Nigeria's growth and development will intimidate the US and China

SOMETIMES IT HAS TO GET WORST TO GET BETTER
Olanrewaju Ojuoluwa

In my little experience in life so far, one thing I have learnt is that most often, tough times precede change of status for better. And just as in the popular saying, tough time never lasts indeed, tough people do.

And, if there are features we possess as a people, they are that we are tough and resilient (bar the fact that we have taken it to the extreme, smiling in the midst of sufferings, allowing ourselves to be afflicted the more by our leaders). However, notwithstanding our being extremists as far as toughness and resilience are concerned, there is hope of a better tomorrow for us both as people and country as a whole.

Considering how seedlings have to rotten in the soil before they can germinate and bring forth fruit in due time, most times, things must get worst before they get better. By rational thinking, whenever anything gets decayed or rotten, it is expected to get spoilt and be of no use, value or benefit anymore. However, it is at that moment of hopelessness that nature permits a seed planted to bring forth life. How wonderful!

It is therefore 'good' that Nigeria is rotten right now. Our being at this lowest state ever, is a pointer that we will blossom sooner than later. Yes, it is true that the present state of the Nigeria State is nothing to write home about and in fact, an apology, but tell it to the world that we shouldn't be mocked, Nigeria's new Dawn Era beckons.

The life of the Japanese bamboo tree is enough reasons to know that Nigeria has more than just glimpse of hope. The Japanese bamboo would not grow beyond 2fts between its time of planting and four years, but would get as tall as 90fts in the fifth year. A whole 4400% increase in just one year! Interesting, isn't it?

Nigeria may be a crawling giant at 58 years old, but that does not mean she will remain the same till her 60th or 70th birthday. She may (not minding fact) become a country to reckon with in all ramifications of life before her 65th independence celebration. What I am driving at is that, our present status is not a decider of what our future would be. Our background cannot determine our future.

However, there are things to do for us to get to our Dreamland. There are steps and actions to take. There are habits to let go of. There are those to get rid of. There are attributes to let go of. There are attitudes to imbibe. And of all things that must be gotten rid of is, GULLIBILITY.

When Nigerians get rid of gullibility, they would in turn get rid of bad leadership. They would then not be easily decieved by greedy politicians neither would they be manipulated so cheaply by a generation of looters cum dealers who have no love whatsoever for the masses.

As expected, the Nigerian people may not get it right in 2019, we may as well not get it right even after then, but, one thing is sure; by the time we get it right as a people, our growth and development will be so rapid that, those who have gone ahead of us would feel threatened by our success. I'm sure or this because we are an excellent people. Plus, our rottenness and decadence is towards the springing forth of a new dawn era.

Good bless Nigeria and her loving people.

I'm Olanrewaju Ojuoluwa, Youth Advocate and Social Reformer, Convener, #TooRichToSuffer