As a blood Ambassador, I would ordinarily feel unsatisfied to have celebrated the National Blood Day without sacrificing for those who are highly in need of blood. I wish everybody could become a blood ambassador and donate part of their blood. That was why I freely gave part of mine on that eventful day. But one thing was for sure; something left my body and I needed to rest. I needed to keep my head down like a lizard just to get over dizziness and wooziness. But my stubborn utter ego couldn’t let me do the wish of the doctor; so I headed for the streets the next day for my morning jogging, after which, I broke down like a collapsed building. No other choice was left, but to be forced by the same stubborn self to take some rest; but while I was resting, the mind was in some places; it stubbornly travelled to the far end of the country; looking at the AYZ axis of my dear country. So, came the big question; how do we donate this blood collectively to save lives? At least about seventy million Nigerians are dying in one hospital or the other and medical confirmation has indicated shortage of blood; hence the need for immediate transfusion for the revival of the dying country men and women. If the few of us who have been donating this blood continue to donate without other volunteers, we may end up joining the likes of Dele Giwa and Fela without achieving the essence of our struggle. But as I continue to ponder on the likely replacement of the lost blood, I imagine donating more blood than I ever donated. The blood that I donated for the Okada people, the pensioners, and the Nigerian widows and even for the Nigerian Artistes was never enough to contend with the national stress and confrontation. It clearly indicates that until the last blood in me is sacrificed for these million and victimized Nigerians, things will remain unaffected. The battered face and brutality suffered in the hands of officials of the Nigerian security was not able to change things; this time, we must learn to donate this blood, I mean the real liquid, the actual red-tick blood for some sorts of redemption and revival. Many Nigerians are crying on their hospital beds because they doubt if they can see tomorrow. The nation has percolated their blood and they are left with the hard option of dying before their death, and with the supposed new dawn in place, the national blood will no doubt be put in jeopardy, and we will need to give more blood than ever; the number of donors must increase; I can’t be the only blood Ambassador in this case.
At the moment, it’s not going to be just losing blood to hunger and starvation, it’s simply going to be losing blood to leaders of inordinate ambition. They are leaders whose antecedents are parasitical, as human blood is his food. They survive on sham and lies, sucking your blood and blowing in some saccharine air. Why will you complain when the pain of the gorge is relieved almost immediately with some wise and careful massaging? You will hardly complaint because you will prefer that he feast on you with his sweet dribbling syntax of “ego better” soon; and that becomes our problem. Now I’m sick. I cannot continue to donate, but who will donate for me? I see few people who are ready and willing to rise to the occasion with the little blood in them to donate without complaint. The multi-polar political struggle for power has given them the idea to spill our blood in the name of regional and ethnic rivalry. With the battle for political superiority, agenda multiplication, and syntax duplication and manipulation, we have all forgotten how little the national blood is at the moment. What we see is just anticipation upon anticipation; we envision the luck of job creation from the blood sucking demon; we see strength where there is obvious weakness of ministerial appointment, we see planning and results where there are no well articulated plans and policies for national development. What we see is the illusion of reality, because we have been so reaped of our blood that we become blank and useless to ourselves and to our country.
The rate at which we lose blood and energy on frivolous things simply tells one that before the sun crosses to the other side; we will all go to sleep. Because we have deceptive syntax without meaning, our blood will continue to gush out like the endless water from the rock. Because we have refused to see the lie behind the truth, we will continue to give in to some blood sucking political actors who will continue to suck the life wire of the nation through office creation and designations.
When the battle for the various offices began, there were countless records of violence in different states. This is because electoral offices have become so juicy that people can now lay down their lives just to secure same for their families. Like father, like son, so it was the same tune even at the top echelon that decided the election of the president. Then it was time for the ministerial appointment; and we saw all kinds of rubbish, lobbying for juicy portfolios; if these supposed credible leaders feel one bit of concern for the country, they won’t be looking for goldmines in the available ministries. It is all about them and just them; we are simply putting our blood on the line for responding positively to the chorus that echoed through the concept of ‘Goodluck’ as against national planning. The immature and fragile nature of the present leadership became glaring during the recent selection to better the lives of the few. Some analysts have concluded that the choice of the present cabinet is a manifestation of the failure of our lucky agenda as everything still depends on gambling for survival. I would wish to advise that our leaders still find a better footing in careful analysis and evaluation in governance. In the first instance, many have lost their blood since the warm up for the constitution of the cabinet. The individual responsibility that characterizes every presidential structure has been turned to collective responsibility, transforming our system to a parliamentary struggle. Too bad…I weep for all Nigerians who have given their blood for this country.
It’s only a weak structure that gives in to irrational suggestions that will take the country to no direction. It’s only a weak and incompetent political leader that seeks the advice of riff raffs and militants. It is only when a man can no longer take the pressure from within his territory that he will begin to seek for the support of international security. It appears such a weak leader does not understand the shortcomings that are associated with such act of feebleness.
The May 29th inaugural speech has been the most satirical speech in the history of democracy. It was a caricature of the polity. Every reasonable Nigerian should understand that many words bring forth less action, while few words reserve the available energy for results. The rhetoric of the inaugural speech was the many promises that are still far from sight.
Just before I move too far from the point; I would like to affirm that if I must donate more blood, then I must donate in a more professional way, at least with the people of similar ideas, character, zeal and zest. If we must achieve any results, then blood must be spilled, sacrifices have to be made. It happened in Kenya, Ghana, Egypt, and recently in Southern Sudan. If we must go with this approach, then you must be able to donate your blood for this struggle. If possible, we should be able to give up the last blood in us in order to revive Nigeria from the hands of these mediocre. This is the time; else stop grumbling.
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