Changes are taking place in Nigeria. Even though some people including Nigerians may doubt it or frown at it slow pace. And when there is any thing good in Nigeria the repercussions are felt beyond that country. In other words, if Nigeria is healthy, the region, the continent and most importantly the entire black race is fine. Hence Nigeria has a psychological dimension that Nigerians may not understand or measure.

Perhaps the only group of blacks that have understood the importance of a strong and stable Nigeria are black American or Afro-American elites. This partly explains why afro-American elites, some patriotic Nigerians and some Africans were at the fore front in the push for the re-introduction of multiparty democracy in Nigeria particularly during the Abacha years. The simple fact that in 40 years of existence of Nigeria which is small compared to older nations found in Europe or in developing countries such as Latin America and she been able in just 7 years of multiparty democracy to build a foreign reserve of $ 40 billions merits felicitations.

Moreover recently she has finally succeeded to establish a National Health System that has been a project as old as the country; this also deserves praises from Nigerians to the current administration. The Nigerian National Health scheme if properly implemented and executed, could turn out to be the single greatest thing that, Obasanjo’s administration has done to Nigerians of all levels. But whatever good can be said about a place it can not be complete without the confirmation of some one who is on the field. This confirmation about the positive changes in Nigeria did not delay in coming.

Improving or not improving

But before bringing the testimony from a Nigerian attesting that, things are changing and improving positively in the most populated African country, not long ago, I received a rash and obnoxious e-mail from another Nigerian.

His name I won’t give or disclose. Why did the Nigerian write to me? You may have asked. It is simple; he was manifesting the diverse opinion on the appreciations of the same subject, Nigeria. His reactions was sparked by an article that I wrote in titled: Is the US a friend of Nigeria? The article was an analysis on the seemly dubious relationship between US/ Nigerian and regional politics that was published in a Nigerian and Central African Dot com magazines respectively known as Gamji and ICEMAC.

The Nigerian apparently not satisfied with things in his country wrote me angrily with backing of articles written by Ruben Abati a famous Nigerian columnist writing for the prestigious Nigerian daily, Guardian. What motivated the angry Nigerian to give me the links of articles written by Mr Ruben Abati was to drive his points to me that, nothing was going well in Nigeria. While I do not want in anyway to say Nigeria has suddenly become a paradise, I also think that, the little changes taking place has to be acknowledged. 

Certainly I believe that Mr Ruben Abati, whose writings are now used by those who see nothing good in Nigeria, as weapon of massive disinformation would or do not share their opinions. I have read some refreshing articles of Ruben and have always discovered that, they are objective with no secret aim to destroy but they are more to encourage and also improve on whatever achievements in the social, economic and political fields in Nigeria.

So the travesty and abuse of the honest work s of Ruben Abati meant for the advancement of Nigeria and Africa has to be stopped.

Nigerian experience

I am not a Nigerian but I was a student in Nigeria at the Institute of Mass Communications Technology (IMCT), Zaramaganda, Jos Plateau state, from 1992- 1995. During these periods I saw a side of Nigeria that many do not know or are being ignored. Nigerians are kind, hard working and loving people. I have seen first hand the manifestation of Nigerian largesse through the family of Lanre Oshudi in Jos. And because of what Nigerians have done for me can’t be commiserated, I try everyday to contribute my own petty quota to give Nigeria a good name. Furthermore because of the extraordinary kind gestures that Nigerians have shown me, I have become a patriotic Nigerian at heart. And I am yet to see any Nigerian as patriotic as I am. While in Jos where I was reading Mass Communications, I had to make friends like any other student.

One of them was by name was Eric Mbiame; he was studying at the University of Jos. The other friends that I had in Nigeria were friendship forged at IMCT. They were Sunday Uduak, Lizzy Valetino aka American, Tunde and Baba Kure Burke Since I graduated from IMCT in 1995 and went to Cameroon where I worked briefly before finally settling in France, I have lost contact with them all. However, the only other Nigerian with whom I briefly had contacts with was Baba Kure, who now works with the ministry of information of Borno state in Maidiguri.

