The Envious Pastor

I thought I was really doing well as far as overcoming the spirit of envy until this visit to Lusaka, Zambia. Zambia as you might know is a Southern African country of 13.5 million people, with a land area almost twice that of Nigeria, one federal university and handful of privately owned ones. You can drive round the capital city, Lusaka in few hours. But the peace and quiet in the city is palpable. I saw the way the country has been able to use what they have to begin to get what they need and I was green with envy when i think of my country Nigeria especially my beloved city Jos. This visit to Zambia is somehow reminiscent of my last visit to the Pike Street market in Seattle WA where i saw hundreds of people milling into this market spending thousands of dollars and adding value to the economy of this city, it was a indeed a beauty to behold. I thought, well this is the great USA, but here am I in Zambia, Southern Africa experiencing the same phenomenon where tourism is contributing so much to the economy of the country. I stood here watching the whole scenario and cannot but think about my city - Jos who prides herself as the city of peace and tourism. My envy got intense when i travelled six hours further south to a town called LivingStone named after Dr David LivingStone, the Scottish missionary. When I saw Victoria Falls (i wonder why its not Kaunda or Zambezi Falls) my mind went to the Assop Falls in Jos; i went to see the game, animals in their natural habitat my mind went to the Jos Wild Life Park and the Yankari game reserve - centres that now exists just in name. As i stood between people filled such excitement at what they were beholding, I must confess that I was so so jealous because I believe Nigeria could do better; this should also be happening in my country on a larger scale. I can easily do the usual and blame it on the political opportunists as i have chosen to call them, but this has not changed anything over the years. But I really desire change because I believe it can and should happen. Our problem is no longer one of leadership in my humble opinion, but more of followership - followership who does not know how to and what demand to make of leaders.
Where do we start from - It is time to begin to join voices to demand for stronger states where Governors are made to think and act for their states rather than sit and wait for monthly hand outs from the Federal government. If this is so, the likes of Governor Jang will be left with no choice than to focus on money spinning ventures such as tourism in Plateau state which will provide jobs for street urchins who are always available to unleash terror on the city at the slightest provocation. I stood in LivingStone, Zambia and lost count of hotels and many little tour packaging companies. The peace in the city is palpable and i became envious. We can change, but it is up to the citizens to take our destinies in our hands. Oh I forgot to mention that Power did not blink once in Lusaka.