There is a shocking difference on the emphasis placed on common interests of the society in developed world when compared to ours. In the developed world, in their societies, everything that is of common interest like roads, rail, airports, schools, public utility electricity, water-works, public parks, buses, etc. works and is never allowed to be second best. Ours is a different story and a showcase of self-interest. Many readers may wonder and ask what is new? After a careful study, I have come to the conclusion that we have not gotten to that next level in evolution and are not even trying to develop our mental capacity to help evolve. This has become the only panacea for our underdevelopment.

From the beginning of time, humans have survived mainly because of their ability to reason, by sticking together, adapting to and coping with changing conditions of their natural habitat. It is noted that even as mankind evolves away from other lower animals mainly through its God-given gift to reason, its natural limitations have not change. It still remains basically an animal and can still not exist outside of the community. That inability to exist alone compels it to coexist. That, however, negates its other natural character of self-interest that every dweller in this community of humans possesses. You will agree with me that our natural character of self-interest is irreconcilable with our natural compulsion to coexist.

This conflict can only be resolved by superior reasoning in order to advance the interest of the community. The reader should pardon me for going back to brass tacks in order to explain the underdevelopment in a place like Nigeria . If we consider things that are not developing properly in Nigeria , there is a pattern, and it is astonishing. It is a fact that only public interests, like roads, rail, schools, hospitals, electricity, water works, government, etc. are rotting, unsustainable, disregarded and second best. These are common interests to all and sundry. On the other hand, individual interests are excelling comparatively to a global level. This is an indication that man’s natural instinct of self-interest still rules supreme in the Nigerian society.

This does not seem good for development and the question is can there be meaningful development in Nigeria as envisaged by 2020, if the common interests are second best? Records and history have shown that societies that place the common interest first and above that of self have achieved quality of life that is higher than what we, in Nigeria , are presently experiencing. Take our innovative living in self generation of electricity, for instance. Our public utility electricity has remained second best. Many observers have to some extent, at one time or the other, adduced that selfishness and greed within the Nigerian society have militated against the potential growth of the country. That is baloney, because selfishness is every human’s natural endowment and it is common throughout the animal family, developed society or not. It only requires higher reasoning to suppress in order to develop the community.

The degree in reasoning to suppress the interest of self for the advancement of what is common to all may be linked to the evolution of human mental capacity. This should not be confused with yielding one’s advantage to other individuals, but the ability of reasoning above that of lower animal in order to pursue the excellence of interests that are common and which one will also partake of. This orientation will definitely come someday as we evolve, but it is necessary to accept that we are not reasoning high enough today to overcome the natural limitation of self-interest. Each one of us cannot conveniently and economically own private roads, schools, rail, water works, electricity, air travel, hospitals, etc. and therefore intelligently, must belong to a pool and wisely ensures that they work because we individually partake of them.

If one wants to live life to the fullest, those common interests must be the best as they affect the individual also. It seems very stupid to short-change oneself just because of common good. What is higher in reasoning by taking what belongs to all, for self, to a different land and coming back to the society to suffer somewhat with the rest of the people? Such orientation in mentality is a hallmark of retarded mental development. Unfortunately, this advancement in mental development cannot be taught in schools, and it is, therefore, a stage of the evolution of the people - I think. When people say ‘we will get there someday,’ they are invariably telling us that at present we are mentally retarded to realise that common interests cannot be second best - period.

This retardation of our mental evolution may explain why corruption and other antisocial vices remain undefeated in underdeveloped societies. We have just not at the next stage in evolution yet. Most of those corrupt officers are not selfish more than you and I – they are only, like you and I, acting naturally and at a level of their mental capacity that cannot be raised above that of the lower animal. To appropriate what belongs to all to self (though a smart move if others let you) such that the quality of the common interests, like roads, electricity, water works, schools, hospitals, environment, rail, air travel, etc. suffer, is mentally retarding particularly if one still partakes of them. If one appropriates what belongs to all for self and emigrates, then it is defendable and could be considered intelligent.  

If a foreigner that lives outside of  that community is in charge of our public life and decides to let our public utilities go to waste, it could be explained as selfishness – but to be part of it and live a life of lower quality of life just because it is common to all, is stupid and unintelligent. Greed they say is bad, but on its own, it ought to drive development provided it is for the common good. Nigerians can be counted amongst those driving the best cars and those living in magnificent houses, yet utilities that support quality living are amongst the worst in the world. That is an oddity. Our roads, as stated above, are appalling; the rail is zero service; public electricity is epileptic and unreliable; health service unsustainable; standard of education is below developed world’s; public water works does not work and many more.

With all humility and not deliberately abusing the sensibilities of some Nigerians, I have, for sometime, argued that the level of our development is as a result of the stage of our evolution. I still stand by it and with all modesty hereby; challenge anybody to a superior argument. There are certain tools in modern economics called cause-and-effect and regression analysis. What is the effect of what we individually as people caused to the level of our societal development? If we trace backwards from our present level of development to the fundamentals, we could have collectively ignored the first principle of communal living - that of reasoning at a higher level than that of lower animal for collective good. Using either of these tools produced identical causes and the similarity to me is astounding. So, let’s go back to brass tacks once more, because it is still baffling.

