"I Have a Dream" is a public speech
delivered by American civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. during the
March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on August 28, 1963, in which he calls
for an end to racism in the United States and called for civil and economic
rights. Delivered to over 250,000 civil rights supporters from the steps of the
Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., the speech was a defining moment of the
American Civil Rights Movement.
Beginning with a reference to the Emancipation
Proclamation, which freed millions of slaves in 1863, King observes that:
"one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free".[ Toward the
end of the speech, King departed from his prepared text for a partly improvised
peroration on the theme "I have a dream", prompted by Mahalia
Jackson's cry: "Tell them about the dream, Martin!" In this part of
the speech, which most excited the listeners and has now become its most
famous, King described his dreams of freedom and equality arising from a land
of slavery and hatred. Jon Meacham writes that, "With a single phrase,
Martin Luther King Jr. joined Jefferson and Lincoln in the ranks of men who've
shaped modern America". The speech was ranked the top American speech of
the 20th century in a 1999 poll of scholars of public address.
More: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Have_a_Dream
When Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King (Jnr.) said, “I
have a dream”; did people really wish him well about it? That famous quote
cannot be put in the dust-bin of history, because it cut across all
generations- Blacks, Whites, Red-Indians, Latinos, Asians, etc. Advanced Worlds
always strives to better the lots of their citizens, irrespective of class; the
governments will ensure that each citizen enjoys all the basic things human
being can have!
To me Nigeria is not among the countries where
the government will help citizen to pursue their dreams and achieve his or her
dreams (may be in another world), common man’s kid who made it can be counted
as well as the gifted and talented who does not make it! The gifted and
talented citizen are either turned to miscreants who the Politicians uses to
achieve their “do or die” elections; they are the hemp-smokers’ lord! There is
no room to nurtures dreams, school fees are becoming exorbitant and poor kids
cannot afford to go to school! At least, a governor recently said, the school
his government established is not meant for the poor (Technical University)!
Dreams shattered, Talent wasted away, untimely death of citizens who are
suppose to be future of our dear country due to negligence and siphoning of
public funds! The Executive arm of government is nothing but a bee-hive of
corruption and an epitome of the corrupted Roman Republic of the olden days!
Legislative arms of government nko? The National assembly stinks like an opened
soaked-away of public toilet in Oshodi, it a dump-site of hatchery where
maggots held sway! Chai, what about the other arm called Judiciary; they are
the interpreters of laws and it suppose to be the guiding angels as well as the
keepers of all that is fair, just, and maintaining the equality of all
citizens! But all these have been swallowed up by the Kraken called corruption!
Recently, former governor of old Kaduna State,
Alhaji Balarabe Musa said, “Nigeria in problems because leaders put
self-interest first”. He stated further that our real problem lies in the
“money power”; “particularly, stolen money is the deciding factor in politics
and elections. That’s why we have corrupt political leadership in every
aspect!” Alhaji Musa also point toward the charade of the present government of
fighting corruption and my question is; “can a kingdom rise against itself and
survives?” ‘This government talked about anti-corruption crusade, but when you
look at it very well, there nothing but public deceit. Corruption is growing and
there is nothing they are doing decisively about it. The worst part is that the
most corrupt people are in this government. Corruption started in an organized
form in a way that it disabled government!’
(Nigerian Tribune: 6th November, 2016. Pg. 24
& 25)
“Nigeria is a forest of thousand demons”- Bolanle
Bolawole (On The Lord’s Day: Nigeria Tribune 6th November, 2016). “All the
‘Akotiletas’ in the South, who diverted bond money, UBEC funds, workers’
salaries and pensions, workers’ contributory schemes in APC Presidential
primaries/elections and others, are walking free. They should be given the same
Dasuki treatment in a uniformly fought war against corruption. Many of them
have even bagged a mouth-watering appointment.” “But Buhari has said he is not interested
in probing election funds…” That is what he is stealthily doing and cleverly
limiting to PDP while turning a blind spot to APC’s own campaign funds also
procured from the same public treasury”! Oro p’esi je! Oro di hun…In Fela’s
voice which is re-echoing in my head! Till next time I will remain my myself if
Almighty God permits!
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