I am your friend, Dr. Charles Apoki.
There is a quote I saw on the YouTube channel Inspire with Elle, and I took permission to share it:
The evil you support today because of what you stand to benefit is the fertilizer that will nurture your future trouble.
I repeat, the evil you support today because of what you stand to benefit is the fertilizer that will nurture your future trouble.
I was pleasantly surprised when Omoyele Sowore, a presidential aspirant, and several human rights lawyers came to the aid of the young lady, Rita, a female NYSC member who was overwhelmed by her situation and decided to speak out. She expressed her frustration in a manner that some may have found offensive, leading the NYSC Secretariat to summon her.
I was amazed at how quickly Sowore and his team got there. What was his motivation? He could have stayed back, but instead, he chose to stand in solidarity with the oppressed. I am deeply impressed by that young man. He has repeatedly shown courage and commitment to justice, just like other notable activists in the country. Those who attempted similar feats in my generation, like Colonel Umar and AMU, were few. If we had more young people like Sowore, VeryDarkMan, and the human rights lawyers who stood by that lady, Nigeria would have changed by now.
I was particularly touched by the way Sowore treated Rita—with dignity and respect. He opened the car door for her, ensuring she had confidence, company, and comradeship—three essential C’s that can empower a person. When they arrived at the NYSC office, those who had summoned her had already conspired behind closed doors to determine what they would say.
I want to extend my gratitude to Sowore and his team, including Rattell, Sharez, Aisha Yesufu, BVI, U-Media, and K-White. These individuals, alongside other passionate youth, are making a difference. The 20-day or 30-day challenge they initiated is creating ripples of change. If we do not stand against injustice today, it will catch up with us tomorrow—or with our children.
The Tragedy of Neglect
The pain and anger that Rita expressed are deeply rooted in her personal history. Her father was a Chief Inspector of Immigration who dedicated his life to serving Nigeria. He planted palm trees, hoping to rely on them for his retirement. But in an act of blatant injustice, his farm was bulldozed to make way for an airport project.
In a heartbreaking act of resistance, he wore his uniform and confronted the bulldozers, symbolizing his lifelong service to the nation. The stress and injustice proved too much—he collapsed and later died. To this day, no compensation has been given to the family for the loss of the palm trees and the livelihood they represented. Imagine working tirelessly for a country, only to be discarded like trash at the end of your service.
Nigeria does not care about its people. The government does not care about the army, the police, the navy, civil servants, or even local government workers. They only care about what they can personally gain. This is why corruption thrives and why people in power look the other way when injustice occurs. But as we have seen time and time again, karma is not an Indian—it is a Nigerian.
The Path Forward
It is true that President Tinubu did not start this cycle of neglect and suffering—it worsened under Buhari. The damage Buhari did to this nation is almost unimaginable. However, nations have risen from the ashes of mismanagement before. We can take lessons from Ireland, a country once discriminated against but which prioritized education and healthcare to build a thriving economy.
People and nations are only respected when they take care of their citizens. When you mistreat your people and allow your economy to crumble, you invite discrimination. But when you invest in your people, provide affordable education, and ensure prosperity, the world will respect you.
We must stand for the truth. If I wanted to join the ruling class today, I could. There is no city I visit where I do not have former classmates or associates in power. But I refuse to be part of a corrupt system. No matter how wealthy you are, if your family is poor, you are a poor man. If your community is underdeveloped, you are a poor man. If your country is underdeveloped, you are a poor man.
We must embrace the principle of one for all, and all for one. That is what will save Nigeria. That is what will transform our nation.
I remain your friend, Dr. Charles Apoki.
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Let’s continue to stand for truth and justice. God bless you all!
