For the past few days, i have been in Egypt with my hubby and a few other friends and it’s been an exciting experience. As i write this, we’re on a cruise on the nile, and i look out of the window to behold the scenery of a massive body of water that serves 9 countries! I’ve been to many places and learnt so much about this country.

Two days ago, as we drove round the capital of Egypt, Cairo, i tried to compare it with a city or state in Nigeria and i couldn’t accurately compare. Egypt became independent in 1952 and the current President has been in Power since 1981 (28years)! and the country has degenerated over the years. I was disappointed at the poverty level and the breakdown of infrastructure, no standard roads, etc. The impact of bad leadership is powerful. Egypt also is a land so blessed, but its people so poor. When I listened to our tour guide describe Egypt, and the resources he knows that Egypt has, my mind wanders freely back to my country. Wherever I go, one this is on my mind – what as a Nation can we learn from these other countries to better the lot of our nation Nigeria? Egypt, the Land of the Pharaohs, the land where life after death means more than life on earth, the land of many temples and rich history!

Nigeria needs to rely on many other things that we have, and not on oil alone. Egypt generates revenue from agriculture and hydroelectricity as a result of the river nile, they have oil, they have gold and other natural resources (granite and many precious stones). A friend whose husband works in one of the oil companies in the Niger Delta was lamenting to me last weekend about how risky it is to go on rig these days. The militants engage direct means to want to take the lives of those workers and she wants her husband to resign, but it’s tough because their livelihood depends on it. So many lives have been lost because of too much focus on oil. She prays hard anytime the husband is away and heaves a big sigh once he’s back. She’s getting really tired.

I look forward to reorientation of many more Nigerians so we can have the kind of leaders we deserve. These leaders leave the shores of the country many times, see how the developed world is, and never come to make a change.

In the words of Dangote, we need about ten more governors who can duplicate what Fashola is doing, then others will begin to emulate them. We need leaders who are visionary and empathic.

I’m getting refreshed and look forward to writing more value adding articles from now on. Have a good evening!

I tried to sit still in the car as the traffic seemed not to ease out, oscillating between praying and thinking. Finally, we got to the hospital and headed straight to the emergency wing of the casualty building where we met four men and a lady in yellow overall uniform as well as a man in the Nigerian police uniform; they were pacing the corridor of the emergency wing; the ones in the overall uniform introduced themselves to us as staff of an NGO who major in rescueing accident victims. Then, they explained to us how it all happened. The police man after the accident occured pulled my sister out of the vehicle under which she was trapped after it had spinned and somersaulted, took her to a nearby private hospital from where she was referred to the Government Hospital. The NGO people then spotted her with the policeman, and rushed to pick her with their ambulance to the hospital. They had also run around to pay for various tests and medications by getting money from her bag and keeping the change which they later handed over to me on getting there.

Now, she’s a lot better and has undergone one out of two surgeries; thank God for protection. I look back now and wonder what would have happened to her had the policeman not gone to rescue her or had the NGO people not been around to convey her with their ambulance. My hope in a new Nigeria was once again renewed and strengthened, some people that
heard what happened said they were not humans but angels. I know that such people are scattered around the shores of this nation; people who are P.A.T.R.I.O.T.I.C (Problem Solvers, Aspirational, Trustworthy, Role Models, Integrity, Outstanding, Timely, Impactful and Compassionate).

Also, initially, we had doubts as to whether the facilities and medical personnel required for her surgery were available in Nigeria, but everything has so far been successful, though not without a few bureaucratic hiccups. Nigeria has the makings, the framework, the potentials to be an exceptional nation, to stand out and i believe we will get there! Do you believe!

Hello All,

I believe we had a nice weekend. To kick off this week, I have some quotes on Patriotism to keep our minds on our envisioned Nigeria.

• Patriotism is your conviction that this country is superior to all other countries because you were born in it.

• A man’s country is not a certain area of land, of mountains, rivers and woods, but it is a principle; and patriotism is loyalty to that principle.

• Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.

• A politician will do anything to keep his job, even become a patriot.

• Equal rights for all, special privileges for none.

• He loves his country best who strives to make it best.

• There is nothing wrong with Nigeria that cannot be cured by what is right with Nigeria.

• Men love their country, not because it is great, but because it is their own.

• A man’s feet must be planted in his country, but his eyes must survey the world.

• Freedom is nothing but a chance to be better.
  

This week, don’t litter your environment, don’t jump queues, obey traffic rules; be Patriotic. Keep these up till they become a habit, then you can correct someone around you who is doing otherwise; spread the word, let’s give Nigeria a whole new culture. The evidence that we see a new nation reflects in what we do. Let’s do things right; one step at a time, and we will see the Nigeria that we desire. It’s in our hands!

www.newnigeriaclub.net/beulah

My goodness! was i very relieved; I almost vowed not to go upstairs using the elevator anymore but I always have my hands full whenever I’m coming in every morning. While trapped in the elevator, i was angry at the current state of Nigeria especially the power sector, I lamented in my mind that why do we not have a system that works? Why can’t things be done without one having to worry about whether something might go wrong or not?

Nigeria has indeed come a long way. For people like us who are quite young:), all the good we know about the Nigerian system is what our parents told us and the thoughts remained in our imagination; but overtime, some people have visualized the possibility of the new Nigeria, drummed it into our consciousness and we have bought it, we also see it and are passionate about it. It’s my Nigeria, your Nigeria, our Nigeria. My husband has made fun of me several times when we’re out of the country and I complain about the Oyinbo man’s diet. Once I’ve spent maximum of one week on foreign dishes, i begin to long for “Amala, Iyan and the likes. I love Nigeria, the drive, energy and passion of the people; the food; everything. Once the systems are in place, Nigeria will be a paradise. Let’s make things work, let’s join hands in the building of our envisioned Nigeria.

You want to know how? Visit www.newnigeriaclub.net/beulah and join the bandwagon of believers in the new Nigeria. It’s a positive epidemic, get infected and be a carrier. You could also mail me topsiesuzie@gmail.com. Let ‘s make it happen. I believe!