Nigeria's Current State: A Mess of Epic Proportions Renowned political economist and leader of the African Democratic Congress, Professor Pat Utomi, has expressed his deep concern over the deplorable state of our nation. In an interview with Vanguard, he highlighted the root causes of our woes: ineffective leadership, rampant corruption, and dwindling public trust in our institutions. Professor Utomi drew a striking comparison between Nigeria and Egypt, a nation that has made significant strides in infrastructure development. As he witnessed firsthand during a conference in Cairo, Egypt is constructing a new city, complete with 14-16 lane highways, set to rival the likes of Dubai. In contrast, many Nigerian leaders, including those at the highest echelons, are still grappling with the basics of governance. Our electricity supply is a case in point. Despite promises from the President to fix the power crisis within a year, many Nigerians, including Professor Utomi himself, continue to suffer from frequent power outages. In his case, he resides in an area known as Band A, where the power supply is unreliable and extortionate, with consumers forced to pay exorbitant bills for inadequate electricity. This is a stark contrast to Egypt's approach, where the government aims to have a surplus of power supply, ensuring that industries can operate efficiently and the economy thrives. Meanwhile, Nigeria's lack of a coherent energy policy has crippled our industries, stifling growth and development. Professor Utomi's words serve as a stark reminder of the challenges we face as a nation. It is imperative that we take a hard look at our leadership and institutions, and strive towards creating a more effective, efficient, and accountable system that prioritizes the needs of Nigerians. As Professor Utomi aptly put it, "We're talking about power, but we're not talking about the power of the people." It is time for us to reclaim our power and demand better from those in positions of authority.