16 Nov 2008 |
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“One thing we have to fear is fear itself,” – Franklin D. Roosevelt Any thinking challenged person will not take a second look at the direction our country is going since independence and not worry about the inability of citizens of Nigeria to review the strategy that has not moved the nation to her new orbit, an orbit of perfection, of sanity and of joining developing nation. On a temporary basis, we have the resources to move to the next orbit if only patriotic citizens are willing to move away from their usual lackadaisical attitude toward participatory governance and if we stop disengaging ourselves from governance. Whenever we reflect on the current Nigerian situation, we should review the past, the present and project what we want our children to inherent from us in the future as we face the stark reality of what has brought us as a nation to this cross road of precipice. The unfortunately for Nigeria is that most of her citizens see her as a foreign nation, a virtual nation that politicians can steal from, citizens can become unpatriotic and not feel guilty and foreign citizens can see the best Nigeria can give and rape it. Our democracy was not set up on basic principle of service either are political parties set on any reliable political ideology. Even if our democracy and political system was based on any ideology, it has not exhibited any semblance of ideology lately. We got an uninterested, minimally healthy Governor of a small state to become the president of Nigeria and we are now wondering where the nation is going. Our president might be willing to conquer the world on our behalf but the OBJs, IBBs, Buhari, and the Atiku of this world who are more interested in the status quo, putting their children to replace them are the ones advising the president and the citizens do not have an advocate and a voice. The universities are shell of what they used to be, the labor unions have been bought while there are even no job for labor unions to protect. What do the citizens expect the result to be? They are part of the problems we are experiencing. The democracy we presently practice has reduced good men to villains. Example of such humble citizens are President Shagari whose cabinet was made of too many bad men, and he current president who is generally known to be a simple, humble and a purist but who is otherwise is railroaded by the selfish men that place him in power. The Yoruba adage says that one can send a man on a stupid errand but he should use his judgment to deliver good and effective solution. We observe that foxes like OBJ and IBB are asked to guide hens through the help of the “yes men” within our current system. Yet, citizens are incapable of challenging them because they too are morally challenged because of perceived crumbs coming from the emperors. In spite of the current health situation of the current president, we expect him to take the systemic risk at restructuring Nigeria for the next generation. His policy should not be about disenfranchising many at the expense of a few. When the many are happy, the few will always be happier and even end up making more money while the whole nation becomes more secured, and developed. We need to worry about the state of affairs of the world’s economy as it will eventually have devastating effect on Nigeria both in terms of morality, preparatory education for industrialization, and provide material and personal security which have eluded the nation for a long time. Our economic policies are linked to our national security and our pride as a nation. First the crude oil need of the world is seen as the albatross on the necks of the developed world. Many are now developing green energy concretely set in renewable energies (solar, bio-fuel, bio-mass, thermal, and wind). This step is likely to reduce the crude oil consumption of the developed world that are OPEC’s major clients, thus dislocating Nigeria’s PetroNaira generation, reducing an already stressed job market that have less Nigerian inputs, and exacerbate the already tenuous insecurity of material and properties in the country. If the world reduces its crude oil needs, which direction will Nigeria go as every village and hamlets in Nigeria are in the Petroleum industry at the expense of our other local industries that helped build the dilapidating sixties infrastructures. Secondly, we must engage in new business strategies. Nigeria must disengage in rewarding lazy politicians and their children and reduce the old status quo. Our children are capable of contributing not only to Nigeria’s GDP but to the world’s GNP. We have observed that our past leaders are only capable of creating one or two entrepreneurs at a time (recall Dangote and Otedola who are currently reducing themselves to oblivion). To the best of Nigerian thinking, these were surrogates of those in government or past leaders who could careless if Nigeria collapses as a nation as long as they are rich. Simply and uncompromisingly put, these entrepreneurs are fronting for people in government or self-styled status quo maintaining past leaders. We must regroup to create new industries for the greatest number of Nigerians entrepreneurs. I am of the opinion that when the new industries and entrepreneurs come to existence, even these so-called big men may end up making more real money than they ever made under the old dysfunctional system and they may never need to hide their funds ever again in foreign countries. When we create seasoned entrepreneurs in the new global economy, the world we recognize black people as capable