Is there a more severe form of man-to-man cruelty than that of the annihilation of hope? Human existence is replete with all manner and forms of cruelty, but I am yet to learn of one more total in its devastative effects than that of the destruction of hope. Without hope there's no optimism; without optimism there cannot be confidence; without confidence there can be no achievement. Thus, with hope destroyed, the reason for existence is absolutely shattered. As that most beautiful of poets put it, "Not without hope we suffer and mourn." (William Wordsworth; April 7, 1770 - April 23, 1850)
In war, there must be hope for peace; in famine, there must be hope for rain; in strife, there must be hope for rapprochement; and in poverty, there must be hope for prosperity. In the context of my manacled country, we can only hope for hope; the sure manifestation of mental and emotional devastation; the result of man-to-man injustice. Where else in the world is money interred like cadavers? When in human civilization was money used for roofing support, or as insulation in attics? My dear country holds the record for innovation in thievery and skulduggery, a record that can, and will, never be surpassed. If you think this is hyperbole, you don't live in Nigeria!
It pains me no end to infer that the state of affairs (or rather, of non-affairs, as nothing is working, in a positive sense) we are currently enduring has been largely self-inflicted, and I have no shame (as a former ardent supporter) in declaring that Buhari has single-handedly re-delivered Nigerians to the unrepentant destroyers of hope, and to the cabal of insatiable peculators of our commonwealth. Buhari showed he lacked the political nous to deal with the socio-political and economic malaise that has burdened Nigerians for many a year. It is one thing to be well-intentioned, but an entirely different thing to match those intentions with the requisite political know-how and operational intelligence. Buhari lacks both, to the detriment of Nigerians who were solidly behind him, myself included. So much trust and belief was invested in Buhari and he has criminally squandered it all. The messiah has turned out to be more lame than a lame duck, and the tiger has been tamed by the marauding herd of obnoxious career thieves. If you think I'm being overly harsh, go and endure just a couple of weeks in Nigeria!
The hope of a national rebirth proved a damp squib and the high expectation of a new dawn has become a nightmare of unimaginable proportions. All blame is attributable to Buhari and the reason is obvious and simple. The very moment Buhari acceded to that insufferable Bukola Saraki's dodgy emergence as the Senate President, Buhari's, along with Nigerians', fate was sealed. Buhari, for reasons known only to him, sold out and enslaved Nigerians in the process. All that nonsense about him being for nobody and everybody is now haunting him and Nigerians. Whatever political capital he hoped to gain from this eternal folly has gone with the wind and Nigerians are on the high seas with no lifeboats. What on earth was he thinking of when he gave such a committed aginner so much leeway? Buhari's current state of health has nothing to do with his failure; he failed long before he became ill. Frankly, if he were to sufficiently recover now and regain the mantle of leadership, nothing of meaningful tangibleness could ever be achieved by him. He has welshed on his promises to Nigerians and has now enabled the shysters to rule the roost.
I never imagined the day would come that I would finally turn my back on Buhari, but my loyalty and sympathy are with my fellow Nigerians, first and foremost. Buhari is best advised to concede defeat, attend to his failing health and leave Nigerians to lick their wounds while they work out a way out of the cesspit he has dug for them. Surely, there has to be a way, and we will find it even if the 'how' is a bit fuzzy right now. Nigeria will not go down, despite Buhari's best endeavours!
It is fitting to end this piece with another soul-searching observation by William Wordsworth, and see if it rings in the ears of the purveyors of evil: "Rapine, avarice, expense: this is idolatry, and these we adore. Plain living and high thinking are no more."
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