Two weeks ago I flew into Paris. On arrival at the Charles De Gaulle Airport we were directed to an area where we could catch a train that would take us to the central train terminus. A few minutes later to my surprise a train  (CDGVAL) pulled up that has no driver. In order words the train was being driven by remote control. I  marvelled at such sophisticated technology, and it got me thinking  about Nigeria, a nation that has become a laughing stock and a disgrace to the Black race.

Reading through all the racist doctrines and ideologies that seeks to define the blackman as subhuman, inferior, incapable, greedy, violent, rash etc one is almost tempted by the Nigerian paradox that defies all logic to buy into such thinking. It takes a lot of courage to defy such supremacist logic and hold your head high in the face of the shameful realities of Nigeria and much of Africa. Imagine if Nigeria with all her resources was inhabited by Europeans, no doubt it would have been one of the richest nations on the planet. The problem therefore is not in our clime, but in the calibre of  mentally inferior despots  who have presided and continue to preside over  our sorry contraption.

Truth is; Nigeria ordinarily should be a mega-prosperous nation, a  “Black Mecca.” What it would take to achieve such a nation is definitely not “rocket science” but simple pragmatic steps that have worked elsewhere.  With so much divine gift and wealth of natural resources,  so much human resources and relatively cheap labour, a mosaic of enriching ethnic diversity, so much sunshine etc, Nigeria could be a haven of export oriented manufacturing, an enclave of human rights and the rule of law, an exceptional and enviable African democratic model, a much sought after tourist destination, an oasis of  proud Black technology, and literarily a giant and paradise in the Sun. Nations as tiny as Singapore and Taiwan have achieved this feat, others as large as India and China have also achieved this feat, but  Nigeria governed by shameless urchins, who lack neither pride, dignity nor conscience have  inexcusably continued  to fail and advertise itself as the Blackman’s show of crass incompetence and shame.

Nigeria’s problems and solutions appear complex and complicated yet the solutions remain very simple for any forward looking, superior thinking, civilised group of people committed to the advancement of  the common good of their people. Admittedly the Nigerian reality includes the lumping together of disparate ethnic groups, whose intertwining religious, socio-economic and political interests  have created contradictions that have held the nation in a state of anomie. Diversity in itself can be both a source of strength and a source of weakness. Well managed diversity can create a union of complimenting harmonious groups, each contributing it’s own peculiar gifts and strengths into the building of a progressive “melting pot” of beautiful long suffering Africans held  together by the finest values of love and brotherhood inherent in both Christianity and Islam.

All that needs to be done in recognition of the various distinct cultures is the application of true federalism in homogenous or quasi-homogenous regions or zones. The regions would then be allowed to develop at their own pace without any restrictions, while engaging in healthy competition between themselves. If the Igbo wants to dredge the Niger River and build a massive  port at Onitsha and Azumini, an international airport in Enugu and to concentrate on creative technology  and the production of soft and hard goods in their region even to the extent of producing cars so be it, If the Yoruba chose to run a combined agro-and technological industry in their region, with Lagos  as the foremost financial centre in Africa so be it, if the North chose to invest in aggressive industrialized agriculture to the extent of being able to feed the whole of Africa, dredging the Niger- River and building a massive inland port at lokoja to ferry goods locally and internationally so be it.

The multiplier effects of the activities of the competing regions, free to  take initiatives, create wealth  and ultimately develop at their own pace together with some political reforms  to begin reconciliatory nation building initiatives,  ensure zero tolerance for corruption and guarantee inclusion  will create  millions of jobs, prosperity and herald a new Nigeria. This simple pragmatic step of devolution and true federalism practiced successfully worldwide by many nations and which is critically very crucial in a multi-ethnic environment such as ours remain to a large extent the missing link between Nigeria and greatness.

Regrettably certain ethno-religious  and regional interests in Nigeria  since the end of the civil-war have continued to oppose the restructuring of the nation to reflect these necessary changes that remains the bulwark between Nigeria and her potentials. The result is that today, Nigeria is the worlds greatest paradox of failure and despair. A conflicting contraption that abhors and indeed inhibits the progress of its constituent groups.  An absurd theatre of  routine Black on Black massacres orchestrated by the murderous  Government, Police and Armed forces officials, surpassing that of erstwhile Apartheid South-Africa.

A  jungle of stone age barbarism  with human corpses littering city streets and frequent savage religious killings in the North packed with unbelievable bestiality and scant regards for life, a nation of bloody ethnic conflicts and struggle for primitive domination of power, a nation in perpetual darkness as a consequence of the near total absence of electricity, a nation in deep thirst, hunger and pain in spite of abundant freshwater and fertile soil, a nation of  dirty towns and stinking cities packed with loads of repugnant refuse. Long queues for  imported fuel  in a nation that is the largest African producer of crude oil and the sixth largest in the world.

