Connect with us

Opinion

Nigeria @59: A nation still groping in the dark

Published

on

President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo during the 59th Independence Day celebration in Abuja on 1 October5

The Insight by Lateef Adewole

Let me use this opportunity to congratulate all Nigerians on the occasion of our country’s 59th Independence Day celebration. In all situations, we must always give glory to the Almighty, for being alive. Moreso that the country still remains intact as one, despite all the challenges it has faced, particularly the gross divisiveness it has experienced in recent years. Congratulations!

At 59, if Nigeria were to be a human being, so much would be expected of him or her to have accomplished. In fact, at such age, it is expected that such a person would already have a solid base, on which further growth can be built, towards retirement.

However, as a country, there is no terminal point as long as such country exists. A country’s development strides are endless and continuum. It will only be expected that such country continues to move forward in such developments, furthering their innovations and periodic reinventing itself, whenever necessary.

Advertisement

For our country, Nigeria, reaching 59 years after independence is heralded by mixed stories. So much have happened that affected the country and its citizens in one way or another. The stories are both positive and negative.

The Nigeria of today is far different from that of the past. It has been transformed in many facets of our national life including the limited infrastructure of the olden days, fewer roads, schools, hospitals, etc. How many graduates did we have in the past, what was the literacy level? The country has definitely made a lot of progress. Likewise, our population has skyrocketed from merely about 35 million in 1960 to 198 million now (estimated).

This has positioned the country as a “giant” of Africa, the biggest black nation on earth, about 16.5% of the entire population of Africa, the 7th most populous country in the world. We are given due recognition globally, based on that. We are even projected to become the 3rd largest in the world by 2050, with estimated population of 400 million people. What a feat!

But, the question that agitates the minds of many citizens is if we have made expected progress. What have all these advantages contributed to our national developments? Of what importance are they? This is because, many people in their twenties and early thirties, who were not born then might not have seen these as things to be proud of. They have only experienced a Nigeria full of turbulence as we now have.

Advertisement

With the enormity of resources, both natural and human, that Nigeria is endowed with, many have concluded that we are not where we are supposed to be. It has been established that the extent of availability of mineral resources in Nigeria is unbelievable. Whether on the land, underground, in the sea or beneath it, all kinds of mineral deposits are available there. It is said that there is hardly any mineral that exists anywhere in the world, that Nigeria does not have a quantity of it, no matter how small.

What about the soils? Almost all lands across the country can be cultivated for agricultural purposes, for one crop or another. In most areas, if seedlings were accidentally thrown on the side of a walkway, in no time, they will germinate and begin to grow there with no care at all. The northern Nigeria which used to be seen as “desert” region in those days has become the headquarters of farming. They now feed Nigeria.

We are blessed with amazing weather too. While many countries around the world, periodically experience many natural disasters like hurricanes, typhoons, earthquakes, and so on, these are rare incidents in Nigeria. Apart from occasional devastating floods, which are often caused by human factors, when people build houses on flood planes or use refuse to block drainage systems and waterways, we are good. The sunshine that is intense in the far north is also an advantage. It can be harnessed for solar power purpose.

About human resources, we are even more blessed. At home, the numerous highly educated, intelligent, and competent people are everywhere. Overseas, Nigerians are among the most educated immigrants in many countries of the world. They provide massive qualified labour force in their countries of residence. Nigerians’ exploits in all other aspects of human endeavours are worthy of celebration. Be it in sports, entertainment, arts, etc. We are enviable.

Advertisement

However, as a country, what are we? How have all these great assets listed above impacted on our country? Why is it that, despite all these human and natural endowments, we are struggling to crawl, when we are supposed to be running, if not flying? Why has our “giant” refused to rise up from sleep? Why has our country remained comatose? Why do we put our best eleven at the back while less than the best, if not worst eleven are always leading us? What happened to us as a people, as a country? All these questions bring tears into my eyes.

It is pathetic and disheartening that at every turn, whenever monumental developments were to be referenced, we quickly fall back to “the good old days”. We began to reminisce on them. Nothing is more of an indication of failures of the present than that.

The golden era of South Western Nigeria has always been the time of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo as the Premier in the Western region (1951-59). Those who were alive then recall it with nostalgia. The second phase was while he was the leader of UPN, the party that govern in the West too (1979-83). Some of us witnessed that. Free education, with full compliments of textbooks, writing materials (books, pens, pencils, crayons etc), bursary for higher institution students, and so on. Also free health, topnotch infrastructures like roads, public water, housing estates, many of which still stand in Lagos and Oyo state today, and so on. This happened in other regions in Nigeria at varying degrees.

