If two children, presumably boys, grew up in a cupboard (without outside contact and not contaminated by any culture) at the foot of a mountain range, there is likelihood that by adolescence they would have developed different traits. Our own Ojukwu was alleged to have told this to his friend, Fredrick Forsythe, and his assertion was that one of the boys, most likely, would have climbed the mountain, at one stage, to find out what is on the other side of the mountain range. The other, meanwhile, and most probably, would have erected a shrine at the foot of the mountain to worship that mountain. The one that did not climb the mountain, at best, would take a tortuous route to circumnavigate the mountain range in an attempt to get to the other side. Ojukwu did not clarify who these two children represent, but your guess is as good as mine. However, one can easily postulate that the one that did not climb the mountain could have been a Nigerian, at least.

In my community, we seldom climb mountains; instead, we go around obstacles; no matter how inconvenient that might be. As I grew up in Nigeria , I watched helplessly as we chose not to climb over the mountains of developmental problems, but instead chose to circumnavigate around them. When electricity supply, the core ingredient in modern development, became epileptic, we did not climb the mountain to fix it; we circumnavigated around it; we bought individual generators. As our taps began to run dry, we did not overcome the obstacle by fixing the public water works; we circumnavigated that problem by digging individual wells and sinking individual boreholes. The dearth in our public transport was not addressed by improved mass transit, but first we downsized to minibuses and most recently, and ingeniously, we mount commercial bikes (the okadas). What about the Indian tricycles in our urban areas – that is called progress. We have become the epitome of individual freedom, if you like.

There is no telling, we could drive this style of deregulation to the next level and become the symbol of generation-next in communal living. The rest of the world would then have no choice but to copy us. Who wants to wait for buses or trains at bus stops or stations that arrive at specific times and go in a particular direction – too regimental - when one could mount a commercial bike at any point that could be asked to go in any direction? What freedom could be higher and bliss? Two guys, one Briton and the other French, once had an argument on the virtue of their respective road traffic systems. The French derided the way the British drive; on the wrong side of the road, while the French drive on the right side; but the Briton argued it is just the left side of the road. A Nigerian intervened and ridiculed both of them – pioneering what freedom could mean. In Nigeria , he says, we drive on all sides of the road, left; right and centre, facing any direction: that is freedom and deregulation at their heights.

When it was fashionable to seize power by force through the barrel of the gun, we where not left behind. Those who sacked the past rulers made sure they outdid those they ousted for whatever ills their predecessors were accused of. As the wind of democracy blew our way, we embraced it, but refused to climb the mountain to make the votes count. Who says the votes must count? Our freedom is to vote if we want to and their freedom is to count the vote if they like. To circumnavigate the obstacles of counting of votes, we even set up electoral tribunals before the elections took place. Which goes to show that we knew the elections would be rigged. Why climb the mountain to prevent rigging, when we can circumnavigate the process by judicial process. As the TV cameras stared relentlessly during the recent presidential election tribunal judgement, one could easily be misled into believing that it was a joint session of the bar and the bench. The tribunal hall was a sea of wigs and gowns – a symbol of the rule of law. My vote at last, as expected, did not count, and was rule out.

Nigeria has gotten to a point where doing it the rest-of-the-world way, would spark up a revolution. The revolution will not be precipitated for failing to fix the ills but by attempting to eradicate the ills. So, it might be better to let things be as they are and play the usual rhetoric of fixing things. That has always given us hope. Try and imagine what would happen to the economy, if one day the electricity supply becomes steady and uninterrupted. No, it’s not what you think. What become of Zenon and a host of diesel hoarders could stir up an mayhem. What would become of the economy without generator importers? What are we going to do with over twenty million electric generators already in Nigeria ? What do we do with over four million batteries that are used to start the generators? Who is going to look after the families of those who have survived or prospered in the business of no-constant light? What will happen to the water tankers and the meruwas if the public water works work? Who would feed the families of the okada riders if the public transit system becomes modernised?

‘If you have a stomach for a revolution, try and climb the mountain to fix the underdevelopment in a place like Nigeria ,’ a Nigerian stated lately. ‘As people, we have done everything in the book to start a revolution. …yet there has not been one,’ another stated. Social scientists are now of the opinion that the process of eradicating what other people in other lands regard as ills, which unfortunately we relish, could stir up a revolution in Nigeria as people will fiercely oppose the idea of fixing them. Eradicating the endemic corruption in Nigeria , for instance, could have sparked off a revolution, which is why the present administration, in its wisdom, has toned down the process and have resorted to rhetoric which gives us hope. To circumnavigate the mountain of eradication of corruption, we call it the rule of law. This is the same law that continues to rule; not to prevent corruption, but comes out in full force to impede punishing it.

