NIGERIA: John F. Kennedy’s Quote!

NIGERIA: John F. Kennedy’s Quote!

“Ask not what your country can do for you, rather ask what you can for your country” - John Fitzgerald Kennedy

“Ask not what “NIGERIA” can do for you, rather ask what you can do for “NIGERIA” as a Nigerian” – Oluwatomilola Kennedy Boyinde

There is no doubt that every one of us reads the above quote daily and ponders. Thinking of what to do for one’s Country is a great thing and even something we should take with Passion but we Nigerians really need to take time to ask ourselves some reflecting questions about the quote of John F. Kennedy.

Questions like; What is the interior motive of John F. Kennedy when he said it? Where did he say it? How does the surrounding looks like when he said it? What character is of the person who said the word? What has the person himself done for the Nation he said they should think of what to do for? How developed is the country of where John Fitzgerald Kennedy from? How comfortable is the citizen of the country? How developed is the minds of the leaders of his country? How have the leaders of his country impacted life into the citizens?

John Fitzgerald Kennedy is an American, America‘s youngest President; he did a lot for his Beloved Country and he’s a person of a good character. I don’t need to tell you how developed America is; you already know how comfortable Americans are; we know how developed the minds of leaders of America; we know how they care for the people they serve; I need not tell you how they think about the comfort of the citizens.

Thinking of what to do for one’s Country is a great thing and even something we should take with Passion but are we Nigerians Unjustified if we do nothing for our Country considering the hardship we are today? An adage says ‘parents are the television the children watch’; my point here is not about parents and children but about we Nigerians and our Rulers (supposed leaders). Our leaders who are supposed to be of good examples are not helping matters at all; most of them are of questionable characters. They pollute the minds of the citizens with their disreputable act.

Here in NIGERIA, Our leaders fool us daily with promises and demagoguery, and believe us to be super suckers; Which is why they daily promise us good life but they’re inflicting economic hardship on us instead. Instead of delivering the ‘Dividends of Democracy’ to us, they are delivering ‘Dividends of D’em’ocracy’, they STEAL our collective money to build mansions, buy expensive jeeps and add wives and concubines to their harem. Also, they throw big parties with the most expensive drinks (Champagne, Hennessey, Vino tinto and the likes) with our money in utter merriment of their birthdays or in any ceremony. Rather than to use it to feed, clothe and educate their compatriots and provide jobs and health care for us and pay us decent salaries/wages and repair the broken infrastructures and give us at least a glimpse of the good life. With these, do you think Nigerians will ever think of what to do for Nigeria?

Section 33, Chapter 4 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, states that ‘The first duty of a serious government is to guarantee the security of the lives and properties of its Citizens’.

Here in NIGERIA, house owners provide layers and layers of security. All the windows are provided with burglar proofs, fences are put round the houses and on top of the fences are puts broken bottles or sharp iron, iron studs or barbwire, upon all, house owners will still employ ‘security man’ (Maigadi), all in an attempt to secure life and property to the extent that their own houses has become a semi prison-yard. In fact, we are extremely lucky in this country that the incidence of fire is very few and far between. Imagine what could have happened if fire was a regular occurrence in Nigeria, many people will fall victim to fire in their barb-wired houses. Can an In-secure person think of what to do for Nigeria?

Here in NIGERIA, the citizens are poorer, poverty is everywhere except in the houses of Nations LOOTERS; the dividends of democracy don’t trickle down to sundry all; the people are daily being killed by the violence of the poverty. Some people are crying for food, some people’s bellies are getting big while some necks are getting longer. A society that cannot help the many that are poor, but can help the few that is rich. The citizens are hapless and helpless, yet, we have a Government, the one that the people voted for. Can a hungry man think of what to do for Nigeria?

Here in NIGERIA, We pay PHCN bills despite generating our own light with the aid of Generators because there is epileptic power supply; several homes have gone without electricity supply for many months running. Where this available at all, the erratic nature of the supply which comes on and off; sometimes at an interval of 2 minutes, has been a source of anguish to many Nigerians. In this situation, several home gadgets such as TV Sets, Refrigerators, Air Conditioners and others have been blown up or damaged, some beyond repairs. Can a person who sleeps in darkness think of what to do for Nigeria?

Here in NIGERIA, things are overpriced. Lands, houses, foods, cars, est. are sold at ridiculously high prices as if they are meant for aliens and not for we the people; things are exorbitant. They are classified for the super rich; honest, growing and working people have no chance. A good life in Nigeria is so expensive and is only reserved for only a few. Can an Uncomfortable man think of what to do for Nigeria?

Here in NIGERIA, the rule of law does not exist; there is lack of due process/rule of law. There are different laws for different social class. Justice comes in hiccups. The rule of law gives way to rule of brutality and bribery. The lawmakers are the lawbreakers. Laws are only made for the poor people while the opulent lives with their wicked acts; the poor people are Voiceless. Can a Jilted Citizen think of what to do for Nigeria?

Here in NIGERIA, Parents suffer to educate their wards, but thereafter no jobs for them; more people are in the unemployment market. They’ll get to all the nooks and crannies of a city everyday, all in the name of seeking job. Can an Unemployed person think of what he/she can do for Nigeria?

Here in NIGERIA, we have hospitals without doctors, medicines or power. All the doctors and nurses have gone abroad and the rest are waiting to go also. Our hospitals have the highest maternal and infant mortality rates in the world. More are dying from preventable diseases. Can an Uncared-for Sick person think of what to do for Nigeria?

Here in NIGERIA, there is No qualitative education, the schools has no teachers and its classrooms has no roof and its students listen to lectures through windows. Due to lack of materials and the likes, our school produces educated illiterates every year. Can a Learned Unlearned person think of something better to do for Nigeria?

Here in NIGERIA, road transportation is a risky business, It is dangerous to travel on our bad roads because they are pit-of-hell and not safe. One may be killed by bad roads (road accident) or by armed robbers or even angry policemen demanding their ‘Pound of Flesh’ of Nigeria’s looted patrimony. Can a person who one of his family members is being killed on the road think of what to do for Nigeria?

Here in NIGERIA, there is no potable water; we pay Water Cooperation bills even when we have our own boreholes. The people drink any water they see; due to this, there is widespread of Cholera. The people die daily because of the dirty water they drink. Can a person who is down with Cholera (due to the water he/she drinks) think of what to do for Nigeria?

Will Nigerians think of what to do for Nigeria when they hear about Youth Corps Members who are willing to serve the Country for a year without a dime, but finds deadly reward after a life time struggle? They are brutally killed, some having their heads cut off, their bodies burnt or being raped by their host community, like what happens in the Northern part of our Beloved Country ‘NIGERIA’.

The quality of life of NIGERIANS has been reduced in terms of access to safe water, electricity, good education, basic health care facilities, EST.

Can Nigerians really think of what to do for Nigeria?

If Our Country was developed, we would all become Patriotic and we would be able to say like ‘John Fitzgerald Kennedy’ that said “Ask not what your country can do for you, rather ask what you can for your country” – Oluwatomilola K. Boyinde


Long Live Federal Republic of Nigeria!
God Bless Nigeria!!
God Bless You All!!!



Oluwatomilola K. Boyinde,
A Change Agent.

NB:
My this write-up is not to discourage Nigerians from doing something for the Country but it’s to point-out how our leaders hve failed us.