The title of this article is the adaptation of the HBO film titled Sometime in April. The film captured the most heinous genocides in World history in the African Nation of Rwanda. It is unforgettable.

In Nigeria, an unforgettable event also occurred in 1976. However, it was a positive one – it was prosperity cum economic independence.

And unless we bring such an event and similar events to the public arena for discussions, examination and evaluation, we can easily be distracted by those who see nothing good in Nigeria; those who want to take Nigeria to the threshold of Sometime in April. God forbid.

 Why would a set of people be calling for destruction, civil disobedience, war, boycott this boycott that, etc at a time when they and their political parties should be informing the public of the alternative programmes that they have for them.

Why should we continue to reward laziness, lack of foresight, violence, intimidation, blackmail etc?

 According to Bob Marley,  “life is one big road with lots of signs.  So when you’re driving through the rocks don’t you complicate your mind.  Be free from hate, deceit and jealousy…”

Life indeed is full of contradictions, ironies, mysteries and for the Nigerian nation, the contradictions are so many and overwhelming that one can easily conclude that our inability, unprepared ness and refusal to examine and resolve these contradictions are responsible for most of the problems besetting our nation today.

This is especially true when one considers the fact that over the years we have been confronted with the same problems, same situations yet we have always returned to the starting point wasting in the course of our journey human, natural and other resources.

 Nigeria has become one big maze; whichever way you turn and at whatever time you choose to analyze her, the picture you see is the same.  Simulating Nigeria is a waste of time because the critical factors are constant and any attempt to deal with the critical factors has always been scuttled by ethnic, religious and other considerations.  The result  - perambulation and monumental waste of men and resources.

 We have lost so much over time that we need to start to think outside the box from now on.

 Back to 1976.

 It is amazing that in 1976, the Indigenization Decree, which sought to transfer, in whole or in part the management of certain enterprises in Nigeria to Nigerians was promulgated and faithfully implemented by the then Head of State General Olusegun Obasanjo.

It was a laudable policy applauded by almost all Nigerians and for the first time in Nigeria a new breed of corporate managers emerged.  For the sake of emphasis, through this Decree, the management of the Nigerian economy was transferred to Nigerians in a transparent and effective manner.

 It was also a civilized process of transferring the management of the Nigerian economy to Nigerians.

  In Uganda, under the headship of Late Idi Amin, Indigenization was carried out in a barbaric and uncivilized manner.  Idi Amin rode into market squares on the backs of foreigners (mostly Britons) with hordes of jobless Ugandans in his trail.  He stopped at each shop, ordered the original foreign owners to vacate the shops and instructed the Ugandans to take over the shops with immediate effect and automatic alacrity.  The British will not forget Idi Amin in a hurry.

  However, today, thirty years after, the same, now President Olusegun Obasanjo is searching for foreign investors across the globe to invest in the Nigerian economy! Can you believe that?

 What went wrong over the 30years? What is the implication of this policy thrust for Nigerian managers? What is the performance of the Nigerian managers over this period of 30 years?   Is the problem just about foreign inflow of capital, technology or sound business ethnics? Did we lose thirty years of nationhood to waste?

 It is important to mention at this stage that most of the enterprises that were privatized then are either dead (liquidated) or comatose or are on the lower ranks of the ladder in their various sectors on the stock exchange. Where are such companies as SCOA, UAC, Volkswagen, etc today?

 The first conclusion that any or conscious observer can reach in explaining the failure of the Indigenization programme is that there is a dearth of progressive/effective managers in Nigeria. It is true that little or no respect is accorded the fact that business enterprises are models based on certain principles.  In general, we regard management principles and techniques as theories.

We have scant regard for organization, control, motivation, staffing, span of control, planning, budgeting etc in most of our business concerns.

Treating business concerns like this is akin to denying a tree of water, sunlight and other requirements for its growth and survival. Sooner or later, the plant will crumble and die.

For us our attitude to business is Kick And Follow.  The resultant effect is that we are back.  Back to 1976 in a reverse order!

 But we also produced very few excellent managers. These exemplary managers include :Chief Osunkeye, Chief Shonekan, Mr. Onosode, etc.

 General Obasanjo had vision and good intentions but my people lowered standards, threw caution to the wind, took advantage of the imperfections in our system, sniffed life out of our economy and took us back to 1976 - the year that can best be described as the year of our economic independence but which was lost.

I doubt if anyone considered the survival of these  “infant” enterprises as priority in 1979 and thereafter.

 In my mind the major problem of   this period, as I indicated above was the dearth of managers to run the economy.

In most cases the shoes left by the receding foreigners were too big for my people to wear. 

 This realization took me to Thomas Teal.

 Thomas Teal in an article titled The Human Side of Management published in the Nov/Dec 1996 edition of Harvard Business Review stated that “ look closely at any company in trouble and you’ll probably find that the problem is management  …Study large corporations and you’ll discover that the biggest barrier to change, innovation and new ideas is often management.”

