Nigeria
is polygamous; a cacophony of ethnicity; and people conversant with the
matrimonic variance of the word have unsavory tales to tell about their
experiences. Be that as it may there are also some unusual tales of bliss too thereof.
This aptly depicts our beloved country Nigeria. Those that fall under the
former categorization have even mouthed the need for a revolution.
This
writer had a prior conviction that revolution was impossible in these times;
given the strengthened nature of the modern State and its instruments of
coercion. But the Jasmine Revolution propelled from Tunisia has dispelled such notion.
Agreed the spring in the Arab Africa was impetused by the homogeneous nature of
these States; in Nigeria it a nullity to envision such for reasons too obvious. I am not a sage-but nevertheless trust me!
In
as much as we cannot thread this path, nor the erstwhile Soviet Union’s trajectory;
and given our shared experience with the Americans, We as a people should
pronounce and accentuate the positives of our shared experiences- it has been
argued that we do not have a shared experience as a people; and that for
instance that at our independence was not won on the basis of a warfare. But be
that as it may, we must strive to promote a peaceful and enhanced co-habitation.
Our
Country, my Country, your Country has a chequered history replete cite-able instances
to buttress. Yes our leaders have under- performed. Yes there are avalanche of un-motor-able roads-
despite these and other challenges- we should at least be heartened when we
pass through a smooth road, so too when we encounter a structure or institution
that is functional. It is a reminder that at least there is an array of hope in
our odyssey – lofty examples to give hope to our seemingly helplessness.
Yes without
doubt our elites have collectively failed. Among them we have children of the
very poor. Of course there are the very few from prosperous families. But the
bulk of them are from indigent backgrounds. By this I do not mean to disparage
or offend sensibilities but to sound-out that they should have done better
given their backgrounds. They ascended on the magnanimity of a functional
system; but regrettably, once they become ensconced in their new found
status-what did they do? They removed the leader! And made it an exclusive
preserve to which they alone have the prerogative. A shame on them. They
crippled a vibrant system that prodded them up. Their children now school
abroad, they now hospital abroad – a collective shame, we need to bring them to
their past – a beneficial past they have destroyed – out of a non-strategy.
Our
resolve therefore should be that our elite needs to reconnect to their roots
more, they need to re-strategize from their negative intent. They cannot live in
isolation, despite their pretenses they are from these climes and must live by
the dictate of the circumstance rather than those they have crafted.
In
this malaise, we also have a culpable followership, what we have done as the
lower rung reeks of unforgivable acquiesce. We cheer at an opportunity of a
meet. We must stand resolute without being overtly abusive of doing the right
thing. We should not be the rented crowd when that need arises.
When
we conscientize our self adequately, then can we begin to look forward to the
Senegal, Cote’Ivoire, and Ghana, recent political experiences. An incumbent and
a ruling party can lose an election based on the people’s conviction.
We
need to embrace citizen advocacy in it varied forms. This will bring about the
much chorused “bottom up approach” in policy formulations. For instance Nigeria has a pool of talented
writers. But like my teacher once told me nobody can write the perfect essay. What
am I trying to say? We should not be intimidated by these array- we the reading
public- yes we can express an opinion- we must therefore not be restricted by
our seeming handicap- we must express ourselves to be heard- this shall form
the kernel of our advocacy! If the elite refuse to don their thinking cap, we
must help them and if the followership does same – it becomes more difficult-
but we must also help them.
Now our
centenary is nigh – come 14 January 2014, we would be 100 years together as a
people. a 100 year old amalgamation. No
use elucidating on this I assume we all know. The Lugardian contraption however
our opinion – has lasted a century! And there is no way you will talk about
Nigerian Centenary without mentioning Lord Lugard. It is inevitable, agreed we
are variously sentimentalize by the outcomes – but we must not oblive the
strategy that brought about it- yes strategy – the Brits wants an
administrative convenience and learning from the financial implication of their
experience in Sene-Gambia – they do not want to administer such a large area
separately…so we have Nigeria..Our
beloved country! We are here – let make the most of it!
We
must highlight our deficiencies as well as accentuated our pluses for a
leveraged and live-able future. No need dwelling for too long on the negatives.
From our experience there are the nay Sayers and the hallelujah choristers –
let strike a middle chord for once and make progress from thence.
Whatever
the sentiment, let climb the middle pedestal. Knowledge is eclectic borrowing
from once source to another. Civilization is built upon borrowed experiences. Take
Norway for instance; it is not spending its oil revenue, saving it for upcoming
generations. It has also evolved an indigenous technology for its oil industry.
We should borrow the positives from lofty examples such as this. This has become imperative-there is oil
everywhere now – even arid countries: Chad,
Namibia and Niger have oil – so too our neigbourly Ghana – we should
seriously think an exit off an oil dependent economy – strategy is very key.
America
is presently contending with the Chinese ascension – not minding that the ascension was instigated, by and during the
advent of their super CEOs- super Chief Executives with mind-boggling
remunerations- they were expected to deliver super performances – these CEO looked for all avenues
to boost profits and reduce cost. They thus established industries in areas of
low labour cost and taxes. China was the pioneer beneficiary-which conversely
stimulated the growth in China.
I am
not an economist-trust me-but I have learned that great economies are built on
linkages – we need to speak to ourselves more – part of our drawback is such
that: if Mr. A. start producing pure-water to certain success-everybody would
hop into same business . People would abandon prior businesses (some passed
unto them) and say: “Ol’boy na pure-water dey reign now ooh” and promptly proceed to do pure water. Before you know it
the business is saturated! The same is applicable to occupational trend, now
you have proliferation of certain professionals. People go to school with a
preconceived lucrativeness of certain courses. Now you have that would be creative
engineer in a banking hall; and a potential legal luminary in the engineering field.
So
too with the trades-the talented plumber, carpenter etc who finds space in the
Okada phenomenon- people are not even learning trades these days- they just hop
on an Okada and earn a living. We need
to rekindle our value system.
There
have been various interpretations but this is where we live! The contemporary
Nigerian grapples with several issues, rent, school fees, shrinking incomes,
tokunbo this and that, power outages, comatose public institutions, perpetual
temptation to leave the country etc,. Yea we must admit that ascendibly, things
have gone wrong – now we don’t have the middle class anymore – if you are not
up there you are simply struggling. Some even argued that we would have been
better off under colonial rule – and cite later independent African countries
as examples. I do not know what to believe anymore.
Given
the imperative of the centenary, my humble summations are that: We must not
only rethink Nigeria in the context of local challenges but also on pedestal of
the ever changing global geo-strata – GMO, Shale Oil, terrorism, drones, Global
warming, big brotherhood with fellow African
Countries etc.
We
must all add to the dialogue our expectations. I know there are so many
sentiments; we can all relive our interventions. We must have a bond of our fond
memories of our existence within the centenary.
Like
someone rightly noted; there are only two sets of Nigerians: the good and the
bad, which could be found in both axis: North or South. No matter how
sentimentalize you are if you look objectively within your domain you will find
these ilk.
What
then should define our essence? That is my centenary question- what then is
yours-what is ours? We need to take into cognizance the very essence of the
centenary. We must reconsider its import– ruminate on its core – and not its
festivity.
NELSON
EGWOYI
igonmity@yahoo.com
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