by Amadin Uyi
The recent performance of Nigeria athletes in the just concluded London Olympics is another opportunity begging
President Jonathan to redeem himself.
A nation that in the last few years has been characterized by mediocrity and bad governance is indeed in need of selfless leaders with a clear cut blueprint to solve Nigeria’s numerous challenges. It is clear that indeed the waters of failure has manifested itself in our everyday life trickling from those in governance to the people they are mandated to govern.
Out of excuse for our national leaders of thought, one might be tempted to say that the leadership did not perform in the Olympics but the athletes, who should be blamed. However, we will not be quick to insist that preparation for national competitions does not begin with the athletes but those who have been saddled with the responsibility of choosing them using scarce national resources which would have been channeled to other uses.
The Nigerian Olympic performance is truly a reflection of everything that has satirically become Nigeria. Even success in national exams like the recently released school certificate examination and the popular jamb exams has become a pipe dream. A situation where less that 35% success rate in notable exams receives a victory shout, displays the level the nation has descended. Will we be quick to forget the recent Oteh saga where cries about her style of administration and its attendant effects on the stock market fell to deaf ears, and government still reinstated her to continue her governance of shame. Time will let me to continue to cite different examples as it is evident to all that Mediocrity has indeed taken over our national and moral consciousness.
Nigeria has become a conundrum that has defied even the most intelligent and most resolute of thinkers.
Other sectors of the nation have not been able to escape the pervasive rot evident in all sectors of the country. This is because of the proverbial African adage which says that the head cannot be sick with the body unaffected by the disease.
It is time to begin to appraise leaders by their performance and not by empty promises and assurances. Those who are given mandates to perform must live up to the expectations or be shoved out of the door. The days of giving national awards to people based on political affiliations and not on performance must come to an end.
While many Nigerians groan about the lackluster and dismal performance by team Nigeria in the just concluded Olympics, it is another opportunity begging President Jonathan to redeem himself and his government. This is not time to set up committees with fat budgets to probe the failure at the Olympics, which will in turn follow the norm of their predecessors by summiting the usual white paper that will not be touched by government, but to reappraise the selection process of individuals in all national assignments.
This administration has given one excuse too many and governance in Nigeria has now became what many call, a travesty.
With loads of unkept promises waiting to be fulfilled by this administration and many Nigerians expecting the minister of sports to be given a pat on the back, President Goodluck Jonathan must remember that he will no longer be judged as the young boy that walked to school without shoes but as a leader elected by popular majority saddled with the responsibility of taking Nigerians to the promised land.
Written by Amadin Uyi, an Abuja based Journalist. He can be reached on amadin2000@yahoo.com