In recent times, I have come to the conclusion, regrettably though, that Nigerians deserve both the decrepit leadership, and the raw deal they are getting. As long as we retain our tribal bias, and continue to abhor merit, we shall continue to suffer. Such abhorrence of merit and tribal bias gave rise to an un-aspiring and unwilling Tafawa Balewa and  Alhaji Shehu Shagari as against the eminently qualified Chief Obafemi Awolowo, and Dr Nnamidi Azikiwe in 1960 and 1979. Once again in 2007 we are confronted with another unprepared and unwilling Yar’Adua as against the many  distinguished, record breaking  and exceptionally patriotic  technocrats and reformers upon which the only limited achievements of  the Obasanjo administration rests.

The kind of tribalism manifested  on many internet sites  by Nigerians  in the Diaspora, who in spite of having experienced the benefits and workings of Western merit based liberal democracies continue to harbour tribal  inclinations  in regards to Nigerian politics, is another clear indication that our problems are deserved. Any  nation which fails to fundamentally  enthrone and reward merit,  cannot prosper, it is as simple as abc.

When in 2003 Gani Fawhehinmi stood for elections and lost, many including myself concluded that Nigeria might be beyond redemption. He is one man who stands out remarkably in his incorruptibility, and commitment  to the struggle for the emancipation of the beleaguered masses. In the course of his struggle, he was imprisoned several  times and faced many threats to his life, yet when he presented  himself for elections to the same masses for whom he had sacrificed so much, he lost. It is obvious from the experience of Chief Gani Fawhehinmi and recent trends in  history, that Nigerians are responsible for their predicament.

A few weeks ago Dr Dora Akunyili was making the news for having destroyed truck loads of purportedly fake and unregistered drugs. Ordinarily it would have  made sense to  laud her messianic zeal in tackling a hydra headed problem, but having come face to face in recent times, with the peculiar Nigerian character, I am more inclined to believe Dr Akunyili acted wrongly  in impounding and destroying those drugs. Nigerians simply do not deserve her. Having become an oases of integrity in the Nigerian desert of corruption, she  would predictably end up like chief Gani Fawhehinmi, unappreciated, and un-rewarded.   

Before Professor Charles Soludo became the helmsman in the Central Bank, Banks were collapsing like a pack of cards, it became a smart form of  “corporate 419”  to set up a bank, collect depositors funds, and wind up the bank with the depositors funds quietly diverted into private accounts, it became so bad that  even the infamous General Sanni Abacha had to set up a failed banks tribunal to prosecute the culprits. Willy-nilly the problem of failed banks continued, with subsequent central Banks governors  knowing the solution but being too corrupt to implement it, until  Professor Soludo came along and provided  unbelievable determination, professionalism and patriotism  that  secured and consolidated our banks, but does Nigerians or Nigeria deserve him? I would say no. In a nation where merit is neither appreciated nor rewarded, Professor Soludo would end up being dumped, while un-meriting mediocres would mockingly be elevated to higher offices.  

I can go on and on, on the stellar performances of a few whiz kids destined for the trash bin as against the incompetence, corruption and sadism of the majority destined for fame and glory. It takes monumental courage to attempt to confront the racketeers nurtured by excruciating poverty in every sector, benefiting from the chaos and disorder prevalent in Nigeria. A whole mountain of absurdities that defies the bounds of human imagination.

Consider these facts: A medical doctor in Nigeria in spite of the sacred creed of medicine, would watch you die if you don’t pay the compulsory deposit before treatment. A police man trained to protect you, would sooner shoot you dead if you refuse to give him 20naira, the customs man and the ports authority would gladly clear a container of human heads as soon as you grease their palms with some crispy cash, cement and block makers  would  gleefully add more sand in place of cement to make more profit and ultimately crash your building, airline operators would gladly use a “tokunboh” spare part in place of a new one to service their planes and ultimately send it spiralling from the sky. Some of our brothers and sisters enslave their own people by selling girls into prostitution in Italy. Yes, all this mind boggling  vices and more exist in  Nigeria, and I am of the opinion regrettably that Nigerians deserve them.

Neither Dr Akunyili, Chief Gani Fawhehinmi, Professor Wole Soyinka, or Professor Soludo et al should waste their time  trying to be messiah’s for an ungrateful people. Until the day Nigerians begin to appreciate, reward  and seek out genuine and meriting leaders irrespective of their ethnic group, let us continue to suffer all the prevailing vices, until maybe some day  the suffering will induce us to be wiser.    

Comrade Lawrence Chinedu Nwobu
Email:lawrencenwobu@yahoo.com

Robot  Villager

# 1 In recent times, I have come to the conclusion, regrettably though, that Nigerians deserve both t...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 19.04.2007 07:31