4 Prominent Nigerian Personalities Who Inspired The Nation This Year, By Dr. Godwin Maduka

 

*CSP GARBA, NGOZI OKONJO IWEALA, OLUMIDE AKPATA AND THE NIGERIAN YOUTHS: FOUR PERSONALITIES WHO INSPIRED THE NATION THIS YEAR*

-Godwin Maduka

It become Ralph Nader who stated and rightly so that there may be no daily democracy without day by day citizenship. In different words, democracy can best thrive and be deepened whilst the citizens of a State are alive to their responsibilities. The latest occasions within the country this 12 months have modified my notion and my mind about leadership. Citizenship in Nigeria in the previous years has been marked with apathy and tepidness. The laissez-faire attitude is largely because of the mistrust Nigerian citizens nurse towards the Nigerian State. But it's miles that way because the people do no longer apprehend the enormity of the power they wield. This lukewarm mind-set of our humans had involved me to no give up and deep in my thoughts; I even have prayed and was hoping for the rise of the Nigerian spirit.

Recent events have proven that the people recognize and understand their real leaders, no matter ethnic and religious leanings and are prepared to mobilize support for such exemplary characters. Few leaders that stuck my interest maximum lately are...

*CSP RABIU GARBA*, the DPO of Fegge Police Station. Even although an Hausa man, he changed into spared by using the rampaging youths who had resorted to burning down police stations and other government structures all through the latest #Endsars protest to register their resentment against police brutality and injustice within the society. However, it is crucial to kingdom unequivocally that irrespective of the provocation, disenchantment and resentment, burning down of police stations, government systems and other private houses to express anger is unacceptable and reprehensible. As a police officer, he had conducted himself as a expert, exhibited candour and integrity within the discharge of his capabilities. He did not select to end up a tiger to the network he turned into assigned to police. He lent a listening ear to everyone regardless of reputation and most importantly, ingrained himself in the activities of the community by using attending social capabilities in harmony with the humans. When the rampaging youths were given to his station to raze it down, his colleagues working with him took to their heels, leaving him behind. The youths calmed down at the sight of *CSP GARBA* and downed their guns of destruction. His captivating personality and unique technique to his responsibilities saved the day, calmed frayed nerves and averted his station from being destroyed. The reality that this man is neither Igbo nor a Southerner is instructive.*CSP GARBA* ought to be the brand new face of policing in Nigeria and have to be drafted to assist train and retrain a number of his colleagues. *CSP GARBA'S* persona has rubbished the declare that ethnicity is the basis cause of our woes as a Nation.

*MR OLUMIDE AKPATA* is every other extraordinary leader who I respect and who I even have located carefully this yr. During the these days concluded NBA election, he showed his unusual organizational talents with the way and way he galvanized the younger Lawyers, speakme to the troubles that have an effect on them. His message resonated with them because it spoke to the center of their concerns concerning the prestigious career. And so that they stood with and via him and mobilized greatly on his behalf. The stop end result changed into his prevailing the election via a landslide. 

*MR OLUMIDE AKPATA* is my *MAN OF THE YEAR*, now not simply due to his victory on the NBA polls however because he rose to the event of management immediately after his swearing in. He hit the ground jogging. I must commend the complete contributors of the NBA for his or her comportment throughout the electioneering process. The NBA as a body has due to the fact that been able to near ranks and Forge beforehand, handing over at the electoral guarantees of its new management.

*DR. NGOZI OKONJO IWEALA* the pleasure which has endured to trail her nomination as a candidate for the pinnacle process of WTO is mind-blowing and incredible. Nobody has enjoyed this type of help throughout the board in Nigeria. As an observer, I have attempted to decipher the stuff she is made from that made it feasible for her to garner the big help from all of us. The solution is competence and sacrifice. In her bid to boost Nigeria from her financial struggles, entrench a culture of transparency, build sturdy establishments and set her at the path of sustained prosperity, those who had been averse to change and had been fearful of the reduce off of their corrupt enrichment determined to combat her grimy. They deployed each weapon of their arsenal to the extent of kidnapping her aged mom, subjecting her to the worst mental trauma. Yet *NOI* remained unbowed and never abdicated the duty to rescue the Nigerian economic system from morass. Regardless of what takes place with the job of WTO, my take is that she has received in the hearts of her humans and this is the greatest victory.

*THE NIGERIAN YOUTH* is a demography that has been written off as now not being capable of dealing with the reins of power. Indeed, the youths are considered individuals who bask in useless frivolities like Reality TV shows, football, social media and celebrity news. But those are younger humans who've in no way witnessed regular energy in their entire lives, who've had their observe years in the University punctuated by using hanging lecturers, elongating their years inside the system, who have no promise of jobs even after commencement and had to literally create their own route in a bid to thrive. 

And so it turned into with brilliant surprise and take pleasure in that I watched how the #ENDSARS motion grew. Young humans all over the usa got here out to mention sufficient. The coordination turned into amazing. The non violent nature of the protests gladdens the heart. They drove the narrative themselves, using the energy of social media. 

Even although the protests were largely about police brutality, it turned into through extension, an expression of frustration at the screw ups and the disappointments of the Nigerian system. From the hills of Enugu to the creeks of Niger Delta and streets of Lagos and Abuja, the message was the equal. People marched underneath the solar and in the rain. The solidarity of motive and the willpower of these young folks show that a united Nigeria without ethnic fault lines is possible. 

Hope is the oil of day after today, and those 4 personalities display that for Nigeria, it's far nonetheless morning yet on introduction day. With difficult work, competence, integrity, patriotism and eschewing of tribalism at the path of the leaders and the led, this country can upward thrust up, reclaim our the following day and live out the actual meaning of the words in our countrywide anthem -outstanding lofty heights reap, to construct a kingdom where peace and justice shall reign.

Dr. Godwin Maduka (Okosisi Orumba) is the founding father of Las Vegas Pain Institute, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States.