Our ability to reason is a function of our evolution, which is enhanced by the environment and tutoring by example in order to overcome certain natural limitations like self-interest. Unfortunately, certain ability to reason can hardly be mastered in the classroom. Public education does help. Our tenacity in these regards cannot be overstated if we have to move forward in evolution. Are we mentally developed enough to realise that collective aspects of our national life are uppermost? If so, I suggest that public excellence is worth pursuing with every inch of our strength. We bicker over trivial things, while we continue to live a life of low quality. No light, no water, herbalist-hospitals, rickety buses, potholed roads, rogue-hijacked government, and many more low quality collective holdings.

Our city halls, city malls, airports, railway terminus, hospitals, educational institutions, etc. should work and be of the highest quality, gigantic and should dwarf individually owned structures. They should remain the best and better than what an individual should have within the society. This orientation will demonstrate that our society has suppressed the natural instinct of self-centredness and is promoting common interest over and above individual interests within the society. The Americans demonstrate this more aptly by decreeing that no object will ever be erected in Washington D.C. that will be taller than the Washington Monument (a symbol of their common interest). It is a manifestation of what belongs to all surpassing whatever an individual could posses or surpass.

Until as people, we are able to ensure that what belongs to all is and remain the best within our God given capability; we may as well continue the rhetoric of fighting corruption and living a life without water and light. We have to demonstrate that as Homo sapiens, we have evolved to a level higher than that of the lower animals. This can only be demonstrated by the degree of excellence of our public holdings, such as roads, rail, electricity, water-works, schools, hospitals, government, etc. Corruption will dwindle to almost zero level, the moment majority of Nigeria realises that it erodes quality of life and a manifestation that in evolution, we are yet to evolve to that next level. As it is, some so called lower animals, though without the ability for language, do co-operate better with each other in order to survive. Could it be that we are merely a notch higher than them in evolution?

Samuel Akinyele Caulcrick

Lagos .

Robot  Villager

# 1 Maybe there is nothing wrong with Nigeria’s aspiration to be counted as one of the top 20 econ...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 03.09.2008 01:25

Black.E  JJC

# 2 Hi Messrs Caulcrick, Your article is probably one of the best pieces I have read in a while concerning the public v private interests of the Nigerian people. I really enjoy when villagers put across a very well thought out and articulate piece. However, I fear that we may not achieve the superior reasoning needed to suppress that selfish thing within us to overcome our personal interests, principally because of the vast differences that exist with our cultures, language and such like. There isn't enough common ground! U know we have a get rich and die mentality. The draw is too strong. We might need to rethink how we firstly govern ourselves; state numbers and regions will need to be reduced to cut through layers of bureaucracy. The system has it stands creates in my opinion divisions rather than integration, which is what is needed. We should perhaps imitate Singapore, which in a way has a similar history to Nigeria but has grown from a third world country to a leading nation in same time fame. We have the capacity to bridge the gap if we invest heavily on infrastructures and education, his will create jobs that will pass wealth through the society. A rough estimate based on producing 2.5 mn barrels of oil per day will generate $80 bn per annum in revenues. Nigeria needs to undergo 10 years of capital expenditure on roads, airports, public buildings etc. and plus importantly train people; train them on how to maintain the structures. Maintenance is key here. I wonder what your opinion too is on population control in the public interest? It’s a necessary evil. Family size might need to be kept at no more than say for e.g. 2-3 children for may be a generation until a steady state with other factors considered, is reached. It’s bold and obviously controversial, I Know. Nigeria needs to do embrace certain hard policies that some folk will not like. Bless E Posted by Black.E| 03.09.2008 08:04

Dewdrops  Villager

# 3 =Robot;4295092645>Maybe there is nothing wrong with Nigeria’s aspiration to be counted as one of the top 20 econ...Read the full article. This retardation of our mental evolution may explain why corruption and other antisocial vices remain undefeated in underdeveloped societies. We have just not at the next stage in evolution yet. Most of those corrupt officers are not selfish more than you and I – they are only, like you and I, acting naturally and at a level of their mental capacity that cannot be raised above that of the lower animal. To appropriate what belongs to all to self (though a smart move if others let you) such that the quality of the common interests, like roads, electricity, water works, schools, hospitals, environment, rail, air travel, etc. suffer, is mentally retarding particularly if one still partakes of them. If one appropriates what belongs to all for self and emigrates, then it is defendable and could be considered intelligent Hmmm! Due to a genetic predispostition to mental retardation like you have so aptly captioned here. . . .what hope is there? We have not dealt with reality 1960 and you are talkin' of 2020? Keep dreaming I say. Keep dreaming! I hope you never wake up from your slumbering slumber.:D Posted by Dewdrops| 03.09.2008 09:16

ELAWALO  Villager

# 4 Thank You Mr Caulcrick, Just spot on !!! Posted by ELAWALO| 03.09.2008 10:26