Today we publish readers’ views on issues raised in this column. Several reactions came in by text messages and online; here are some of the reactions.

Godwin111 wrote and said: “The drums of revolution can only be heed by a nation of brave and courageous people. Unfortunately, Nigeria is not one.”

Gold Force said: “The main challenge before Nigerians is the adoption of candidates by political parties – they always have a way of bringing back old rascals to be recycled as party flag-bearers. During elections, the electorate always have the dilemma of which lesser evil to vote into power. Good Nigerians have left politics for the rotten elements of our society and today, we are all paying the price.

I thank God for APGA for bringing an ideological revolution in Anambra. I love the new governor and I believe in his drive. This is what Nigeria needs. Confederation will solve Nigeria’s problems. The presidential system produces too much corruption at the centre.

“This article does not take into account that during the writer’s time, Nigeria had very few graduates and a small population compared to the Nigeria of today. Corruption was rife – if not worse – as far back as 1965.

Employment was present simply because not many Nigerians went to school – most ended at SSCE level. In fact, we had fewer universities then with low enrolment. And thus the companies were often searching. Electricity was fair then given that a large chunk of the nation was not yet hooked on the national grid. So was Nigeria really better 25 years ago? Please answer for yourselves!”

Jolomi declared: “We will never see a revolution in Nigeria. The citizens are too cowardly, and frankly, the majority is not prepared to die.

Even amongst the diehard Boko Haram followers, only a few are stupid enough to believe in tales of 72 virgins. But do not hold your breath, this is Nigeria where greedy corrupt people inhabit and no one is willing to be their brother’s keeper.

If you have not realised it yet, this is a “Me” first society where there is no such thing as compassion. Believe me, I learnt it firsthand where people I believed were my people showed me what it is to be a Nigerian.

Take all you can get, give out nothing in return and never be compassionate. That is the essence of a real Nigerian. Revolution ko revolution ni! You want the “majority to be prepared to die?

I am not advocating revolution because that is a very dangerous genie to let out of the bottle. What I was referring to was the fact that we can never have a revolution in Nigeria. Cowardly people, who cannot even demand for their ballots to count let alone call for revolution. We need infrastructure and a way to curb corruption that is eating away the substance of this country. A little compassion would not harm this country, rather it will help. And yes, countries like Libya, Iraq, Egypt and a host of others that have experienced revolution first hand are still in the throes of the chaos that comes along with it. We just need to get it right with leaders with vision.”

Odidere Oodua said: “The President has no one to cry to other than putting his thinking cap on’. Well, what about his wifey? Or, is she .only just good for galvanting around the world wasting our resources?”

Nedum said: “Everybody keeps talking about revolution but nobody wants to talk about uniting and re-orientating the people first to understand that our current crop of leaders..all of them… are a problem and we need to sweep them out irrespective of tribe and religious creed.

“Some people say our problem is the political parties, some others say our problem is the fact that Nigerian people have accepted their fate as slaves to the upper class. But in my opinion, I say the problem is generational difference. The politics which these old men ruling us play is very dangerous. They fight among themselves along the lines of religion and tribe. I doubt if these people went to school or made friends with people of other tribes as youths.

“The generational difference might also be the reason why these men do not feel any compulsion to do better even when they visit other countries and see the development there.

They are too old to understand how these countries implement such systems and technology and they do not understand these things so they adopt the mindset of ‘let me just stay in office for x years and leave for the next person, maybe he will understand it. For example, our leaders go overseas to attend functions and get driven around.

They enjoy the roads overseas but do not understand that the good roads they see are just 20 per cent of the general road system because they have amenities for pedestrians e.g dedicated side walks and bicycle paths in addition to underground drainage, which is why they can build underground motorways and bridges for miles.

The overhead pedestrian bridges are fitted with elevators for their handicapped and old people….and these same roads have different security features like CCTV and speed guages which help in law enforcement…(they don’t need policemen brandishing AK 47s at checkpoints on the roads, begging for N20, when they know that they can get N200 through speed guages which take automatic photos for proof from someone overspeeding or they can get N150 from someone that beats a red light or their police can pull you over and give you a ticket).

Our old politicians see these things but do not understand how these systems help society, (which is why I laugh when people tell me that someone like Rochas Okorocha of Imo State is doing wonders building roads everywhere)when those roads are just 10 per cent of what a real functional road is… no side walks , no bicycle paths, no traffic lights etc…but I understand Nigerians have suffered a lot and that is why 10 per cent seems like 100 per cent .

Also these old men have no reason to do what is right because of their age. They are just there to steal knowing full well that they are old and won’t live long enough to be punished when they are eventually found out because many of them would have been dead and passed on the stolen wealth to their children who would then be metamorphosed with this stolen money to be our future leaders.

“We have to open the political space for those who have lived extended periods of time in these developed societies, contributed to them and understand the systems to come and run for office in Nigeria so they can bring these things back here in Nigeria….This argument is based on this fact.”

How do you believe that someone who cooks with firewood after his election into office, will make it possible for everyone in his constituency to own a gas cooker, when he doesn’t even understand that gas cookers use gas to burn and in some countries, gas is supplied through pipe just the same way water gets to your house? It is with this in mind that I say whenever we are ready to start a revolution, we should have a game plan to convert this to a paradigm shift where we would not have anyone more than 47 years of age being in charge of the country, states, or major agencies.