Obviously, Nigeria’s greatest challenge is how to redeem her image and be repositioned for a resurgence of the good old days. The big questions are, how do global citizens see Nigeria? How is Nigeria in the eyes of the world? A country where its people are fighting senseless wars? A country of mass murder by brainwashed, misguided and unscrupulous elements to score political and religious points? A country held by its jugular by acute poverty, diseases, terrorism, endless anarchy and unbridled corruption? A country of gross injustice, wicked violation of human rights, dangerous humanitarian crisis and serial abuse of public trust by the leaders?

Obviously, Nigeria’s greatest challenge is how to redeem her image and be repositioned for a resurgence of the good old days. The big questions are, how do global citizens see Nigeria? How is Nigeria in the eyes of the world? A country where its people are fighting senseless wars? A country of mass murder by brainwashed, misguided and unscrupulous elements to score political and religious points? A country held by its jugular by acute poverty, diseases, terrorism, endless anarchy and unbridled corruption? A country of gross injustice, wicked violation of human rights, dangerous humanitarian crisis and serial abuse of public trust by the leaders?

Or a land of existing possibilities flowing with milk and honey? However one sees Nigeria, it is left for the person to judge and appreciate or judge and criticize. It has remained an incontrovertible fact that this place called Nigeria, the largest economy in Africa, is constantly suffering from integrity deficit. Nigeria’s image in the eyes of the world is one that is vicious, corrupt and deformed. Thus, it needs urgent reform and repair, amendment, reorganizing, and reshaping. Let me borrow the words of the United Nations Secretary General Mr. Ban Ki-Moon who once said that “It is time to recover and rebuild.” At this juncture, it is pertinent to note that the greatest threat to Nigeria’s bright future and golden prospects is the fact that Boko Haram militants have continued to open wide the flood gates of hell on innocent citizens and security agents in the line of duty with reckless impunity. They uproot a peaceful community to establish their kingdom of darkness with their flags hoisted. They kill human beings with great pleasure and destroy valuable resources and infrastructure without regret. They operate overtly and covertly to quash the sovereignty of Nigeria. How more preposterous their activities can be. They’ve jeopardized our journey to nationhood and continued to cut down the strong pillars holding Nigeria together.

Infact, they can best be served with these Biblical words “You snakes, you brood of vipers, how will you escape being condemned to hell”? Unless they repent and drop their arms against the state and the people, their end is catastrophe and complete doom because it is pointless and unjustifiable to shed blood. Unless the government embraces the political will to arrest, try and jail their sponsors, they’ve not started their madness because when the head is cut off, the body becomes worthless. It is indeed a national tragedy.

A global concern and a serious challenge we’ve got to tackle collectively for the sake of conscience and posterity. But we have to do away with corruption the mother of all crimes. Corruption gives Boko Haram the leeway to advance their wicked and evil plans against us. We also must bury our differences and stand in solidarity with Nigeria at this trying moment. My heart goes out sincerely to victims of terrorism and our soldiers killed in the war front trying to defend our fatherland.

Let me end this piece by advising the government to drop its lackluster approach towards containing the menace of Boko Haram. The government must be seen to be proactive and capable. Our image must be redefined and rebranding must continuously be our watchword. Think about this quote “This world is like a brook. Whoever wants to drink from its water must not throw a pebble into it. The ripples effect of it will vent such an atmosphere of restiveness that will benefit no one.”

Again, this quote by the Statistician General of Nigeria Dr. Yemi Kale should guide us and drive our impulses towards hope. ” If we do the right things, at the right time, for the right reasons, we will defeat evil, enthrone what is good and make it as a nation.” God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

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NIGERIA: What a country, by Satmak Dapar