This is very true not only in the economic sphere but all the spheres of our lives as Nigerians.  Whether it is politics, business, religious organizations etc, management has been one major problem that we have failed to address. 

 Management in this context is not just about the principles but also the character of management.

 This partly explains the general failure of those organizations taken over by Nigerians in 1976.  We took over by pumping money into those organizations and forgot to pump the livewire required to keep those enterprises alive – management.

We have been able to succeed and carry on as usual because of the fact that Nigeria is basically a seller’s market with little or no choice for the consumer.  Consumer’s rights are non-existent, workers are treated as slaves and competition in most of the sectors is almost non-existent.  Under such an economy, even the worst run organization will be given a superstar rating.

 However, with the reversal of policy through the new initiative of the OBJ administration to attract foreign direct investments (FDI) into the country this parlous state of affairs is bound to change.

Foreign investors expectedly will not only pump in money but also world best practices, superior technology and sound management.

This is serving notice to Nigerian entrepreneurs to brace up for the challenges ahead and it is my hope that opposition groups will not wake up in 2007 or thereafter to accuse   the government of empowering foreigners to run our economy.

 On a lighter note, I think foreigners should be invited to run our politics especially on the side of those who are perpetually opposed to any government in power.  In 7 (seven) years, they could not successfully produce an elected representative either at the state or local government level.  Yet they arrogate to themselves the knowledge of the solutions to all the problems facing Nigeria.  Recently, instead of selling their programmes to the public they were busy calling for boycotts and threatening anarchy.  Inferior management at work!

 Thomas Teal continued “there is so much inferior management in the world that some people believe we’d be better off in completely flat organizations with no managers at all.”

He however concluded rightly  “ capable management is so extra-ordinarily difficult that few people look good no matter how hard they may try.  Most of those lackluster managers we all complain about are doing their best to manage well”

He went further to state that exemplary managers are rare and that two categories are such managers abound - the very good managers and the great managers.

He concluded this section by saying that to be an exemplary manager you have to realize that managing “ is not a series of mechanical tasks but a series of human interactions”

 This last point answers the question that is making the rounds today: so are you saying that in a country of 150million we cannot find a better person to rule us?

 If we are talking about human beings we have them in abundance but going through our history in all spheres of our lives, we have not been lucky to have exemplary managers.

I stand to be corrected but I make bold to say that since independence in 1960 and prior to 1999 we have had only two leaders that we can refer to as  “nationally acceptable”.  The first is General Gowon (military Head of State) and the second Chief M.K.O Abiola even though he was not allowed to rule.

 Our attitude to management over the years both at the individual and national levels is also responsible for most of the things   we complain about today.  We have little regard for management, such that we appoint people to manage our resources, even at the individual level on such considerations as family ties, membership of religious or ethnic organizations etc.  Competence is hardly considered.

Yet this subject is so important and at the core of success of any endeavour that theories have been propounded to assist us. In modern times, such concepts as MVP (most valuable player), KBP (key business person) are reminders to us that, indeed excellent managers are rare commodities and should be preserved and protected.

 The relevant question at this point in our lives is : What type of leader do we need now as opposed to What type of leader do we want.

Any mistake at this point may spell doom for us.  There is enough evidence to conclude that we have been going round in circles since 1960 and we have lost 30years between 1976 and 2006.  Sometimes my mind drifts to the declaration by Chief Obafemi Awolowo to the effect that our generation may never witness democracy again. I always pray that that will not happen.

 But for that not to happen we have to answer the question: Where do we go from here?

 To conclude this first part let me leave you with the words of Mrs. Toyin Saraki, the wife of the governor of Kwara State

“Many have dismissed Nigeria’s level of development as the result of or a combination of corruption and bad government. These are rather symptoms of deeper issues, which we have not looked at over the years. More than anything, the prosperity of a people is dependent on their collective mentality”  (THISDAY 28/07/2004 Pg 49)

  Thanks for having read this article.

 Taslim Anibaba (FCA)                           6th May 2006

Robot  Villager

# 1 It is amazing that in 1976, the Indigenization Decree, which sought to transfer, in whole or in pa...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 08.05.2006 07:24

DALLASITE

# 2 Uncle Taslim, enough is enough! Why do you always come to NVS to laus Obasanjo as if he is God given to Nigeria. To me Obasanjo never had a vision. When he was contesting for the first election election, he did not come out with any program or ways to tackle issues confronting our country. You remember when he was supposed to debate Falae that he did not show up for the televised event. When Falae some him lounging on a Sofa and ask him it is time for the debate, he told him just go ahead and blow grammar. Falae went and presented his case to Nigerians anyway while Obasanjo was chilling out on a sofa. Maybe Obasanjo new what Falae and Nigerians did not know......that Obasanjo would be rigged in anyway. Since you are an Obasanjo supporter, can you point to his program or what is vision for Nigeria is? I understand your right to your opinion but i thought you. uncle Taslim, is objective and would not come on NVS all the time to be Obasanjo spokeperson. I was a kid in 1976 and what I remember vividly was Ali Must Go crisis. I also remeber that Obasanjo reign was uneventful. What Muritala did in few months he was the Head of State, Obasanjo did not accomplish a fraction of in 3yrs even if you add the 7plus yrs he has be ruining us. I believe you are good Muslim but please fear God and dont let me assume you one of the sycophants leading Obasanjo into abyss. Posted by DALLASITE| 08.05.2006 10:46

