Opinion
A Misplaced Optimism?
Something intrigues me about the average Nigerian; how they make stable efforts to achieve specific goals. The average Nigerian is steadfast in whatever he does so long as the intended outcome is attained.
I am astonished at the manner Nigerians persist in most of their endeavours despite the odds that prevail. For most Nigerians, the word “guilt” is eccentric and mislaid in their lexicon. The common Nigerian believes that they will succeed whenever they attempt a project. They are prepared to put in all to ensure that they are not counted as failures in the end.
Recently, this essayist was in the company of a group of young boys. In the conversation that ensued one of them, who had just returned from Australia, narrated how in that country graduates commit suicide for their inability to secure jobs upon graduating from school. Others perpetrate same for their failure to gain admission to the university.
Compare both scenarios to what obtains in Nigeria, where a thousand and one reasons exist which could cause the termination of one’s life. Young Nigerians make repeated attempts to succeed in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) without success, but hardly give up.
Think about the rising spate of unemployment in the country, leading to unimaginable frustration of our youths and turning the knowledge they acquire from school into utopian ideals. Some graduate with high grades but remain for years without jobs. These youths are still in search of jobs without giving up.
The apparent frustration faced by jobless youths causes them to engage in unsolicited postgraduate programmes and become a burden to their parents or guardians. This, nevertheless, does not alter the situation. For them, life must go on unhindered, job or no job.
It was this same spirit that informed Nigerians’ rating as the happiest people in the world in a global survey conducted sometime ago. What weighs down people in other countries and occasion them to terminate their lives hardly has impact on the average Nigerian given the same variables. A die-hard spirit you would call it; you can’t be wrong.
However, as there are advantages to these personality traits, so are there disadvantages. But first, the advantages. Just as the adage goes: “There is always a light at the end of the tunnel” so are there some sure rewards for one’s ability to persevere.
A case that readily comes to mind is the event between Elijah and Elisha as recorded in the Holy Books. Elijah was Elisha’s master. When it became clear to the latter that the former would soon be transfigured, he made sure they were in one accord. Even when Elijah repeatedly told Elisha to wait till his return from his journey, Elisha declined the offer but rather clung to his master, because he knew he was about to be blessed by him, but on the condition that he must witness Elijah’s translation to heaven.
His perseverance, however, paid off as he was eventually rewarded with the double portion of his master’s anointing in a befitting proportion. This is an example of what accompanies perseverance. As one persists, one must not lose focus. These qualities are pre-requisites to success. Conversely, when perseverance is not regularly appraised and received, it could lead to hallucination. Psychologists see it as something that could fixate one both in thought and action.
Our leaders abuse these traits of the Nigerian. They see this resilience as weakness, docility and naivity. Is that not the reason corruption thrives as our leaders stare us in the face and stash the people’s money meant for development without question? Is that not why GSM service providers afford to render poor services to Nigerians and the heavens do not fall? Is it not for the same reason the government has failed to fix the nation’s power problem many years after the inception of democracy?
But in the midst of these, I have one worry. If a global survey has rated Nigerians at 70 points for optimism and by contrast Britons deeply pessimistic 44, won’t we be denied aids by the industrialised nations? This is because happiness presupposes contentment and if this logic can be sustained, won’t it mean that the Nigerian is at ease at home?
For the purposes of dialectics, abject poverty in which most Nigerians live and happiness ought not to be universally related. But this is Nigeria where anything goes and usually contrary to established norms. This might be why the nation is seen as a summary of a wasted potentiality and extravagant opportunity.
If one looks harder, one may be tempted to conclude that the Nigerian’s optimism is misplaced. This is a country regarded as a place where corruption thrives. The newspapers are full of sensational allegations of crooked officials and mind-boggling haul. Sectarian violence is steadily on the rise. Then there is grinding poverty. To cap it all, there are the advance fee “419” scams richly embedded in the business life of many citizens.
In the visage of these, what in the world makes Nigerians so happy, so optimistic and undoubting in spirit? It is the spirit of entrepreneurship which fuels their optimism. An African proverb says: “If Friday is to be sweet, you will know by Thursday.” It might not seem that Nigerians have much to be happy about, but they have already seen what Friday holds and this reinforces their resolve and ambition. This is the spirit of a true Nigerian. We mustn’t give up. God dey.
Arnold Alalibo
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Restoring Order, Delivering Good Governance
The political atmosphere in Rivers State has been anything but calm in 2025. Yet, a rare moment of unity was witnessed on Saturday, June 28, when Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, appeared side by side at the funeral of Elder Temple Omezurike Onuoha, Wike’s late uncle. What could have passed for a routine condolence visit evolved into a significant political statement—a symbolic show of reconciliation in a state bruised by deep political strife.