Miracle of new and old communications

But through the miracle of the internet, one of my friends, Eric discovered me. How? He saw my article: Why Cameroon and Nigeria must unite, published in the June 6^th 2006 edition of another Nigerian daily newspaper; this time around it was called Daily Trust. Since it was an opinion, the publishers made my contact or e-mail address available. Apparently elated, I presume, my friend Eric decided to write me immediately telling me how he got my coordinates.

When on the morning of June 6^th 2006, I innocently turn on my computer to read my e- mails, little did I know that I will discover a message from my friend Eric. And when I saw his mail, I was exceptionally happy. I was happy that, I have discovered a friend with whom we spent nights remaking Africa and the world and also because, a Nigerian newspaper, the very authoritative and prestigious Daily Trust has published an article written by me. So in my reply, while expressing the joy of the reunion, I did not forget to ask him to mail me the copy of Daily Trust that had my article. There is always an unexplained chemistry whenever you discovers or meet a university mate.

Perhaps it reminds you of your youths and life at school or it makes you think that, you are no way nearer to the grave. Anyway that is always how I am animated, but it is always an exceptionally unique moment. When he replied and confirmed that, he was to send me the copy of the newspaper by mail, I was apprehensive, for I knew from experience that, the Nigerian postal system was perhaps the worst in the world. But I never wanted to ask my friend to use the onerous private postal system and left all in the hands of God.

I must also confess that, what I have noticed has changed in Nigeria since the re-introduction of multiparty democracy in 1999 is the fattening of its foreign reserve which is an irrefutable indication of prudent macro economic management that has always eluded Nigeria.

But between the 6^th of June when my friend saw my article, wrote to me and at my request went to the Post office in Maidiguri to mail me the paper, it took 8 days for the khaki envelope containing the newspaper with my article, to leave North Eastern Nigeria to land in my mailbox in Bonneuil sur Marne located in the Greater Paris region of France. 

On Saturday June 17^th in the morning, when I went downstairs to check my mailbox, I was pleasantly shocked to see a large khaki envelope with the distinctive Nigerian stamps affixed to it. And as I took the lift smiling from ear to ear to reread my article published by the above mentioned Nigerian paper, it also down on me that, whatever maybe said about the Obasanjo administration, under his stewardship, Nigeria was changing positively.

Confirmation of positive changes

The benchmark of positive improvement in any country is how little things like postal services works. So the new management of NIPOST needs to be congratulated. And if in Nigeria it is working as I have discovered, then Nigeria and Africa are on the right track. I am not amongst those who think Nigeria or the rest of Africa will in 40 or 60 years become like the US or European countries. My regular trips to Latin America where all the countries have an average of 150 years of independence have made me to prevaricate whenever I want to criticise Africa, excluding the Republic of South Africa.

When I wrote back to my friend to express my appreciations and also indicate to him that his beloved and my beloved country was changing, he had this as reply: Oh yes Smith, the postal services have been working recently well and yes, Nigeria is changing. Smith, there are business opportunities for the taking. When you come we will discuss on those. He added, the greatest problem is fixing electricity supply, but the government is working on that.

Is it not exceptionally lovely to hear from a Nigerian within Nigeria giving his opinion about his country? My friend Eric is not a blind passionate patriot who see everything rosy, he is objective, hence he told me that, the problem of Nigeria at moment were erratic power supply. But he was nonetheless patriotic with a steel-like optimism and confident in the government of his country and its capacity to fix things out.

Expectations

That is why Africa and the world will want to see free and fair elections in the forthcoming Nigerian presidential elections. The winner must be one who will be able to continue with the prudent economic management of the current administration and also lift the majority of Nigerians out of abject poverty. Africa and the world will also want the winner to come from any part of Nigeria with one condition nonetheless his/her victory should be one that all Nigerians will identify with.