The lack of love  or compassion for its own kind in the worlds largest black nation is a metaphor for self hate that has defined Nigeria as the greatest tragedy of the black race. A nation that constitutes the worst  of humanity, and parades a legacy of monumental failure and pathological incompetence. At a time the world  is moving on in great technological innovations and strides, Nigeria remains in the cesspit of chaos and dysfunction. The  blackman anywhere in the world has been humbled and disgraced by Nigeria’s shameful  inexcusable predicament, to cap it all Nigeria has characteristically organised the worst elections in human history, what a shame. We pray for the messiah!

Comrade Lawrence Chinedu  Nwobu
Lawrencenwobu@yahoo.com

Robot  Villager

# 1 The lack of love or compassion for its own kind in the worlds largest black nation is a met...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 25.07.2007 17:58

chocho  Villager

# 2 Nigerians should visit Dubai and see what has been achieved in the last 20years. It makes one weep for Nigeria. Posted by chocho| 25.07.2007 18:15

Adeola Aderounmu  Villager

# 3 ....AND Dubai is just a country of 250 000 citizens and about 1 million foreign workers! Dubai currently has a building that is 104 stories..no one knows yet how tall the building will be or how high it will go. It is still a secret! Speculation is 160 stories (700m). (Source: Time Magazine July 30, 2007). Unless my mother took the train when she was heavy with me....I have no memory of a train journey in Nigeria. Talking about Metro (surface or underground), does anyone know what the Lagos state government is doing, at least to revive the idea that Jakande had before the boys in khaki smashed the concept? Let it be said loud and clear, solving Lagos transport problem will never happen without mass transportation mechanisms that only a railway provide. Don't cry for me, Nigeria. May your glory come, soon! http://aderinola.wordpress.com/ Posted by Adeola Aderounmu| 25.07.2007 18:39

pappilo  Villager

# 4 Comrade, it is bitter but you speak the truth! However I disagree with your views on India and China, It is not yet utopia for these countries although they are light years ahead of Nigeria. Regards Pappilo Posted by pappilo| 26.07.2007 02:55

Jah Guda  Villager

# 5 Well said. It is difficult to comprehend the state of our Country. Even more incredible when you consider that none of these presidents/rulers has ever put Nigeria and Nigerians first. Despite the dozens of foreign trips they have all made, as you observed, they have failed to transfer the beauty and serenity they experienced in Eastern and Western cities back to their Country, Nigeria. They are noting but a bunch of thieving thugs, brainless buffoons who make Nigerians seem incapable and clueless. One day they will get what they deserve. Nigerians in Nigeria live a life of misery. Most Nigerians living in foreign lands are sick and tired of the conditions that exist in Nigeria. Once upon a time Nigerians travelled to foreign lands to gain education and training. After achieving their goals, they got on the next plane to Nigeria and were back home, happy to be where they belong and with those they love and things they cherish. Now it’s next to impossible to make that trip back to Nigeria for good. We are all fed up with being abused and deprived of our happiness. There are good Nigerians and there are brave Nigerians. Whenever someone brave enough in Nigeria decides to re-take Nigeria and rescue her from the impending disaster she is currently heading for, I will be back in Nigeria before you can say Operation rescue Nigeria. Posted by Jah Guda| 26.07.2007 04:37

ocnus  Villager

# 6 It is such a pity that Nigeria has wasted and continues to waste so many of its resources. When the papers announced today that the new President had opted for the use of nuclear power as a source of energy I scratched my head. Nigeria flares away every year natural gas in a volume which (on its own) would pay the National Budget in its entirety for a year. Nigeria doesn't need more energy sources; it needs to stop wasting what it has. My attention turned to an article by Toye Olori, in IPS 23/7/07 called "Rich in Oil, Dependent on Firewood". It says, inter alia, "It is a paradox of note: the fact that while Nigerians live in the world's sixth-largest oil producer, most of them still rely on wood for their fuel. Of the country's population of over 140 million, about 70 percent live in rural areas and are directly or indirectly dependent on forest resources -- especially wood -- to meet their domestic energy needs, says Musa Amiebinomo of the national Department of Forestry. This is leading to destruction of forest cover, a situation aggravated by illegal commercial logging. Figures from the 2005 ' State of the World's Forests' report by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) indicate that between 1990 and 2005, Nigeria lost 35.7 percent of its forest cover." Boniface Egboka, an environmentalist and dean of the School of Postgraduate Studies at Anambra State University in south-eastern Nigeria, blames the continued use of firewood on corruption. "Nigeria is still dependent of firewood when we have abundant oil and gas because our so-called leaders are fraudulent and corrupt. They care less about the welfare of the citizens and so they allow the forests to be mowed down." "We have no reason to be using firewood. We have the financial and human resources to pipe gas into homes for domestic use…We are deforesting the whole of the north through harvesting of wood for fire, and now we are shifting the savannah southwards into the rain forest through logging." A government blueprint for developing Nigeria in the period until 2010 -- 'Vision 2010' -- has suggested measures that include a ban on the export of logs, incentives for private investment in forests, greater community participation in forest management -- and the encouragement of reforestation with species yielding fruit, gum, and other crops that are of economic value to communities. 'Vision 2010' also calls for the development and promotion of other energy sources, such as solar and wind power, and the use of gas and coal, as alternatives to wood. In 1999 authorities initiated plans to pipe Nigeria's abundant natural gas for commercial and domestic use. But to date, only a few industrial areas in Lagos have benefited from this project. Nigeria is blessed with abundant resurces; a talented and educated workforce; a large domestic capital base; a strong integration of its top economic sectors with the global market; and a dynamism which, if channeled, would outstrip almost anywhere. Its only weakness is that it is led by people who do not care very much for their country or their fellow citizens. Nigeria doesn't need to look for more resources. It needs to harness its blessings already in hand. Posted by ocnus| 26.07.2007 07:32