The funeral, attended by dignitaries from across the nation, was more than a moment of shared grief. It became the public reflection of a private peace accord reached earlier at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. There, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu brought together Governor Fubara, Minister Wike, the suspended Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and other lawmakers to chart a new path forward.
For Rivers people, that truce is a beacon of hope. But they are not content with photo opportunities and promises. What they demand now is the immediate lifting of the state of emergency declared in March 2025, and the unconditional reinstatement of Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Dr. Ngozi Odu, and all suspended lawmakers. They insist on the restoration of their democratic mandate.
President Tinubu’s decision to suspend the entire structure of Rivers State’s elected leadership and appoint a sole administrator was a drastic response to a deepening political crisis. While it may have prevented a complete breakdown in governance, it also robbed the people of their voice. That silence must now end.
The administrator, retired naval chief Ibok-Ette Ibas, has managed a caretaker role. But Rivers State cannot thrive under unelected stewardship. Democracy must return—not partially, not symbolically, but fully. President Tinubu has to ensure that the people’s will, expressed through the ballot, is restored in word and deed.
Governor Fubara, who will complete his six-month suspension by September, was elected to serve the people of Rivers, not to be sidelined by political intrigues. His return should not be ceremonial. It should come with the full powers and authority vested in him by the constitution and the mandate of Rivers citizens.
The people’s frustration is understandable. At the heart of the political crisis was a power tussle between loyalists of Fubara and those of Wike. Institutions, particularly the State House of Assembly, became battlegrounds. Attempts were made to impeach Fubara. The situation deteriorated into a full-blown crisis, and governance was nearly brought to its knees.
But the tide must now turn. With the Senate’s approval of a record ?1.485 trillion budget for Rivers State for 2025, a new opportunity has emerged. This budget is not just a fiscal document—it is a blueprint for transformation, allocating ?1.077 trillion for capital projects alone. Yet, without the governor’s reinstatement, its execution remains in doubt.
It is Governor Fubara, and only him, who possesses the people’s mandate to execute this ambitious budget. It is time for him to return to duty with vigor, responsibility, and a renewed sense of urgency. The people expect delivery—on roads, hospitals, schools, and job creation.
Rivers civil servants, recovering from neglect and under appreciation, should also continue to be a top priority. Fubara should continue to ensure timely payment of salaries, address pension issues, and create a more effective, motivated public workforce. This is how governance becomes real in people’s lives.
The “Rivers First” mantra with which Fubara campaigned is now being tested. That slogan should become policy. It must inform every appointment, every contract, every budget decision, and every reform. It must reflect the needs and aspirations of the ordinary Rivers person—not political patrons or vested interests.
Beyond infrastructure and administration, political healing is essential. Governor Fubara and Minister Wike must go beyond temporary peace. They should actively unite their camps and followers to form one strong political family. The future of Rivers cannot be built on division.
Political appointments, both at the Federal and State levels, must reflect a spirit of fairness, tolerance, and inclusivity. The days of political vendettas and exclusive lists must end. Every ethnic group, every gender, and every generation must feel included in the new Rivers project.
Rivers is too diverse to be governed by one faction. Lasting peace can only be built on concessions, maturity, and equity. The people are watching to see if the peace deal will lead to deeper understanding or simply paper over cracks in an already fragile political arrangement.
Wike, now a national figure as Minister of the FCT, has a responsibility to rise above the local fray and support the development of Rivers State. His influence should bring federal attention and investment to the state, not political interference or division.
Likewise, Fubara should lead with restraint, humility, and a focus on service delivery. His return should not be marked by revenge or political purges but by inclusive leadership that welcomes even former adversaries into the process of rebuilding the state.
“The people are no longer interested in power struggles. They want light in their streets, drugs in their hospitals, teachers in their classrooms, and jobs for their children. The politics of ego and entitlement have to give way to governance with purpose.
The appearance of both leaders at the funeral was a glimpse of what unity could look like. That moment should now evolve into a movement-one that prioritizes Rivers State over every personal ambition. Let it be the beginning of true reconciliation and progress.
As September draws near, the Federal government should act decisively to end the state of emergency and reinstate all suspended officials. Rivers State must return to constitutional order and normal democratic processes. This is the minimum requirement of good governance.
The crisis in Rivers has dragged on for too long. The truce is a step forward, but much more is needed. Reinstating Governor Fubara, implementing the ?1.485 trillion budget, and uniting political factions are now the urgent tasks ahead. Rivers people have suffered enough. It is time to restore leadership, rebuild trust, and finally put Rivers first.
By: Amieyeofori Ibim
Amieyeofori Ibim is former Editor of The Tide Newspapers, political analyst and public affairs commentator
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