Nigeria And Its Fading Dreams

One of Africa’s finest novelists, Professor Chinua Achebe. did opine that “Nigeria is what it is because its leaders are not what they should be” This school of thought is in the affirmative and arguably indisputable.

Prior to 1966, Nigeria was an upward mobile Nation whose gross domestic productivity was growing at about 7 percent per annum and income doubling every 13 years without the course of crude oil.

The dreams and aspirations of the foremost founding fathers and Nationalists was to lay a solid foundation that will nurture Nigeria to attaining greatness and to take her place of pride among the comity of Nations. This unflinching zeal displayed by the foremost Nationalists was betrayed by the invasion of the military junta and of late the political gladiators. The expectations of the expectant Nigerians were sacrificed on the altar of self aggrandizement and greed.

The enthusiasm that heralded the return to civil rule in 1999 is gradually fading away and the expectations blown away by the draconian whirlwind of the unyielding political players.

There are three dominant factors that changed the course of this nation and were largely responsible for the downturn of Nigeria’s fortune: the 1966 military coup, enthronement of mediocrity and reliance on oil as the mainstay of her economy.

The dreams that were conceived in the innermost mind of the great Nationalists were truncated by these aforementioned and other factors.

The Nigerian State is bedeviled by identifiable and innumerable challenges that look seemingly intractable due to lack of clear cut approach(s) to evade these quagmires.

Professor Chinua Achebe, Nigeria Novelist extraordinaire, in his classic novel, A MAN OF THE PEOPLE pictures a deteriorating Nigerian state that is enmeshed in innumerable socio-political ills and the consequences thereof.

Some described Nigeria as a jinxed state and others said the woes of the Nation were orchestrated by the evil machination perpetrated against the state by the successive Governments since the attainment of Independence in 1960.

This recurring assumption that the black race is jinxed is a misplaced thought. This assumption had been rubbished, punctured and demystified by the heroism of great African leaders of years past viz: Dr. Nelson Mandela, Kwame Nkrumah, Julius Nyerere, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, etc The determination and doggedness displayed by these great Nationalists were largely responsible for the freedom gained by Africa countries. Mandela struggled for freedom and an egalitarian South Africa State; Chief Obafemi Awolowo, popularly referred to by the Yoruba as Baba Awolowo, earned the status of a demigod because of his contributions to the Yoruba race, Nigeria and Africa at large. The name of Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana rings a bell in Africa; he is a dominant subject in African history. Julius Nyerere also contributed immensely to the historical development of Tanzania and Africa at Large. What lessons are deductible from these great leaders whose services were genuinely selfless? It is a million Naira question for the present crop of African Leaders.  

Nigeria at 52 is a sorry state of complicated story that could fittingly be scripted for the performance of THE THEATRE OF THE ABSURD; THE THEATRE OF THE ABSURD is characterized by disjointedness and incoherence which evoke echoes of the sorry State of Nigeria.

The discovery of crude oil led to the abandonment of other natural resources that would ordinarily give oil a run for its money and as well compliment it for the attainment of socio- economic growth for the betterment of the Nigerian people. Nigerians have been captured, enslaved and soaked in the pool of abject poverty orchestrated by the looting spree of the loot masters.

These political gladiators covertly theorized a system that protects their interests, while the led wallow in a stinking world of abysmal poverty and unprotection.

These thieving leaders (“politrickians” and “Zombies”) have earned themselves new nomenclature that befits their actions and inactions; they are emperors, dictators and rulers.

Nigeria retarded growth overtly requires a team of very experienced political surgeons to perform an intensive political surgery to bring Nigeria back to the path of development and glory; the reality of this theory largely depends on the willingness of the leaders to accept the transfiguration and proportion of Paul’s apostolic conversion.

In a sane society, leadership is influence but in Nigeria leadership is affluence and how much a leader can amass from the collective patrimony of the people. The opportunistic few should consciously remember that the wealth of the few will remain threatened by the poverty of the majority.

The insurgency of diverse agitation groups has threatened the existence of Nigeria as a composite and an indivisible unit. Turbulence arises from injustice, but the Nigerian people must be prepared to fight injustice in the most civil and intellectual manner. Violence has never been a better option, dialogue and constructive demand for social justice could ice the cake.

The docile and stoical disposition of most Nigerians to socio-political and important state matters is none the less baneful. The Nigerian people must rescue themselves from a vicious circle to a virtuous circle .There is power in the ballot. The diversity of interests could be collapsed into a composite whole, which will provide a common and strong front for the realization of social justice.  

Professor Wole Soyinka in his book THE MAN DIED convincingly remarked that: “Most Nigerians are guilty of conspiracy of silence”

Legendary Reggae star, Peter Touch did remark in one of his epic music that “everyone crying out for peace, none is crying out for justice………

…” It therefore behooves us all (especially our leaders) to admit the fact that justice is a condition precedent to attaining a peaceful society.

If Nigeria is properly midwived, it has the potential of a land of endless possibilities vis-a-vis peace, wealth, freedom, prosperity, egalitarianism, happiness e.t.c. 

The process of recruiting leaders in Nigeria is shambolic and runs contrary to the ideas and philosophy behind true democracy. A complete purge of the electoral procedure could come in handy to addressing the challenges of recruitment of leaders.

Dr. GoodLuck Jonathan assumed office on the 29^th of May, 2011 as the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Nigerians shouted Hallelujah: another Daniel has come to judgement. However, one year gone and most of the steps taken by his administration did not jug towards the right direction. Mr. President has to put on a large thinking cap to ignite clear-cut policies that will improve the lots of the Nigerian people.

Nigeria is in dire need of a prince Charming of a Deus ex machina status that could lead its people out of Egypt to Canaan Land.

As the curtain draws close, I leave us with the philosophical thought of Professor Chinua Achebe to ponder on-“The only thing we have learnt from experience is that we learn nothing from experience”   

Author: By Friday Jarikre