In 1985, during the military regime in Nigeria, the late pop musician who later became a gospel musician, Evangelist Sonny Okosun, asked a rhetorical question in his album titled: Which way Nigeria?. The chorus in the song goes thus: “Which way Nigeria? Which way to go? I love my fatherland, I want to know which way Nigeria is heading to”.
At that time, Okosun was concerned about the years of military dictatorship and so he was helping the masses to blow their trumpet that democracy must be allowed in the country. He also advocated for a change of attitude towards the Project Nigeria.
Here’s the entire text of the song: “Which way Nigeria, which way to go, I love my fatherland, I want to know which way Nigeria is heading to. Many years after independence we still find it hard to start, how long shall we be patient till we reach the promised land, lets save Nigeria, so Nigeria won’t die.
Chorus: which way Nigeria etc.
Solo: Every little thing that goes wrong we start to blame the government we know everything that goes wrong we are part of the government, let’s save Nigeria so Nigeria won’t die
Chorus: Which way Nigeria etc.
Solo: Inefficiency and indiscipline is ruining the country now, corruption here there and everywhere inflation is very high, let’s save Nigeria so Nigeria won’t die
Chorus: Which way Nigeria etc.
Solo: We made mistakes in the oil boom, not knowing that was our doom, some people now have everything while some have nothing, let’s save Nigeria so Nigeria won’t fall.
Chorus: Which way Nigeria etc.
Solo: Green revolution is a reality, let’s give it a chance to grow, lets join our hands together to farm the land so we can have enough food to chew, let’s save Nigeria so Nigeria won’t die.
Chorus: Which way Nigeria etc.
Solo: Our ambition to become millionaires is ruining the country down, we all want to be millionaires we want to leave in the earth, let’s save Nigeria so Nigeria won’t die.
Chorus: Which way Nigeria etc.
Solo: Remember that a single step is the beginning of a million mile, let’s start right now to rebuild ourselves to make the country smile, let’s save Nigeria so Nigeria won’t die.
Chorus: Which way Nigeria etc.
Solo: Heaven and earth will pass away it is written in the book of God, the good people will surely find their way and the meek will inherit the world, let’s save Nigeria so Nigeria won’t fall.
Chorus: Which way Nigeria etc.
Contents of the Okosun song no doubt are more relevant today than they were 32 years ago. The system has been so bastardised that virtually all the young adults in the country have lost faith in a better Nigeria.
I was in the company of some journalist friends few days ago and we x-rayed the problems, perhaps challenges posing a threat to the foundation of the most populous black nation in the world, but I was surprised that none of them believed things could still get better. They concluded that with the crop of politicians we have steering the ship of the country who are majorly dominated by selfish and power hungry individuals, Nigeria can’t get out of the woods. Even though I am an unrepentant optimist, yet with facts available today about the mindset of Nigerians on the challenges of insecurity, corruption and hate speeches, I cannot agree less.
The challenges posed by the Boko Haram insurgents in the northern part of the country, followed by the unwavering agitation of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to the incessant killings and attacks on communities and farmlands by the Fulani herdsmen and kidnapping of law abiding Nigerians by hoodlums are the major reasons for this column today: Which way Nigeria?
The president of the country, Muhammadu Buhari went on medical vacation in the United Kingdom, for 103 days. He fulfilled all constitutional requirements before leaving the country, yet the peace of the nation was consistently threatened by some people and groups who felt it was an avenue for them to be heard.
While the president was away, IPOB, an acclaimed political self-determination organisation, led by Nnamdi Kanu who was hitherto based in the United Kingdom, increased the tempo of their agitation for secession and the youths in the northern part of the country gave an ultimatum of October 1, 2017, for them to vacate their territory to their dream country and that made the leaders of the Igbo extraction who pretended to be asleep while the heat of the agitation from their region was threatening the peace of Nigeria to be awake and started preaching for one Nigeria.
It was also an opportunity greatly exploited by a group led by a Nigerian musician, Charles Oputa (Charlie Boy) with the hashtag #OurMumuDonDo# which protested for days in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, asking that the president should either resume office or resign without further delay.
Buhari eventually arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Saturday, August 19. He addressed the nation in a nationwide broadcast on Monday, August 21, the first official working day after his arrival.
Since then, the president had met with members of his cabinet, various groups, the two main political parties in the country; the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the governors of the 36 states had met with him too, which means the coast is clearer. His message to them all was simple: The unity of Nigeria is a done deal, together we shall resolve our problems.
Now that Mr President is back and ready to accommodate chains of opinions on how the ship of Nigeria could be salvaged, I think it’s high time we agree in unity, that we can clear the path to prosperity and eventually have a country where equal rights, patriotism, righteousness and justice would be the fulcrum of her democracy.
I am optimistic that Nigeria of our dream is possible if we do not lose hope. Nigeria is definitely heading to the promised land filled with milk and honey.