of taking their own destiny I their own hands, technologically based industries may just sourced high paying jobs to Nigeria where labor is cheap and down time is plentiful and where many graduates would become gainfully employed rather than looking join armed robbery gangs and cults. An idle mind, we are told, is a friend of a devil. As America recently created an impression that she has shed her racist past by electing the first black man as president of America, Nigerians must demand for leaders that confident to know that: a) there is nothing wrong in putting capable Nigerians to help him govern without lost of his power; b) That the sky is just to big that many birds can fly without their wings touching; ad c) That Nigerians can be better custodian in making sure that the nation grows than bringing in “expatriates” or foreigners that will help to siphon funds on their behalf. We need to be relevant in partaking globally in the new world order. We must be able to define our own world order. Unfortunately, many of our past and current leaders talk the talk but do not walk the walk. Citizens are either incapable of or unwilling of demanding real beneficial changes. The only industry we have managed to perfect, so far, is “looting” industry and at that, we cause capital flight from Nigeria to other nations. I hope that the ascension of Barack Obama will give progressive Nigeria an opportunity to exhibit their maverick steaks before they all wither away in shame. As long as we have many mega churches and sub-mega N250 Million “Babaalawos” and marabous), we can pray to a higher power to change our attitude. Our senate and National assembly has not been able being our advocates because we never voted them into office. Therefore, they are there for self and pre-established sharing formula. Our budget has never been executed to provide progress but to fill the pockets of thieves in power. Many of these leaders were able to give us vision 2010, 2020 or what have you but any vision without funding is but a hallucination. I am of the opinion that when the new industries and entrepreneurs come to existence, even these so-called big men may end up making more real money than they ever made under the old dysfunctional system and they may never need to hide their funds ever again in foreign countries. When we create seasoned entrepreneurs in the new global economy, the world we recognize black people as capable of taking their own destiny I their own hands, technologically based industries may just sourced high paying jobs to Nigeria where labor is cheap and down time is plentiful and where many graduates would become gainfully employed rather than looking join armed robbery gangs and cults. An idle mind, we are told, is a friend of a devil. Finally, Nigeria must revisit basing her democracy on a one-party system because there are too many illiterate and poor citizens to allow such a system to work. We are not matured enough to manage a one-party system and we should never pretend to be good at it. As can be observed, many are joining the PDP because that is the only way they can guarantee their daily sustenance and pittance. We thought that PDP was giving us medication to cure our political anxiety; instead, we found at long last, we have been giving placebo all along. Nigerians, you can do better by following parties you truly believe in and a party that will make the future of your children better. For example, some Republicans (US party members) found that their parties went astray and after soul searching, decided on principle to support a democratic party this time around. This does not imply that when their party gets back to their founding principles they’ll not go back. For now, Nigerians are not matured enough to take this step because as hungry people, they can be manipulated. A 47 year old President-Elect said, “You may not have voted for me tonight but I will be your president too” but a seasoned leader of many years spoke, “I dey kampe.” Longevity, by no means, implies leadership, so let the old allow the young to grow in our society. We must first, in order to get to this new way of thinking, and ask Governors what they do with the State allocations and force leadership at all levels to establish middle class with policies that can help create jobs. We have seen this done in some African nations and other parts of the world. The world is always better when unselfish people take calculated risk to rid their nations of a system that pauperize citizens. Our current system is dangerously dysfunctional, our money-based relationship and thinking is infectious, and our morality is non-existent to bequeath to the next generation and our Federation is dying. The older generation was brought up well but they have allowed money to destroy the efforts of the parents. This is a shame. Let those patriotic citizens wake up and fight on behalf of the next generation, the Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, Jr. in order to give opportunity to a Barack Obama of our time. We need to regroup to seek new leadership of fearless Northerners, Westerners and Easterners that can take a calculated risk we can all support, call it REVOLUTION not necessarily violent, don’t get me wrong. The way Nigeria is going, what we need to fear is fear itself and we have feared for far too long because we conveniently and selfishly lowered our expectations to our detriment. It is only if we have a change of our thinking and shed the Stockholm syndrome can we too answer the initial question posed above affirmatively, “Yes, we can.”
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