Nigeria’s forthcoming elections is causing anguish and anxiety to many in Nigeria and without, but this author will want to think that, even though Obasanjo’s own victories have not been very clear, he will nonetheless want that, besides being remembered as one who rude Nigeria out of international marginalisation and also brought it out of economic wilderness.

He will also want posterity to recall with glory and joy that he was the one who oversaw perhaps most objective elections ever organised in his country. His name will then be written in gold on a rock for eternity.

Conclusions

Now talking about good news, by the end of this year, Nigeria’s commercial and communications satellite will be launched and also by the end of this year, a business leisure resort modelled after Dubai, built by the Cross River state government headed by Donald Duke will inaugurate its first phase. It will be a golden opportunity for Eastern Nigeria, Nigeria and the South west, North West, Littoral and West provinces of Cameroon. For businesses in Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Democratic Republic of Congo and beyond stands to reap bountifully. Especially that, besides the leisure resort, Calabar city also has a free export zone to be exploited by all those who want to penetrate the West and Central African regional markets.

In other words, Calabar and Cross River state will soon become the happening place in Nigeria and in the sub region. All these positive things, however minimal or even if the beneficiaries are limited, it is the beginning and also signs of great things to come. Without democracy these things that some might call crumbs of democratic dividends won’t have happened. Hence everything has to be done by this administration, Nigerians, Africans and the world to insure that, the boat is not rocked. 

But as my friend noted, Nigeria is better today, but her problem like that of other African countries is brain drain, the brain needed to harness the good things that will make the fortune of Nigerians change for the best. However, before that, the immediate problem in Nigeria is for its elites to understand that, Nigeria does not only belong to them but to the world.

In this regard, selfish politicians floating controversial ideas in the upcoming presidential elections such as rotational presidency or the most macabre one, which is the interim government palaver should be ban or arrested. What Nigerians need is a leader who is patriotic, and was genuinely elected. That is the point where Obasanjo is being expected to perform, for if Nigeria’s elections are flawed democracy in Africa might die. We are not yet there but what is certain is that, Nigeria is changing positively.

Elie Smith is a Broadcast Journalist by profession and have worked with the English services of Radio France International and Canal France International,respectively as a correspondent in Africa and sports commentator in Paris where he lives.

Robot  # 1 | 10.08.2006 08:08

Changes are taking place in Nigeria....Read the full article.

Rose  # 2 | 10.08.2006 11:37

Great reading about your experience in Nigeria. In other words, if Nigeria is healthy, the region, the continent and most importantly the entire black race is fine.

omaks  # 3 | 10.08.2006 20:53

Elie Smith, i have to thank you profoundly for your beautiful thoughts as expressed in your article. The fact of the matter is that you have illustrated in very clear and concise terms what some Nigerians have failed to see or appreciate. Like the proverb says 'the chicken is not appreciated in his own home'. Sadly many people have been brainwashed into thinking that this government is nothing but a waste of time and space. I for one strongly believe that there has been some measure of progress since the beginning of this new democratic dispensation. Yes it is not yet a uhuru, but the foundations for a better Nigeria is being laid in some aspects of life. It has taken for eternity to reach this point, and it will be a huge failure if subsequent democratic leaderships do not build on what we have now. Maybe, it has to take the unbaised opinion of a foreign brother like you, who has the goodwill of Nigeria at heart to make most Nigerians realise and appreciate the small, measured and positive dividends that are emanating from our 4th democracy. Thanks once again for your candid opinion.:lol:

emmanuel chukwura achife  # 4 | 10.08.2006 22:59

thank you so much for elucidating in few words what most of us are saying everyday. The old nigeria which most fail to see is dying slowing and basicaly hanging by the thread and the new emerging nigeria will take the likes of nigerian haters by suprise that many will miss out on the opportunities abound there. once again thanks so much for the encouragement emmanuel chukwura achife

Blameless  # 5 | 11.08.2006 13:29

Thank you for your article. Maybe some Nigerians who read this will realize that one can write positive review about Nigeria without being a member of the nouvelle riche.