How Nigeria should be affected by uprisings in Northern Africa

During the Egyptian crisis, I was particularly hesitant to follow up on the story (but im on yahoo like 24/7 and they won't let you rest with updates on the crisis). I find my self doing the same with the Libyan uprisings. Being honest with myself, I think I was scared to make the connection of what is happening in Northern Africa now to what can/will happen in Nigeria. I finally got my self to follow up on the story and here are my thoughts:

1. Compared to our North African brothers and sisters, I think we have a better, though problematic, political system in Nigeria (in so far as democracy is used to approximate a good political system). We are not oppressed by a dictator, at least not directly (though one can argue that power hasn't really changed hands in the last 12 years of democracy). I would argue that what our North African cousins endure today can be likened to our own military regime (which we let go about 12 years ago) with freedom of speech and expression and retaliation almost forbidden. In short, Nigeria and the North African region are at different stages of their political development so that an uprising like that currently ravaging North Africa isn't needed in today's Nigeria.



2. Outside the fact that I do not believe violent protests is what we need, I do not even think as Nigerians, we have what it takes to fight and die for our country to move forward. I put it to you, will you be ready to take to the streets of oshodi and lekki epe express road (or I guess it will be the streets of Garki and Wuse) to ask for better governance in Nigeria.........i think not!!!!!!! (you dat is saying yes stop lieing to your self jare). One possible explanation for our resistance to go the way of the Egyptians or the Libyans now being gunned down at will by pro-Gadaffi soldiers, is that our own problem may not be as bad as theirs (or atleast our problems are not exactly the same). That being said, the fact that our house seems fire resistant doesn't mean that we should leave ogbono soup on the pot and go to sleep.

3. What then is the solution to our Nigerian problem? Awon agbalagas so wi pe (excuse my yoruba pls :) "when looking for the problem, look to the man (or woman) in the mirror rather than the man (or woman) outside the window" (or sha something along those lines, you get what I am saying). My brothers and sisters, we are indeed the change we seek o. Election time is coming up, go and vote! Do not say "ehn they are always rigging it so what is my business with voting. they will put in whoever they want no ni. as long as it is not military, kini business temi?" Ahhh i pity you o. If this is your mentality how do we expect to move the country forward? If Obama convinced himself that racism will forever keep a black man out of the Oval office (i do not mean toilets biko like many of u call it), he will never have made history. Your vote is your voice to say who you want to rule the country and how you want them to rule, so please cast your vote and shout with every breath in you. This maybe more ideological than realistic in today's Nigeria because rigging is still prevalent in Nigeria, but we will not attain that desired political state without taking a step towards it today by voting.

**speaking of holding government officials responsible, I will say we are jumping the gun. When we say the government is corrupt, it is very convenient to point to Jonathan and the likes. However, when you are given some naira notes to help cover up one or two "discrepancies" in the office you don't know you are corrupt! When you use your position as accountant to dupe your oga, you don't know you are corrupt! When you give or collect money to arrange JAMB runs or to settle lecturer (in cash or kind o) you don't know you are corrupt! When you eventually get into power, do you expect to now change overnight? Woo the same mind that will steal N10K will steal N10M. WE ARE THE CHANGE WE SEEK!