My fellow compatriots, our actions are compelled to toe the path of meaningful change that will awaken our consciousness towards addressing the ills in our contemporary society as it bothers on governance. Man was truly born free, but everywhere in chains. Once in the lifetime of the children of God, the scripture recorded thus: “Who will I send and who will go?” Then answered the prophet Isaiah saying, “Here I am Lord, send me.”
This therefore is the rescue mission embarked upon by Mr. Francis Onyema, a 2027 Nigeria presidential aspirant. His vision and mission to the seat of number one citizen of this country is summarised in his following axiom: “Fixing Nigeria requires an evolution in thoughts and ideas, an evolution that awakens our collective consciousness and drives meaningful change.” With the foregoing therefore, I want to take it as a duty and a sacrifice to call on the folks, especially the vast population of the youths of Nigeria, to see the reality and the promising future that accompanies “The Francis Onyema’s Project”.
I cry for a government where corruption has become a template for leadership, a government where sins are forgiven because a corrupt leader had joined a certain political party, a government that wipes the common resources of the masses with sordid impunity because of what I will like to call “Instructional Democracy” (directives to select verbally who becomes the winner of an unpresided poll). It’s on the premise of correcting these infractions that the Francis Onyema rescue mission is anchored.
How long will Nigerians continue to suffer and smile? How long shall we cry of the injuries of our psychological death while laughing with such pains? We suffer this because we have betrayed our consciences, we have mortgaged our future, we have sold our franchise, thereby making ourselves myopic of the very vision of our goals.
The Nigerian youths have sold out their potentials and freedom of the right choice for peanuts that don’t last. First in a period of four years, and still do same after a tenor, then continued in another. What a pathetic situation! I want to ask questions that may seem rhetorical. Has any Nigerian youth been able to invest with the little financial motivation politicians give during electioneering? Do they remember you after you have voted them in? Of course, the logic is clear.
They can’t empower you beyond a level you will be transformed. They want you static, hungry and unproductive so that they continue to use you for their continuous successes. That your leader has imprisoned your vision, he kept your sound academic credentials in perpetual captivity. And in the silence of their hearts, our leaders/politicians will say: Nigerian youths are lazy, they are foolish, unthinkable and irrational. Is this truly who and what we are?
I call on the youths who worship those leaders to imagine how many lives they would touch or how many followers they will also attract if they had jobs. Think on how you were unable to champion your aged father medical bills. Think of how many relatives or those friends of yours you couldn’t help when in need. This is because you weren’t empowered by your conscienceless political father or leader.
My fellow youths, don’t forget that you’re the engine room of every vibrant, workable and actionable society. You must rise with your destiny in your hands. You must make change while there’s time. It is your duty, my fellow youths, to correct the neglect, injustice and the abnormality in our political pantheon. The time is now to act, a time to rebrand our mindset. It’s indeed a time for ethical and political reorientation.
READ: Francis Onyema – Biography
We can change the narrative. We must not misplace values. I call on you, my beloved compatriots, to identify ourselves with one who identified our problems. That person is Mr. Francis Onyema.
Today in our country, children of our leaders that we suffered for are in prestigious universities while their names are in the payroll of federal establishments, yet our young educated graduates are roaming the streets in search of jobs. Some, because of frustration, have joined bad gangs against their conscience to make ends meet. Many youths today are servants of political masters and servants of their masters’ children.
Yes, your so-called master will keep you static until his child in the nursery school grows to become your master. What an odd world!
I am being particular about the youth because it’s in our strength to turn things around. We have the energy, the vigour and valour. Not by physical confrontation or radicalism, but by injecting rational reforms, a change of mindset, a political reorientation and total overhaul of the concept and political philosophy.
Today, I call on you to join me in saying no to the usual idea of “take and choose the wrong or do the wrong”. Let us shun thuggery and intimidation fashioned out by conscienceless leaders against popular candidates. We must direct our political future by making worthwhile decisions instead of living under the influence and dictates of unjust men. The right of every youth is not negotiable, it’s a gift from God. Use it wisely for self and posterity.
The time is now — time for self-liberation, for political freedom, time to come out of the cage of stagnation. With the ambition and emergence of a young, bold and energetic gentleman, I have the courage to say: it’s our time, it’s our season!
The young people of this country should know that conscience supersedes position and values more than fraudulent motivation.
“Greater than a thread of mighty Army is an Idea whose time has come”, these were the words of Victor Hugo. That idea we need in our time is conceived by Mr. Francis Onyema; an idea of reorientation rooted on the leadership foundation that has come to redefine our democracy as it were. Democracy in action, democracy through provision of infrastructures, democracy in job creation and democracy in unity in diversity irrespective of tribe, language and religion. Mr. Francis Onyema’s political philosophy speaks volumes of the totality of the solutions to Nigeria’s man-created problems.
Think wisely, my fellow Nigerian youths. Follow wisely and vote wisely.
— Lawrence Obi, writes from Calabar.