Nigeria @ 52: Our Problem is not Corruption .

At 52, we still are very uncertain of what our problem is. Most people point accusing fingers to the grand mistake called amalgamation, which was intended for British colonial convenience. Others now hold this cliche- "corruption" to ransom. Blames are put on corrupt leadership, corrupt system and even corrupt-minded citizens. Corruption is what has restricted us from attaining the great heights we crave. My opinion in telegraph form: No! Corruption is not, lack of trust is!

This piece is not intended to be an epistle nor be as long as a Nigerian Committee's submission. It is drafted to be short and with a marksman's touch to give time for us to commemorate Nigeria's 52nd year of persistence. Now, to the crux- absence of trust in our unity has left our nationhood forlorn in the deserted shores of null and void. Even our founding fathers battled with this enigma, as the early post independence political parties were built on ethnocentrism. Political office seekers had to rally-around them people from their ethnic group hence, a show of undeniable distrust for "outsiders'" support.

This early beginning of now a grown monster was partially looked at as regional politics. Hardly was it decried to mean a hold back on parts of a whole. Nigeria continuously operated and sadly still, on structuralism (relationship between parts and a whole) and never on functionalism (relationship as relates to working of a system). It was on this pedestal that the 1967-1970 civil war was fought, and still on it we train our children. We can recount the stereotype story of the 3 main Nigerian ethnic groups, as false as the generalizations have been, clung to them, we still have.

Trust eliminates corruption and reduces the tendency to exhibit greed. Let us trust one another, trust that we all are under one sovereign nation, that we fight for same cause and are committed to our existence both as humans and as political beings existing in political milieu.  If trying to be one makes us non-existent, and surviving in parts complement our oneness, we may as well reconsider our inconsideration  But, we need trust. If we build trust, we will make corruption go extinct, for people will no longer think of stashing money that will up-keep their generations. Rather, trust will nourish the confidence that there will be a system which will make citizens comfortable to exist in a free society.

Trust is what we need. Long live the people in this geographical arrangement called my Country, long live its future and the nature of that future.

Asking Mysteries

The Mysteries of life have learnt to suspend us between the spheres of reality and nothingness... The complications of no life have imbued restlessness in most, who devote thinking time to grasp the essence of not existing; of dying; of death. Most times, the consciousness of our existence is gradual, but in some other instances, it is likened to the big bang; so sudden and automatic. In no time, the feeling of "being", then becomes saddled with a crave-load of knowledge-hunt. Questions, certainly the basis for research, crop up in their numbers like weeds that feed on fertilizers. We realize, we are all renowned researchers, harping on our natural prowess of question-asking, but getting valid answers remain a feat, a great undertaken most turn into a feud with nature. At the end, the scenario painted is summarized thus: we came, we asked, and we were more confounded! 

As Communication Experts say man cannot not communicate, I posit that man's communication both with the physical and the non-physical has a greater percentage tending towards questioning. So, man cannot not question, inquire; require answers to mammoth number of uncertainties. The plethora of compounded meanings and meaningless gibberish all around impoverish our quest and tarnish the image of our very innermost. 

             Extinguish in me this fire

             With yes, no and whys which I inquire

             To acquire this status: Self’s Sire

A lot of pain, despair and hopelessness saturates the atmosphere. People ponder, wonder and wander, searching desperately for satisfying answers. Yet, the answer is simple, the solution, easy. The complexity is an over looked simplicity in disguise. What is this? Stop searching... Or ask just to have words to ask more. The more you ask, you learn to manage greater confusion. Certainly you can't have answers until you are no longer YOU.

Kctony X. Nkwocha's Blog

Welcome to my world; a world I'm willing to share with you. This blog features my poems on nature, love, life, ambition, mysteries, politics and nationhood.

“Man cannot not question, inquire; require answers to mammoth number of uncertainties. The plethora of compounded meanings and meaningless gibberish all around impoverish our quest and tarnish the image of our very innermost.

            Extinguish in me this fire

            With yes, no and whys which I inquire

            To acquire this status: Self’s Sire”                              

culled from my Note: Mysteries

The combination of poetry and prose herein is with the intent to give you a bi-dimensional presentation of issues ranging from biological, psychological, religious to sociological spheres of human existence.

I give you, me in words and notes, and great quotes. I present reality and also factual mirage in my writings and it is sometimes me, or a combination of me and my interaction, research and intuition.

Welcome…

Kctony X. Nkwocha