A Chance To Rewrite History

Have you ever wondered about the things you'd do if you had the power to time travel? Sometimes, I wish time travel were real so I could go back in time to learn about different things and also correct my mistakes. According to the movies I have watched and books I have read, time travel always comes with effects. When you change a thing in the past, it affects the order of things in the future. This is why, in movies, time travelers try not to change the course of events or make mistakes. Today’s prompt of the Hive learners community asks us if we would grab the opportunity to time travel if it came knocking on our doors. It could be something that sent your country on the path it is currently on, a moment in your life, or any historical event at all. But, there’s a big catch. You have no idea whether the change will yield positive effects or negative effects. Would you still do it?

When I read this topic, so many options came to my mind. “What would I change if I had the power to time travel?” At first, I thought I’d go back in time to correct a mistake I made. But, after thinking deeply, I realized that I hadn’t made too many grave mistakes in the past, so it would be better to use the golden opportunity for a greater course; for the benefit of the people. So, I decided to change a tragedy that has sent my country on the path it is today. Over the past years, citizens of my country have faced many difficulties and sufferings as a result of the mistakes they made. Four years ago, during the END SARS protest, many Nigerians lost their lives as a result of this tragedy/mistake. It sure would be nice to go back in time and prevent the END SARS massacre from happening. After thinking deeply, I came up with a better idea; instead of going back in time to prevent the END SARS massacre from happening, why not go back in time to change the roots of all the problems?

The greatest problem my country is facing is bad governance. If I had the power to time travel, even if just once, I would go back in time to the time of the last presidential election and prevent the current president from winning. The current president’s victory is the greatest tragedy Nigerians have ever witnessed. Things are in their worst state than they had ever been.

About a year ago, Nigerians had the chance to change the system after long years of suffering. We had hoped that the other candidate would change things. Nigerians, especially the youths, gave all they had to make this happen, but the opposing force was too powerful. They had the power to pull strings from different angles, making people dance to their tunes however they wanted. They fed people with lies and empty promises. Painfully, people sold their rights just for some thousand Nairas. And then the tragedy happened; the people’s choice lost the election. That was the beginning of doomsday for Nigerians.

Currently, the economic, educational, and political sectors are in shambles and no one is doing anything about it. It is not like we are enjoying the system, there is just nothing we can do about it. Imagine this; Nigeria is one of the top producers of petrol. We supply petrol to other countries. The irony? The price of petrol is more expensive in Nigeria than in other countries, even the ones we supply too. The price of petrol today is more than 3 times the price of the black market a decade ago. Nigerians are suffering, with the prices of things skyrocketing as each day passes. The worst part is that we’d only just started. We still have about 3 years to go before the end of this tenure. Who knows if this administration wouldn’t go for a second term?

Without a doubt, this current administration is a tragedy to Nigerians. If I had the power to go back in time and change a historical event, I would make it happen that the people’s choice wins. Regardless of the consequences, this would definitely be the better option.

Thanks for reading.