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Going Back To Our Roots |
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Thursday, 30 June 2005 |
If there is any advantage in the deregulation of the mass media, which has produced numerous newspaper houses, television stations, radio stations etc, it is the fact that Nigerians have been given an excellent opportunity to do what they know best - talk.
The Nigerian can talk. Talking is good, at least it is preferred to war but of what value is the cacophony of voices that we hear everyday through the media. How effective are these daily national debates and verbal warfare?
In the process, so many factors have been thrust upon the society at different times as THE PROBLEM OF NIGERIA.
This article is an attempt to look at the problems in a holistic manner and suggesting solutions.
AT THE BEGINNING
At a time when the one-dollar was equivalent to N2.00 (two naira), our chief economist, Mr. Rasheed Gbadamosi told us that the main problem of our economy was that the Naira was over-valued and once we allowed the Naira to float like other currencies all our problems will be solved. That was sometime in the 80’s. There and then began the free fall of the Naira and the worsening state of our economy .
It did not occur to many people, including the Nigerian press then that we were simply creating multimillionaires via legislation.. Since then the Naira has not regained its lost glory despite improvements in our foreign exchange earnings.
The dual exchange rate policy of the government that followed the devaluation and some other fiscal measures accelerated the “death” of the Naira.
The arguments have since continued. It will appear that ours has been a journey through a mace with just two interrelated objectives in mind : to find the single problem of the country and the magic solution. We were looking for a magic wand to solve our problem.
Several single problems have been mentioned as being responsible for our underdevelopment. From over valued Naira to infrastructure, to OIC, to electoral malpractices, corruption, oil curse, leadership etc.
The recent swansong is energy (essentially NEPA). I have heard several people say that once we fix NEPA all our problems will disappear.
In as much as I agree that improvement in energy supply is desirable and may improve productivity and output, a review of our past will show that even at the worst times of NEPA, this country was highly productive.
My analysis has been divided into two periods: 1960-1985, 1986-1999. I will leave historians to review 2000-2006 at an appropriate later date.
1960-1985
Two things always remind me of the inadequate infrastructure of this period. Firstly was the fact that I used to spend hours, sometimes days to get dial tone on NITEL phones.
Secondly, a journey by train from Lagos to Kano was usually for a minimum of two days.
- Majidun was a melting point where all who wanted to get into Lagos by road had to pass. It was normal to pass the night in the traffic jam at Majidun in those days.
- Apart from the western part of the country where there were good and tarred network of roads, the only roads that were tarred in most parts of the country were the interstate roads and very very few state roads.
- The rural areas were not opened up.
- The result of football matches played in Ibadan will not be heard on the radio (juke box) until two or three days after.
- Newspapers were available only in small quantities outside Lagos.
- Television sets were available only to few households even in Lagos and there were community viewing centers (courtyards) where people go to watch Village Headmaster, On Stage and other programmes.
In summary, the infrastructural development of this period was not up to 30% of what we have today, yet the economy was strong and there was a boom especially after the war in 1970.
The economy was near full in almost every sector with the presence of such organizations as: BEREC, Peugeot Automobile (PAN), National Shipping Line, Nigeria Airways, 5-star, Spintex, Aswani (textiles), Cocoa Industries, Biode Pharmaceuticals, Abbott laboratories, Food Specialties, Yamaha, SCODA, Henry Stevens, Palm Line, Elder Dempster, ED Line, John Holt, UAC, Emarco, NBCI, NIDB, to mention a few.
The country had three functional refineries in Bonny, Warri and Kaduna and several national assets including Nigeria Airways planes, 32 ships (for international trade), 12 Naval ships, and a host of others.(I relied on oral evidence here which may not be accrurate)
This period, with the sorry state of infrastructure also witnessed the emergence of the middle class. Cottage and small-scale industries were doing very well and taxi operators had convenient leasing contracts that were profitable. Employment rate was well above 60% with more than enough room for our brothers and sisters from Ghana, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and other West African states.
During this period, honesty and integrity were prized items though we also experienced the activities of outlaws such as Oyenusi, Folorunsho and some other dare devil-armed robbers. These were however exceptions and the society was visibly against such outlaws. The society was organized, had values, feared God (though with fewer mosques and churches). People worked very hard and were rewarded.
