29/05/2025
FOOD FOR THOUGHT ▢
In a hostel accommodating 100 individuals, akara and pap were served for breakfast every morning.
Eighty out of the 100 residents disliked the meal and complained daily, expressing their desire for something different.
However, the remaining 20 residents were satisfied with the meal.
To address the issue, the warden introduced a voting system where residents would vote for their preferred meal each night. The meal with the highest number of votes would be served the following morning.
Every night, the 20 residents who enjoyed akara and pap voted unanimously for it.
In contrast, the 80 residents who did not like it failed to unite, casting their votes in different directions:
18 votes for tea and bread,
16 votes for yam and egg sauce,
14 votes for jollof rice,
12 votes for spaghetti,
10 votes for indomie,
and 10 votes for moi moi and pap.
Predictably, akara and pap consistently emerged as the winning choice.
This outcome was not due to its superior quality but rather the disunity among those who opposed it.
In Nigeria, many citizens are weary of the persistent hardship, poor governance, and recycled leadership.
We are well aware of the root causes of these problems.
However, even those who desire change are fragmented along tribal lines, party affiliations, personal interests, ego, and ambition.
The year 2027 may seem distant, but it is rapidly approaching.
If we fail to learn from this story, we risk waking up to another round of the same unsatisfactory "meal" we have been served for years.
The World Bank has projected that poverty in Nigeria will continue to rise until 2027.
This projection serves as a warning, and the harsh reality is that if we miss the opportunity presented by 2027, the situation may only deteriorate further.
This message serves as a reminder:
THERE'S POWER IN UNITY, NOT JUST IN NUMBERS.
A united minority can be more formidable than a divided majority.
Reflect on this truth.
A new Nigeria is possible.
