As a little but enlightened boy in 1979 during the advent of the Second Republic, I heard how the political class destroyed the Nigerian economy. I heard that the military intervened in governance in 1966, truncated the fledgling democracy and led us into a Civil War.
I heard, also, and read, and later witnessed, how every successive government misled the populace, heated the polity and bled the economy. So our oil boom quickly became our oil doom.
Records show that since 1966 the Nigerian economy has been consistently annexed and gobbled by the vultures and vampires in human skin. The result is what we have today - a moribund economy in the hands of a self-centered, directionless political class.
Against this background, it is only an ignorant, irresponsible fool that should continue to blame the mangled economy or the inept political class for his/her woes. Our country has been at war since we were born, we just did not realize it. But now that we have been branded the Poverty Capital of the World, we should no longer be in doubt as to the reality of the emergency at hand.
Ever since Independence in 1960, the standard of education has consistently been falling, the quality of goods and services have consistently been lowering, unemployment and job insecurity have consistently been on the increase, standard of living has consistently been falling, and you're still expecting a drastic change?
If you're having economic challenges, my candid advice is to wake up and 'shine your eyes'! Do not waste valuable time and energy being angry at Government and your employers for not doing enough! No sir! You should direct the anger at yourself for not doing enough to protect yourself against the ever-dwindling fortunes of a highly fortunate nation. Whining, grumbling and complaining about the greed and corruption of the political class, or the prostrate economy, will not help you. If anything, it'll deepen your frustration and weaken your resolve to escape the unending vicious woes.
Here's my advice: IF YOU HAVE A BURNING DESIRE FOR A SECURED FUTURE YOU MUST ACT BY CREATING THAT FUTURE!
And the surest route to creating such self-reliance and financial freedom is through entrepreneurship. History reveals how individuals and indeed nations have been lifted out of economic quagmire through the entrepreneurship drive of its citizens.
Good examples of people who have risen from the lowest rung of the ladder to economic success have been entrepreneurs like Steve Jobs, Warren Buffet, Bill Gates, and even our own Dangote, to name just a few. If they could, you too can. Stay confident, stay focused. Your future is greater than your past.