It is a beautiful country inhabited by beautiful people. See how we love our Ghana-must-go bags. Why fix the pothole when we can drive around it. If it becomes a gorge, we slow down and move on. We set fires to our markets so that we can trade on the streets. Why make your vehicle roadworthy, when cheaper, you can bribe your way through. If eventually you have a breakdown, why push the vehicle to a side when other vehicles, including those in authority, can drive around it. Why bother not to hurt other people, when the pastor or the imam is ready to argue your case before God, for a fee of course. It has been confirmed that we are the most religious in the world; you can be sure why. Nigeria is a prayerful nation and it is prayers that have sustained us. As common and when the 419ers GSM networks become epileptic, we just buy into another network and end up moving about with four handsets. Things can stay as they are, and there will be peace. God willing there is hope that one day e go better.

But, on the other side of the coin, is what happened lately. Nigeria and Niger Republic have a pact that come what may, Nigeria must supply uninterrupted power supply to its northern neighbour, Niger Republic . The pact was to prevent the Niger Republic from damming the River Niger in order to allow the river flow uninterrupted to our own Kainji Dam. The authority over there announced in late January 2008 that power supply would be interrupted for two weeks to upgrade their electricity supply. The people of Niger Republic took to the streets of Niamey , the capital, to protest against the planned power interruption. The authority, however, capitulated in the face of their peoples’ refusal and power supply was diverted from Nigeria , some more, to avert the planned power interruption in the Niger Republic at the expense of guess who.

It was the Paris born, English author, W. Somerset Maugham (1874-1965), who was reported to have given up medicine for writing, that said, ‘It’s a funny thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it.’ The people of Niger Republic might have just refused to accept anything but the best: it isn’t funny, but they got it.

Robot  # 1 | 04.03.2008 10:59

If two children, presumably boys, grew up in a cupboard (without outside contact and not contami...Read the full article.

uchebush  # 2 | 06.03.2008 06:45

Yes. We ALWAYS settle for less. We always find a way to get around our problems rather than confronting and finding solutions to them. That's why we are where we are. But the wind of change is blowing. As Nigerians we MUST learn to solve our problems ourselves or die trying. Uche Ohia

Enforcer  # 3 | 08.03.2008 15:27

"It is a beautiful country inhabited by beautiful people." I can't object to this because I don't know what you classify as “beautiful”. Some words are difficult to define and any attempt at a working definition often generates controversies. However, if I should define it by reference to the other contents of your article then Nigerians will not qualify as beautiful people. “See how we love our Ghana-must-go bags.” I do not understand your motives for saying this. Is it the Ghana part of it you don’t like? Are you saying Nigerians should do away with anything involving the use of the word Ghana, including playing football matches with Ghana? Nigerians love Ghanaians. So buying the Ghana-must-go bags is a symbolic way of recognising the invaluable relationship Nigerians have with Ghanaians. “Why fix the pothole when we can drive around it. If it becomes a gorge, we slow down and move on.” This one is very interesting. I agree with you. Ordinary Nigerians must slow down and move on. I see it as a cheaper option than spending money on those silly doctors and nurses in Nigerian hospitals that waste government resources trying to save the lives of senior government officials involved in road accident. “We set fires to our markets so that we can trade on the streets.” I really do not agree with this. If they don’t set fire to the markets, how do you expect them to kill the millions of deadly bacteria in Nigeria dirty and stinking markets? “Why make your vehicle roadworthy, when cheaper, you can bribe your way through.” Don’t make me laugh. Which road in Nigeria is vehicle worthy that you are talking about? “If eventually you have a breakdown, why push the vehicle to a side when other vehicles, including those in authority, can drive around it.” Oh dear! Nigerians are intelligent enough to know that when they see a broken down vehicle you do not drive into it. My only surprise is that in spite of the absolute power they believe they have those in authority refuse to drive into it. “Why bother not to hurt other people, when the pastor or the imam is ready to argue your case before God, for a fee of course.” Hurting other people is what Christians do and call it crusade and the Muslims do it and call it jihad. “As common and when the 419ers GSM networks become epileptic, we just buy into another network and end up moving about with four handsets. Things can stay as they are, and there will be peace. God willing there is hope that one day e go better.” It goes to show how resourceful and market driven Nigerians are.