Tokunbo Lijadu-Oyemade (Dcns.)
It is very unfortunate that Africans in the Diaspora, excluding African Americans, that observe the evils in African states’ leaderships are handicapped and unable to effect the positive changes they proffer or would like to see in the Africa of their dreams ostensibly because they are not home-based. It is furthermore unfortunate that Africans in Diaspora can’t fathom the efforts of those majority at home that have opted to remain at home and continue to combat what, by their assessments, constitute ‘slave’ mentalities of some African leaders even though they have the option of living in the Diaspora.
We want to make positive changes happen for Africa and the Vehicle of Change (our own version) is on the move.
Personalities like Wole Soyinka as a single example among many returned to Nigeria from self-exile in the USA where he was offered and held a prestigious position in an equally prestigious American University. Today, the entire nation of Nigeria celebrates him and his relentless efforts at saving the Nigerian state from total decadence even as a private citizen.
He openly takes on sitting and former Presidents on national issues from angles that cannot be contested by the powers that be, thereby opening the eyes of up and coming generations to what should be but isn’t; the mark of a true leader, I’ll say.
Prof Wole Soyinka, never associates with nor condemn any religious persuasion but seeks to correct that which is wrong with governance and society in general. Other younger Nigerians, some of whom are destined to take Nigeria to greater heights, are watching.
Nevertheless, the future is not in their hands only, but also in the hands of those bold and self-sacrificing Nigerian voluntary returnees from the Diaspora who MUST nurture and responsibly mentor these youths in the right way while keeping them under their watchful and wiser eyes.
In my opinion, therefore, the USA or her President or any other world leader for that matter is not directly responsible for Africa or Nigeria’s current positioning in the comity of Nations. Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora are; by hook or crook. We must always look inwards to create the national or continental image we want to be renowned for.