There was a high degree of PATROTISM . Integrity was an unwritten national code of conduct. The family unit and communities ensured that our norms and values were not corrupted by indecent conduct. Our proverbs and adages were replete with condemnation of indecent conduct or behaviour.
Nigeria during this period was heaven on earth - God’s own country. The period gave birth to the Indigenisation Decree which transferred a substantial part of the economy to Nigerians; Nigerians took charge of their economy and several expatriates were forced out of Nigeria. This Decree saw the emergence in large numbers, for the first time in the history of the country Nigerian CEOs.
The period also experienced a lower population figure, fewer institutions of learning and reliance on external loans at the beginning of the 80’s.
The economy was driven by National Development Plans with annual budgets issuing forth from such Plans and political parties had manifestoes by which electoral promises were made and through which performance was evaluated.
On a humorous note, the NPN stalwarts never believed that they will witness year 2000; it appeared too far and unattainable that they promised that everything will be free by that year. But at that time the descent to the next period had begun.
During this period also and despite the inadequacies in infrastructural and human development, the country recorded outstanding achievements in all sectors of human endeavor.
In the academia, we had Profs. Ayodele Awojobi (the inventor of Autonov1 and the first African to obtain a doctor of science degree from the University of London). Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka. Tekina Tamuno, Eke, Taslim Elias (former justice of the world court in Hague) a scholar and jurist, Tai Solarin and a host of others.
In the field of sports we had Modupe Osikoya, Taslim “thunderbolt” Balogun, Chris Ofodile, Lawrence Awopegba, Atanda Musa, Hogan Bassey, Dick Tiger, Abraham Ordia etc.
In politics, we had the great Zik, Awolowo, Sardauna of Sokoto, Mallam Aminu Kano, Alhaji Waziri (author of politics without bitterness), K.O. Mbadiwe (timber and calibre) and a host of other respectable Nigerians.
As for Nigerians with journalistic excellence, we had Peter Enahoro, Alhaji Jose, Gbolabo Ogunsanwo, Dele Giwa, Sola Odunfa, Theresa Ogunbiyi (now Mrs. Bowyer) Haroun Adamu and “ Mr. it is a goal” Ishola Folorunsho.
What I am trying to arrive at is that these notable heroes of Nigeria during this period, achieved success (in their various endeavours) despite the inadequacies in infrastructures, education etc. They achieved success that even some of us in this age and time with all the improvements in infrastructure, information technology, telecommunications (gsm) etc may never be able to achieve.
They had focus, passion for excellence, commitment and patrotism. They had values and operated in a society that valued excellence, rule of law, integrity, and honesty and above all they espoused the fruits of righteousness even if some of them were atheists. They didn’t do things with impunity.
The good of all was paramount in their minds just as they were pursuing their own personal goals.
I remember vividly that my father drummed it into my skull that a good name is better than silver or gold
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Interestingly, the parents of some of the richest men in Nigeria (MKO Abiola, Awolowo etc) were very poor. Yet they raised their children properly and instilled in them values that made them (the children) to achieve great heights and to record indelible achievements in human history.
So when commentators finger poverty as the reason for the overwhelming decadence in our society today, I cannot but disagree with them.
We owe them all a debt of gratitude and it is a sacred duty for this generation not to soil the banner. If we don’t uphold the dignity of our existence, generations to come will scarcely believe that such men with dignity and patriotism “ever worked upon this earth” (taken from tribute to Mohandas Gandhi)
1986-1999
This period witnessed the loss of innocence and the “descent to barbarism’ (to quote Prof. Wole Soyinka)
But that was not all, there were improvements
v Communication networks improved. From 090 (not nine not) to multilinks, intercellular etc to gsm
v Rural areas were increasingly opened up under such programmes as DFFRI, PTF etc.
v Improvement in the generating capacity of NEPA and the emergence of Independent generating stations especially in the North.
v Improvement in foreign exchange earnings
v Proliferation of institutions of learning all over the nation
v And a host of others
Despite these improvements productivity declined and industrial activities collapsed.
The economy moved gradually to a merchandising one, the item of merchandise ranging from paper money (dollars, pound sterling etc), to imported toothpicks, gsm phones and cards, the gospel (words of God), human parts etc.
