By Martin Ugboma

I think of all the great inventions of my generation. All of us born from the 1960s. The lucky generation who neither had to fight for our nations’ independence nor play a role during the civil war. The born at the right time children who witnessed their parents struggle to rebuild their lives after the war.

The first generation to obtain drivers licenses without taking driving tests. The ones who discovered we could have multiple international passports. That the “mercury” in electricity transformers was a guarantee to untold wealth. The inventors of “Chancing” during school social activities – robbing other students of shoes and other valuables.

Grace allowed us to have kids who invariably got into school. We raised hell when corporal punishment was meted out to our kids. We insisted our poorly performing children must be given prizes, so they do not feel like failures on prize giving days. We did their homework. We bribed to get them examination questions (Expo).

We discovered how to bribe JAMB officials to alter the score of our wards. How to hire mercenaries for eternal examinations. In our offices, we feed on the fat of the land, then expect professionalism when we require services from anyone else. We destroyed everything we inherited – Kings College, National stadium, National Theatre, LUTH, FESTAC, Trans Ekulu Layout, Ikoyi Park, Tafawa Balewa Square, Ekene Dili Chukwu Motors, Henry Stevens, Water Corporation, State Bursary Boards. Chineke!!!

And now, we are the chief town criers of the ills of our nation. Each day, we awake to amplify the failings in our system. We only see the bad without offering any solutions. We have short circuited the system all our lives, but now want to be seen as all-knowing angels. Singapore had Lee Kuan Yew, we say in defense of our failings. We had Shagari, Obasanjo, Yar Adua, Jonathan, Buhari and Émilokàn, and we say they led us to sin. But our people say one hand cannot clap. And while we point a finger at our failed leaders, several other fingers are pointed at the real culprits – the born at the right time generation whose cry and tears are for the nation that has been repeatedly raped, all the while praying fervently for their chance/turn to rape.

Our sins will not be washed away by our pontification. We created this mess. We built and nurtured it all. Fortunately, nemesis and karma still live for we have created 2.0 versions in our entitled children.

The law maybe an ass sometimes, and nature can be brutal. But karma can be both, and relentless, as we have lived to experience the leadership of our born at the right time brothers. Yahaya Bello, Wike, Bukola Saraki, Salisu Buhari, and all the military service chiefs – all masters of the universe.

Our stubborn refusal to accept responsibility for our failings is simply playing the Ostrich. The dislocated and bastardized system we built envelopes us in full bloom. No great god will fall from the sky to wash away our sins and make everybody feel high (Bob Marley).

Change we must. And must start with us taking painful steps back to rethink our values and

build real knowledge. Our mobile devices with Ai capabilities will not provide real solutions as they fail to appropriately define “akara burger” or the significance of an amala with èwédu and gbegiri meal to Yoruba man having lunch in the home of his Fulani brother. Unless we faithfully address our failings, we will reap the fruit of our lives of desecration.

We will.