As one of those guys who frequently check out our Presidents status updates on Facebook, I was surprised when I stumbled on this one “I have been going round Nigeria, State to State and City to City. My God, Nigeria is beautiful!…”
My first reaction was to think of it as a pun, a mis characterization of facts and perception. Surely Nigeria is beautiful, but which kind of Nigeria is he referring to? Considering he is from a state that boast of only one major road I must assume the several flyovers in Lagos must have amazed him. Or maybe he is even more excited by the fact that except for Lagos, no other state in Nigeria can boast of a common 30 storey skyscraper when countries in the middle east are littered with 60 to 80 storey buildings in not one, but several of their major cities.
I guess he may also be amazingly excited by the fact that Nigeria does not have a single public railway system that can transport commuters from one destination to another. Could it also be that the disjointed strings of NEPA wires crisscrossing from one street to another is giving him some erotic passion?
This president needs some reality check. A country is not only beautiful because of it’s landscape and natural habitat. Countries around the world don’t rely solely on the natural habitat and landscape to highlight its beauty. In the 21st century, Manmade edifices and structures play a huge role in positioning the country as a beautiful destination. People want to see cities made of skyscrapers not huts. People want to drive on 5 lane roads and not 2. People want to commute in subways and surface trains and not “fly” Okadas. People want a city of traffic lights, large and clear traffic signs, and not Lastma and physically deformed traffic wardens directing traffic.
People want to be able to travel from Lagos to Enugu and from Abuja to Sokoto at any time of the day without fear for pot holes, rogue police and men of the under world. People want to visit beaches free from area boys, prostitutes and drug peddlers. Mr President, people want cleaner cities not cities filled with swamps and damaged drainage systems even in their so called high brow areas.
If Goodluck really thinks Nigeria is beautiful, tell him it’s in his dreams. This is not the Nigeria we crave for Mr President.
