IBB vs. EZE

“Eze - The Leader of Tomorrow”

A child was born in the year 1980 in the capital city [Lagos] of Nigeria. The child was named Eze after eight (8) days of his birth. In the eastern part of Nigeria the name “Eze” means a King; leader. Eze grew up to meet the 8^th Head of state, and the 1^st military president of Nigeria. Eze is five (5) and he is enrolled into a primary [elementary] school. It is at this institution Eze is taught his “a, b, c’s” and “1, 2, 3’s” to be a great leader in future. One would cite that Eze is 5 in the year 1985 that General Ibrahim Babaginda became the first military president.

General Ibrahim Babaginda service to Nigeria for four years ends on the 27^th day of August, 1993. In 1993, Eze is thirteen (13) years old, and he is enrolled in secondary [high] school. Eze chooses to study government and history of his country [Nigeria]. The young chap gets inspiration from his school teachers on a daily basis when he is told they [Eze and his peer] are the leaders of tomorrow. Eze believes in everything his teachers say and teach because when he checks his textbooks to see the correct answers for the problems, which were solved in class and he finds the answers to be the same as the ones the teachers would have provided on the faded black board. Eze is so determined and very obedient. On a daily basis, whenever Eze and his fellow students are told to sing the Nigerian anthem, he sings it with all loyalty and sincerity. The teenager pledges to his country to be faithful, loyal and honest and requests for the help of God. The part that interests Eze is when the teachers ask them [Eze and his fellow students] to sing a marching song when heading to their respective classes for the day’s lecture. Eze shouts from his line to lead the marching song with his loud, but very faint voice “Parents listen to your children [clap, clap, clap], we are the leaders of tomorrow [clap, clap, clap], try to pay our school fees [clap, clap, clap] and give us sound education [clap, clap, clap].”

The young boy grows with a logical belief that everything he learns from his teacher has always been right, and everything he teacher told him has always been right. On a market, Eze’s mom who is a trader asks him to add up a sum four hundred and ninety six naira (#496.00) and One hundred and seventy two naira (#172.00). Eze was able to solve this mathematical solution within fifteen seconds. The mom was so happy and said; “My son, I am so proud of you and I know you will a good leader.” Eze thinks about all of these things (being a leader in future) coming to him. He gets this inspiration from his teachers, his mom, his name (Eze, which means King or Leader) and he aspires for it too.

In the year 1997, Eze is seventeen (17) years old. He still believes in his dream of becoming a leader. But in this year 1997, which is under the administration of General Sani Abacha. Eze feels the pains of his parents, teachers and fellow citizens crying for a change in power. This makes the young aspirant work hard to gain his way into the University of Ilorin, Kwara state. Eze is admitted into the University of Ilorin, Kwara State to study political science. He goes as far as studying great leaders and freedom fighters, the likes of George Washington, Martin Luther King, Mohandas Karamchand Gandi, Nelson Madela, Funmilayo Ransome Kuti and the more.

After four (4) years of un-interrupted education at the University of Ilorin, Nigeria, Eze gets a first class in political science and this gives him more edge to believe his dream to become a great leader in his country. Just like Eze, there are also a million and one or more students with the same dream of change. With his promising loyalty, honesty and service to his country, Eze devotes three hundred and sixty five (365) days during his National Youth Service. This regime is under a former military president (General Olusegun Obasanjo). In the year 2003, during the elections for a new administration, Eze recalls that he was told in his history class that before he was born, ex-military ruler (Chief Olusegun Obasanjo) was the president of the country, and now the 2003 election Chief Olusegun Obasanjo aspires to remain in power. “This is ridiculous, when my mates will take over this power and become leaders?” Eze questions himself in bitterness. The victory of Chief Obasanjo begins to kill the dream of the inspired young graduate.

Eze is determined and says he will never give up considering the inspiration he got from his teachers, lecturers, parents and friends in the past. In the year 2007, when Chief Obasanjo suggest his plan to remain in power for a third term, Eze knew there was war and decided to pen chief Obasanjo down with his position as the head editor with the onion magazine. The members of Nigerian parliament had read Eze’s article and noticed greed and unwillingness to leave power by Chief Obasanjo. Therefore most members who taught deeply about it decided not to be in support of the third term for Chief Obasanjo, which sent the former head of states back to his farm works.

Chief Obasanjo has rigmarole the way in for his late friend’s younger brother, who is unhealthy in his state of health to become president. The old leader still looks for ways to stop the likes of Eze and his peer to come up to show their talents. Eze being poor financially, but rich in heart and intellectually has decided to contest the 2011 election with men (Mohammed Buhari, Ibrahim Babaginda, Atiku abubakar, Gusau) who led him when he was a child growing to a teen and assured him through his teachers that he would be a leader of tomorrow. Eze questions himself “Were my teachers wrong?” The answer he has gotten from fellow Nigerians makes him believe he has been living in the dark shadows of life.

One would ask if our past leaders are the right solution for our past problems, which they happen to be the cause or if Eze and his determined peers could solve the problems our past leaders have created. We would agree that giving our past leaders an edge over the likes of Eze would only create additional problems to the existing ones. The question now is; who would vote Eze in?

Composed by: Osehon Akhilele Kai

UT at Austin

Austin, Texas, 78741

osehonakhilele@ymail.com, 

512-848-8279

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