and several others sang about the unbearable suffering, hardship and bad governance in the country. None of them exaggerated the ugly situations that they condemned and sang about. For Davido to simply tell the world that Nigerians are facing untold and intolerable conditions due to a devastated economy is merely hitting the hammer on the head of the nail. It’s a naked truth that liars will end up making futile and unsuccessful efforts to conceal.
For me, God is raising the people to speak for the helpless and hopeless masses of this country since His annointed ones are in bed with the oppressors. Is it surprising that God let Davido speak only after one of the General Overseers shocked the world by stating that their prayers prevented the Naira from dangerously crashing to N10,000 per $1?
May God help to forestall the coming to power of those who will compound our woes rather than improve our well-being, which is the fundamental essence of government.