Even in our leadership recruitment today, did we not go back to “resurrect” (literally) our “ancestors” to come and lead us in the 21st century Nigeria? While we have countless outstanding, highly cerebral, competent and eminently qualified, vibrant, young and youthful people all over the country, do we ever allow them to lead us and pilot the affairs of our country? No! The consequences of that have been living with us. What you see is what you get! “Enikan o ni gb’alubosa k’owefo, ohun a ba gbin ni yio wu b’odola” (no one plants onion and expects vegetables to grow from there. Whatever one sows, one shall reap).

Advertisement

After 59 years of independence, a country of almost 200 million people is struggling to power itself with less than 5000MW, when Ghana with 30 million people now has the same amount. South Africa with about 58 million population (about a quarter of Nigeria 200M), generates almost 50,000MW, ten times that of Nigeria. And we call ourselves “giant of Africa”. How? Why won’t other countries treat us with disrespect and disdain, as regularly witnessed across the globe?

Crude oil was discovered 63 years ago (1956) in Nigeria, with trillions of petrol-dollars generated as revenues till date. We do not have a single functional refinery. We have been exporting crude and importing refined products, all at very costly expense of our country. Chunk of the money cannot be accounted for. They ended up in private individuals’ pockets due to massive generational corruption.

READ: Presidency moves extraordinary FEC meeting to Monday

The infrastructures have collapsed. The rail system is just being revived at cut-throat costs. Roads are dealt traps. The school system is nothing to be proud of. Hospitals are like slaughter slabs. Even our public officials who are responsible for these facilities cannot use them. If they have, even slight headache, they will run abroad, using government money, our money. Their children do not attend schools they built for their citizens. They avoid road trips as much as possible.

Advertisement

Let’s not begin with the security situation. For this present administration, it has eroded all their efforts and achievements in many other areas they are making progress, which are commendable. Or, is it not someone who is alive that will enjoy good roads, rails, agric revolution, etc? They have failed in their primary responsibility of securing lives and properties of Nigerians.

While the military incursions disrupted our fledging democracy after independence and destroyed the little gains up to 1966, the subsequent civilian administrations that emerged at different times did not help matters. Since 1999, two retired Generals and former heads of state have “ruled” in civilian cloaks for slightly more than 12 of the 20 years. So, where is the democracy? This is because their behaviours in office are just a little better than while they led as military. They run “militrocracy”.

The progress made in electoral process during the last “purely” democratic government of former President Jonathan (2010-2015), have been reversed by the actions and inactions of the current administration. We are now back to the pre-2007 era of “do-or-die” politics, mass rigging, political brigandage, political assassinations, commercialisation of votes and democratic lawlessness. The politicians are having field-day while the citizens look helpless.

All these retrogressions have their roots in the abnormal, dysfunction system we operate as a country. The current presidential system is not functional. Nigeria is not working as it is presently constituted. Since the collapse of the first republic and the forceful imposition of unitary system on the country by the military that took over, everything went berserk. The subsequently emerged presidential system in 1979 was a mere offshoot of the military’s unitary system. And that has remained the unworkable system we operate.

Advertisement

While many leaders know this, many are not ready to discuss it for various reasons. They often shot it down, whenever such issue is raised. Those who are bold to raise it, they are faced with staunch antagonism from another section of the country.

In truth, anyone who feels this current system is working and should be continued must be doing so for selfish reasons, driven by self-centeredness, tribalism, nepotism or religious parochialism. It is only those who benefit from such abnormalities and lopsidedness that champion such defence and want us to continue like this.

The earlier we all come to terms with these realities, the better for all of us. Is it not better to “peacefully” dismantle a dilapidated structure and rebuild it from foundation, than to allow it to collapse on all of us? This should be food for thought for all of us as Nigerians, leaders and followers alike. It is time to take the bull by the horns. We cannot continue like this. Nigeria needs to be restructured. Enough is enough!

May God continue to guide us aright.

Advertisement

God Bless Nigeria.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY!

Lateef Adewole is a political analyst and social commentator can be reached by email lateefadewole23@gmail.com or via WhatsApp +2348020989095

Advertisement
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Copyright © 2015 - 2024 ChronicleNG

Discover more from Chronicle.ng

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading