TODAY, THE CRITICAL QUESTIONS WE MUST ANSWER GENUINELY AS A PEOPLE
By ONOJA J. OKPANACHI
Suddenly, we have become a people tossed up and down by any kind of storm, strong or weak and irrespective of the direction they come from, they are just capable of moving us about and around. This ugly development is terribly embarrassing for a once revered and feared nation as we are being exposed by the day on multiple fronts.
However, the situation is not unsurmountable only if we can dare to ask these critical questions and get the right answers as they will go far to address the very roots of our problems:
1. Who are the most likely Ata Igala tomorrow (where are they now – what are they doing – who are their friends/colleagues/associates/partners – what’s their worth today and what will it be when the time comes)?
2. Who are our leaders today irrespective of religion and political divides (why do we have so many emergency leaders pre-elections and afterwards, they vanish – why do we find it difficult to submit to others to lead us – why do we always confirm the rich as leaders by our acts and relegate them once they are out of resources to play around with)?
3. What are the roles of Kogi East Elders Council (do they interface with the palace on critical issues – if they do interface, do they tell the stool the truth it needs to know or just flow with the times)?
4. Today, which is the “umbrella body” that represents the nation (can’t all the differences be resolved and let one lead – in critical moments, why no definite statements from the “top bodies” – why are the various bodies not building on areas of strength but want to do everything)?
5. Why do we succeed individually but hardly as a group (why do we hate collaboration – why do we hate partnership – why do we cherish being the leaders even when we can’t thereby creating multiple organizations with almost same name and purpose – why do we cherish unnecessary strife, pulling each other down)?
6. Why have we become partial judges creating enemies when we should be building friendship to grow (why do we take one side of every issue/story to the bank without hearing other sides – why do we separate more than settle)?
7. When will the elders begin to consciously give chance to the younger ones (why do we slowdown young energetic lads with words of mouth, discouraging them – when do we drop the wrong perception of “he is too young to run, to achieve this and that”)?
8. Why are we not conscious about mentoring (why do we not intentionally mentor those who will either fit in or take after us – why don’t we love submitting ourselves for mentoring as young people, we just want to become instead – are we not worried about the leadership vacuum already)?
9. How do we treat the estates and concerns of our past leaders who sacrifice for the land (why do we often remember the Achema’s only for political gains – who cares for the families of the past Atas today – who protects and promotes the legacies of the likes of Prof. Idachaba, Dr. Tom Miachi – Who cares about the intellectual contributions of the like of JJ Idakwoji, Prof. Armstrong Idachaba, Prof. Emmy UI Idegu et al)?
Today, if we can genuinely respond to these questions without any bias, we can commence the process of restoration and the healing will begin, patching up all our wounds to get us ready for the greater DEALS ahead.
