Many across the globe eagerly awaited the year 2025 in anticipation that the New Year will usher in relief from socio-economic, political challenges in various parts of the world.
At the sub-regional level, the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, is torn apart as the trio of Mali, Niger and Burkina Fasso have decided to shift emphasis from belonging to the group, thus forming their own alliance. Despite the rapprochement from the ECOWAS leadership, they have remained adamant and continued to be ruled by the juntas, widely accepted and admired by the citizens’, a clear testimony that their erstwhile civilian democratic leaders were not living above board. They were accused by the military of corruption and unflagging misgovernance.
It is worthy of note that to check any military incursion into politics there must be in place the right leadership devoid of parochialism, nepotism and corruption.
Interestingly, ECOWAS leadership has told the three countries to re-consider returning to the group but they have remained adamant amid expectations that they would follow through with the appeal from the ECOWAS.
Back home, we are be-clouded by not a few crises across the country in the outgone year as kidnappings, terrorism and sundry issues of insecurity are major features in 2024.
The year 2024 closed on a tragic note as a result of the contentious Christmas day military airstrikes that allegedly killed 10 villagers as well as injured many in Gidan Sama and Rumtuwa, Silame Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
In the aftermath of the tragedy the Nigerian military has been trying to wriggle itself out of the embarrassment. This is coming on the heels of previous error-strikes where civilians were hit in the military’s attempt to track down terrorists.
Again, there was the embarrassing death of scores of Nigerians in parts of the country with the Ibadan children’s funfair, Okija and Abuja stampedes standing out some of the sad incidents in 2024.
Notwithstanding the enormities of incidents that marred last year there is room for optimism in 2025.
Hence, we are of the view that what is imperative for our leaders is to maintain decorum, give exemplar leadership, promote good governance and put corruption at a relative reasonable level as we know corruption may not be completely wiped out.
Furthernore, there is the need for the citizens to continue to give support as necessary to the leaders in the New Year so as to be exonerated from being the factor militating against their performance. It must be emphasized that where peace eludes the polity, leadership no matter how well entrenched and endowed would only achieve little. Both fronts should work in harmony to achieve progress.
In anycase, the AljazirahNIGERIA family wishes Nigerians a blissful and rewarding experience in the New Year and beyond.
