Agitation, A wrongly Focused Effort by Anthony Okediran

There is the need, at times like this-with growing momentum of dissents, uneasiness and agitations, to review our journey and reset our perception as a people. Indeed, it is one apt time to recheck what went wrong with us as a nation and speak to latter days. But, very necessary, the issues should neither be tribalised nor treated with kids glove.

On a quick note, we should not only express disgust about the gory sight on social media.


First, we must look at the impact of idleness on us all. Recession was not solely a product misappropriations. It was fanned by our perchant for easy route. We gather to dream of Eldorado while we refuse the long walk.

We lost it to tribalism. Refusing to celebrate neither our unity. I love to see Phino do collabor with Olamide. Tell me if they both don't deserve national honours, say MON or OFR.

Our preacher also fail us. Travel  through the villages and see who is evangeling or educating the people . The Orthodox in a few but the modern day preacher prefer those who can pay huge tithes. The NGOs only set up schools in the city; advertising but neither educating or evangelising.

The effects are not hidden. However, like always, we are too busy to see, and to even notice.

Our leaders keep trying to lure investors. But no one would invest were there is no peace. Productivity and profitable investment is the win-win venture derived from peaceful co-existence, and it goes a long way in addressing the deprivation that causes agitation.

Whenever we reject the stance of the ancestors we return ourselves to the laboratory of reality. And you know what? Reality comes after resources have been lavished on the unprofitable. But then, the question is, why not borrow the old man's note to enable us reach our destinations.

When properly harnessed, our diversity, which on a face value seems to be the spur of the recurring agitation, could be one source of energy needed to grow as a nation. Lagos is already our market and the ports can link us to ourselves and the entire world.

Our population is our greatest resource. We can use it wisely. And this is rather the area we should focus our energies on.


Opinions expressed here are solely that of the writer and do not represent the views of the blogger.