But, why does man never learn?

Nigeria  is back to where it always is every four years. Government at all levels has all but abandoned governance to focus on the battle of either re-election or succession. Political parties are fighting intra- and inter-party wars that have nothing whatsoever to do with the populace. The electorate, on the other hand, who ought to approach the matter with more knowing seem instead to enjoy the long-running political erosion.

Sssh, stop pointing the finger. This quadrennial tendency to self-destruct did not start today. Not with this crop of governments, not with the present political class, not with this generation of voters. From the beginning, or well, from somewhere not long after the beginning, election things in Nigeria have always been as primitive as now.

Look at it, even if you cannot. Compare and contrast between the general elections that threw up President Shehu Shagari and state governors in 1979 as well as their reelection in 1983 and the seven that we have had since 1999. It is almost as if the same sets of leaders have featured in our electoral testaments, old and new. Or, is our problem the Nigerian election playbook?

Because, only a self-hating people would enjoy suffering this much. Or, is the problem with Nigeria a natural curse? Are Nigerians like Israelites who spent three more decades on the four centuries that their captivity was to last? Since Nigeria and Nigerians are and have everything we need, why is it impossible to exorcise our land and ourselves (of these twin evil spirits called politics and elections)?

If a particular mannerism has not fixed our country, why do we not eschew it? If an alarming majority of citizens remain in abject poverty and utter darkness, why are leaders desperate to remain in power? Why do they fight and even kill to impose themselves and their cronies, if this is really about the people? Can we call this desperation democracy, and if we truly can, can we honestly say it is what Nigeria needs -going forward?

The foregoing is just a rhetorical battery. Nobody can answer the questions. And, nobody should attempt to answer them. However, Nigerians should wake up and wise up.

Nigeria belongs to all of us. Was it then Gen. Ibrahim Babangida or then Gen. Muhammadu Buhari who said that Nigerians have no other country? Indeed. No Nigerian(s) can or should take Nigeria away from compatriots.

No Nigerian or group of Nigerians can or should attempt to keep Nigeria, one more nanosecond, in the hole it has been for far too long. Nigeria itself is tired of having so much but being so little. Nigerians too are sick and tired of so producing so much motion but recording very little movement. Let us stop pretending, something is horrendously wrong the way this country is set up; the way our people oscillate aimlessly and blindly when it comes to the fundamental business of leadership recruitment.

We must wonder allow and publicly who did Nigeria and Nigerians this strong thing? Who did we offend? Why have we, man and boy, kept doing the same nonsense but expecting excellence? Specifically, why is everything related to elections and progress in Nigeria rocket science to Nigerians?

And, why do Nigerians prefer political BDSM? You are in bondage and pains, but you like it. Yes, you like it -because if you did not- you would forcefully get out of bed with known and proven enemies. Nigeria and Nigerians have gone round this seemingly insurmountable, seemingly impenetrable mountain for too long that we must have discovered at least one way out -by hook or by crook!

The aggregate of what we have been through, as a country and as a people, in the hands of politicians is enough not only to arouse us from our anesthetic slumber but also to alarm us into action. What Nigeria earnestly needs is a quick, redemptive strike by Nigerians. The time to have struck down these anti-nationhood political shenanigans was yesterday. Doing so today, now, rather than wait for tomorrow, is therefore the way to go.

Already, Nigerians are showing signs that 2027 shall not be business as usual. We raised the alarm when the National Assembly wanted to do their thing with the electoral act and although they still got away with some things, at least we succeeded in forcing in a semblance of sanity. Even the national governing party wanting to play the trademark hide and seek over party primaries found to its chagrin that the masses are awake and watching. Nigerians must not sleep, Nigerians must keep our eyes permanently on the ball and on the goal and, hmm, also on the leg!

Nigerians should have no problem breaking some legs; sorry, breaking some eggs -many eggs, even all eggs- to make the 2027 omelette that our country is in dire need of. Nigerians should not because of catarrh be afraid to bite the nose of so-called leaders who did not fear sh-t when they serially bit off our collective anus. Nigerians should go for broke in 2027 to reset this country. Enough is enough!

Fortunately, God is a Nigerian which is the only way to explain how and why the country continues to stand when many others which suffered just a tenth went under. Nature is on the side of our people. The God factor, which these scoundrels never consider part of the equation, is ever active. And, in 2027, it is going to play a major part.

More fortunately, they who have held Nigeria hostage neither acknowledge this sole determinant factor nor can they do anything about it. In fact, they never see it coming; which is a very good thing since these guys have the powers to make or break. Pray, how can they break what they cannot see coming? That same power has already arrived our country in preparation for 2027.

Consequently, vote sellers and buyers and election riggers and such other manipulators of process had better realise that they have another think coming. Nigeria deserves better. Nigerians cannot continue to watch helplessly. Help and light have come.

God bless Nigeria!