By Chiekezie Emmanuel

In recent years, we have had people claiming to be our leaders without understanding our problems. The problem is not that they don’t know our issues, but rather that they can’t serve two masters at the same time. How can you live your life outside the country, claim to be satisfied, and then come to Nigeria to become a leader without knowing the root of the problems?

The people who are being led are complaining because their problems are not being solved. First- and second-class citizens have done more harm than good to the nation in terms of leadership. They grew up with their class from day one, without struggles, and associating only with people from the same class.

Some of their rich parents advise them not to associate with others who are not in their class, which is why first-class citizens don’t invite or involve lesser classes. Bringing this to leadership, in a country where major leaders did not attend any public or private school in the country, where leaders travel outside the country for treatment, and where their major friends are not from the country, what do you expect them to give?

“You can’t give what you don’t have.” You can’t expect them to use knowledge and what they saw in developed countries to rule underdeveloped countries like Nigeria. For instance, Hon. Chima Obieze said in one of his articles that the reason he has been collaborating and giving good leadership to his constituents is that he attended public school, played in the streets, and grew up in Nigeria.

This kind of people are the ones Nigeria needs to endorse in leadership because they know the problems of the people and are still working with them. But first-class citizens who studied outside the country won’t know the citizens’ brouhaha because you can’t compare America, for instance, with Nigeria in terms of education, medical facilities, and so on.

Nigeria’s problem will continue because who are to judge the first-class citizens for their bad deeds? Nobody, because they are surrounded by fellow class members. But a poor man from Nigeria will commit the same case and rot in jail.

A leader who doesn’t know the problems of the led is not a leader. Nigerians keep suffering from government policies and political instability, which they are already conversant with because some developed countries use them.

Moving forward, my fellow citizens, this is the problem Nigerians are facing. Some of them are using American or Russian patterns of leadership in an underdeveloped country like Nigeria, so what do you expect them to give? A nation where the judiciary connives with the government, law enforcement agencies intimidate the lesser classes, and freedom of the press is confiscated is doomed.

Prospects for a better Nigeria: our leaders and first-class citizens should make use of the schools, hospitals, and try to associate with people from lesser classes in Nigeria who know what they are doing for guidance and mentorship. By doing so, the leaders will know the problems of Nigerian hospitals, roads, schools, unemployment, and the way forward for good development.

Lastly, first-class citizens should involve the lesser classes and try to be in Nigeria. You can’t grow up in America and rule another country. Every country is different from the other. The lesser classes are human; they deserve better hospitals, schools, roads, and employment. It’s their right as citizens, not a privilege.

Cheiekezie Emmanuel Ezesinachi is the News Editor, ESUT Monitor Newspaper