Celticologist  Villager

# 7 Regrettably certain ethno-religious and regional interests in Nigeria since the end of the civil-war have continued to oppose the restructuring of the nation to reflect these necessary changes that remains the bulwark between Nigeria and her potentials. A jungle of stone age barbarism with human corpses littering city streets and frequent savage religious killings in the North packed with unbelievable bestiality and scant regards for life, a nation of bloody ethnic conflicts and struggle for primitive domination of power, In fact, the reason why it is still called Nigeria and why it currently stands as one country is NOT because Nigerians want it. It is because corruption is sweet, well established and too good to live without. With regards to the comments in bold....where are these citzens from State Of Denial?. I thought they said all of that died with Abacha's regime. Posted by Celticologist| 26.07.2007 07:45

ajimoh  Villager

# 8 Jah Guda, Ocnus, Celticologist, et al, thank you very much. Some of the so-called leaders have been tutored but remain unschooled and incurably ignorant, except in matters of looting and political foolery! Our leaders have travelled afar but remain distinctively uncouth! For there to be any meaningful progress something must give eventually and it will not be the long-suffering people. To borrow from Adeola Aderounmu, "Nigeria, may your glory come soon". PS When are James Ibori and Peter Odili going to be arraigned by the EFCC? Posted by ajimoh| 26.07.2007 09:11

Fon  Villager

# 9 People I hail oh!..Does any of you previous readers think that Comrade is pst Okotie's relative..pls can you break some the oyibo down 4 layman... I wondered what the messagel of the article was.. To keep on singing our bad state or to encourage ourselves that TOGETHER WE can ever so slowly contribute to a better country. It takes strength to swim against the current..Pray God will empower people to swim against the current of corruption..E go beta!! Pls guys who have visited Dubai dont forget that their population is no way near that of Nigeria..when next we wish to compare I think China is a better example little wonder they are setting up new companies in Nigeria..Familiar terrain for them... Posted by Fon| 26.07.2007 09:28

UncleTisha  Villager

# 10 =Lawrence Chinedu Nwobu;194910>Two weeks ago I flew into Paris. On arrival at the Charles De Gaulle Airport we were directed to an area where we could catch a train that would take us to the central train terminus. A few minutes later to my surprise a train (CDGVAL) pulled up that has no driver. In order words the train was being driven by remote control. I marvelled at such sophisticated technology, and it got me thinking about Nigeria, a nation that has become a laughing stock and a disgrace to the Black race. Reading through all the racist doctrines and ideologies that seeks to define the blackman as subhuman, inferior, incapable, greedy, violent, rash etc one is almost tempted by the Nigerian paradox that defies all logic to buy into such thinking. It takes a lot of courage to defy such supremacist logic and hold your head high in the face of the shameful realities of Nigeria and much of Africa. Imagine if Nigeria with all her resources was inhabited by Europeans, no doubt it would have been one of the richest nations on the planet. The problem therefore is not in our clime, but in the calibre of mentally inferior despots who have presided and continue to preside over our sorry contraption. Mr Nwobu, you have already bought into the "racist doctrines and ideologies" you alluded to up there, just by the title of your essay! As my elders will say, it is how you call your calabash and use it that people will join you to use and call it. If you call and use it as a bowl for drinking water, so shall it be. If you call it a bowl for doing ablution and washing the bum, so shall it be. The problems of Nigeria are multifarious - we already know that! Our leaders are despotic and nefarious - we are already aware of that. What we want are ideas and solutions from people like you who are well read and well travelled, not the stereotypical name-calling that we all delight in engaging in. This is the Nigeria Village Square - A Marketplace of Ideas, not the Nigerians Wailing Square. Enough of these self-deprecating articles abeg! Posted by UncleTisha| 26.07.2007 10:45

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