#### picture is mine
Special thanks to the entire management for their efforts in ensuring that everything moves smoothly.
Government supposed to be for everyone. Ideally, it should exist for the welfare of the people, protecting their interests and ensuring fairness, justice, and equal opportunities for all. Unfortunately, this noble idea of government has gradually turned into a mere statement rather than a lived reality. What we witness today is a system that appears far removed from its original purpose, largely because of the many questionable practices that now define governance. Government is no longer what it used to be, and this change has left many citizens disillusioned and frustrated.
I was not privileged to be among those born in the late 1970s or early 1980s, but I have listened attentively to the stories and testimonies of people who lived through those times. From what I have heard, governance during that period seemed more purposeful and people-oriented. Opportunities were more accessible, and hard work was often rewarded. I remember my cousin, who completed his higher education in the 1980s, narrating how he was given a car immediately after graduation, with a well-paying job already waiting for him. Such gestures were not rare back then; they reflected a system that valued education, merit, and service. There was little or no preferential treatment, unlike what is prevalent today, where connections and wealth determine success more than competence or integrity.
In contrast, decisions in today’s government are often taken without the consent or consideration of the citizens. Policies are introduced abruptly, and no one seems concerned about whether such decisions will be acceptable or beneficial to the masses. The average citizen is expected to simply accept whatever is imposed, regardless of its consequences. This reality exposes the kind of government we now live under—a partial system where one group is consistently favored at the expense of another. Rather than serving the collective good, governance has become selective and exclusionary.
Modern government has shifted its focus away from the poor masses and now concentrates mainly on those it can benefit from financially. In my country, Nigeria, the voice of the poor has been drowned by the loud influence of money. Wealthy individuals use their resources to intimidate and silence the less privileged. They influence policies, shape laws, and manipulate systems in ways that favor their interests alone. As a result, the poor continue to suffer while the rich grow even more powerful.
A clear example of this injustice can be seen in the recent tax-related issues in Nigeria. Taxes, which should ideally be structured in a way that protects the vulnerable, have instead placed heavier burdens on the poor. It is the common man who feels the harsh impact of these policies, while the rich often find ways to evade or minimize their obligations. One cannot help but ask why the little resources of the poor must be harnessed and exploited to sustain a system that rarely works in their favor.
It is becoming increasingly obvious that leadership positions today are reserved for individuals with money. This troubling trend raises an important question: when will a common man have a genuine chance to emerge as a leader? Most political positions now appear to be auctioned to the highest bidder, rather than entrusted to those with vision, compassion, and competence. Leadership has turned into a game of turns and financial strength, where those without strong financial backing are automatically sidelined.
In a society like this, if one’s financial muscle is not strong enough, their voice hardly matters. The poor are excluded from decision-making processes and denied platforms to express their concerns. Until leadership becomes accessible to people of all backgrounds, regardless of wealth, the dream of a truly democratic and people-centered government will remain elusive. A government that ignores the cries of the poor ultimately undermines its own legitimacy, and without urgent reforms, the gap between the rulers and the ruled will only continue to widen.
Thanks for reading through and all comments appreciated.