Justin Trudeau: Unhealthy Song From Nigerians

Sociopolitical commentators online have been buzzing about the recent developments in Canada, particularly with the emergence of 43-year-old Justin Trudeau as the Prime Minister of a developed nation like Canada. What surprises me is not just the excitement and commentary from this part of the world (Nigeria), but also our failure to recognize that a similar scenario could have played out in Nigeria. This is largely due to our ingrained, subservient nature and our tendency to be minions without independent thought.
The colonial legacy of godfatherism has deeply ingrained a mentality of servitude in our subconscious. Erasing this mentality would require a sociocultural reawakening, which, in my opinion, is a prerequisite for rediscovering our lost identity and humanity.
If we had a deeper understanding of the debilitating effects of the godfather-godson relationship, we would strive to eliminate godfatherism from our sociopolitical landscape. Knowing that a godfather would never allow a godson to ascend to leadership while he is still alive, one would think twice before entering such an imbalanced relationship that benefits only the godfather at the expense of the godson.
We can change this narrative, but how can we do so without a conscious and deliberate effort to alter the status quo? Not long ago, before the 2015 general election, then-President Goodluck Jonathan made a statement that someone older than him would not succeed him. Although this statement was far-reaching, it was also laughable. Jonathan, who spoke about the need for a new generation to take over, failed to apply this principle when it came to the key players in his administration, such as Edwin Kiagbodo Clark and Anthony Akhakon Anenih, who wielded more power than his official cabinet.
Today, we have President Muhammadu Buhari, who is old enough to be the father of Justin Trudeau, managing a 21st-century Nigeria where a new generation is still entangled in the web of godfatherism. To be clear, I am not against Buhari’s presidency. In fact, it reflects the reality that people get the leadership they deserve. If the younger generation fails to claim their rightful place, the older generation will continue to shape their fate. It’s as simple as that.