The factories and warehouses shut down and were converted to churches and mosques where we go daily to seek miracles, prosperity etc. The economic implication that is apparent in this is that our circular flow of income is diametrically opposed to the laws of Keynes because investible funds are now tied down in a few hands and in institutions (churches and mosques) that cannot openly participate in economic activities. But because of the benefits of this endeavour (free money, no tax, little or no regulation) the prospects of “making money ‘ was too good to be ignored by our speculative minds. So gradually a shift in population occurred and more and more energetic people opened churches and mosques. With explosion competition began, standards fell and marketing and selling techniques including the fear factor were introduced to increase membership and by extension the “sacrifice of praise”. I have nothing against religion. I am only looking at it in terms of the economic cost and the inability of the chief priests in Islam and Christainity to stem the rot in our society which naturally should have ensued from the explosion. But the reverse is the case. The recent Benny Hinn palava is an example of the failure of religion in our land.
All those factors patriotism, honesty integrity, fear of God, passion for excellence, family and communal values have been replaced by a single evaluative criteria - MONEY. The lesser evils include ethnicity, power at all costs, and the son of the soil syndrome.
Something happened last week in Abia state that confirmed my fears that values are not so much respected in this country. And there is ample evidence to suggest that we don’t truly want things to work so that we can act with impunity and get away. What I am saying is that it appears we want the imperfect system to continue so that we can behave as we like. The incident:
A delegation of traditional chiefs (each of them above 50years) went to meet Governor Kalu and requested that he should ensure that the next governor comes from their local government because it is “their turn”. It is sad but shows how desperate we love power in this country and the perceived gains from power. It also shows that most Nigerians have accepted that things must be done upside down and remain so for as long as they achieve their aims e.g to get their son to be the next governor! I guess their next port of call will be WAEC or JAMB to give instructions that all their children must be awarded certificates exam or no exam.
In the first period discussed above, it was a taboo to be seen with FAYAWO (smugglers) but in this period smugglers (fayawo) have even engaged the services of lawyer Falana in challenging the ban on imports in a law court. It means nothing to these people that for every item of imported material Nigerians are paying the salaries and overhead costs in the exporting countries while we remain a dumping ground with no visible means of improving the gross domestic product. And where productivity is low or non existent and avarice is high, the results will be high degree of poverty, stealing and such other vices. Such a society can never be at peace!
And development will be a MIRAGE. There are behavioural impediments to productivity even where all other physical factors are present.
These days a stockbroker will sell your shares without your knowledge. A recent and commendable attempt by SEC to stem this is the introduction of the trade alert. But it is at a cost to the individual and the economy. Several retirees have been sent to early graves by some stockbrokers.
What is happening to us?
Conclusion:
It is clear from the above analysis that contrary to popular opinion that inadequate infrastructure, NEPA, Oil Curse, External debt, leadership etc are the reasons (singular in most discussions) for our underdevelopment, our failure to maintain and nurture those values that saw to the emergence of THE GIANT OF AFRICA is the real problem.
These values include focus, passion for excellence, commitment and patrotism, spirit of sacrifice and the fear of God. PATRIOTISM needs to be revived just as the religious sects should add value by preaching more of the GOLDEN RULE - LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR AS THYSELF and less of breakthroughs, miracles, generational curses etc.
Integrity should become an unwritten national code of conduct. The family unit and communities should ensure that our norms and values are not corrupted by indecent conduct. And one way of achieving this is to start with our children in primary and secondary schools. We should not sacrifice their tomorrow for our ego and pride. We should stop buying WAEC and other papers for our children or sponsoring agents to write their exams.
How can excellence and intellectualism be respected in a country where exam papers are bought and sold. What will be the impetus for acquiring knowledge in a country where excellence and intellectual achievements are not recognized or respected. One thing will happen. Quest for knowledge and excellence will die, and the people will perish. According to the Bible MY PEOPLE PERISH FOR LACK OF KNOWLEDGE.
Thank you
Taslim Anibaba (FCA) 27th June, 2005
N.B
Comments are welcome. If you identify with what has been written please send to as many people as possible. Thanks
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Last Updated (
Thursday, 24 April 2008 ) |
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Authors 
Posted by Robot| 25.04.2008 12:22