emj  Villager

# 3 Dear Mr Taslim, i beg to defer------ we've had good and wonderful managers in Nigeria even before the Indigenization Decree and after, but unfortunately succeesive govt policies and lack of basic amenities have ruined the gain of the past. Part of the policies made the environment too harsh for good hands to thrive, hence the the country experienced brain-drain. And we still have people barely hanging in there---------- And by the way, assuming Obasanjo started or made it possible for Nigerians through the decree to set up/ manage business that were hitherto being run by foreigners in 1976, are u now saying that 30years later, he is still trying to conclude that which he started?------ Posted by emj| 08.05.2006 15:36

igwe  Villager

# 4 OBJ the "indiginizer" never speaks to the Nigerian press. And indiginizer who delights so much in spending time and money in the West at the expense of Nigierians!! After 7 years in power he hasn't been able to build and equip a hospital where he could go and get treatment. He still goes overseas. The indiginizer is following economic blue prints of the IMF and WB meticulously to the detriment of Nigerians. The indiginizer could not encourage our engineers to use the resources we have in abundance to give us uninterrupted power supply. The indiginizer is making it very possible for foreign companies to exploit Nigerians and treat them worse than farm animals in their own country! Look at the ND! If OBJ is an indiginzer, with the recent damning report on Julius Berger as publicized by Dora Akunyili, he should have seen that their licence is revoked until they explain and apologize and compensate Nigerians. Presenting OBJ as an indiginizer is sheer nonsense. In any case, the way to indiginize is not by simply putting Nigerians in charge. That has had negative effects. Ask the Zimbabweans! True indiginization requires one with a sounder mind that the one OBJ is endowed with. Unfortunately, the person who's presenting him as an indiginzer may have a profound misunderstanding of what indiginization is all about. Posted by igwe| 08.05.2006 16:28

Marie-Jay ABRAXAS  Villager

# 5 Dear Mr. Taslim Anibaba (FCA): Bull$hit! Thanks, and bye-bye. Muchas gracias. Posted by Marie-Jay ABRAXAS| 08.05.2006 18:57

Free Publius  Villager

# 6 Just in case there are still folks on NVS who are not sure that Anibaba is syncophant par excellence, he is surely working very hard to dispel any such doubt. Whatever primal intelligence he claims to have has been adulterated, indeed overwhelmed, by his blind adoration of OBJ. Even when he makes an attempt at an pseudo-objective submission, his dog unfailingly revisits its vomit, resorting to his native-praise singing. Over time, no one - not some, no one - will bother to give Anibaba the benefit of the doubt whenever he speaks on any issue given his monolithic worshipping of OBJ and all that OBJ touches. To listen to Mr. Akobata-in-chief, one would not think he was still talking about OBJ who as president; 1. to date, cannot put anyone in jail over the broad daylight, cold-blooded killing of his own friend and sitting atorney general. In the countries of residence of the authors that Anibaba so loves to quote, which of them would have a sitting atty general killed and they wont find the killer? and he's not only re-elected but now wants an extra-constitutional term extension because God told him so? 2. is having his policemen arrest women who dared to stage a peaceful protest of their young children who died in a plane crash as indirect victims of the pervasively wanton corrupt system OBJ presides over. 3. would prevent a private meeting of private citizens in a private premises because they just might be discussing private matters. 4. seven years after he himself roclaimed to the world that uninterrupted electricity was perhaps the single most important element to exponetially spur growth in Nigeria, Nigerians continue to iron clothes in bundle at a time, in advance of blackout they are sure will surely come; businesses spend inordinate sums (adding to their CGS) to supplement the erratic power supply, yet the Anibaba-god aka OBJ stands by sheepishly, helplessly. 5. treats court rulings with utter disdain yet traverses the country to selectively enforce the laws against his percevied enemies. 6. is regularly on the wrong side of the rule of law exercises of pervasive and wholesale junking of the the constitution, a la Oyo State, Anambra State, etc. Taslim, I dont expect you to reply me. I am not one of your yes-men so I dont expect a reply. And if you do, I wont respond. This submission is just to further let those who might still have doubts know that both you and your OBJ-god are drunkenly naked in the market, dancing to a music-less jeering. Free Publius Posted by Free Publius| 08.05.2006 20:28

Naija for life  Villager

# 7 The three posts preceeding this one should be required reading for all villagers. Taslim, I am afraid, that I too have reached the point where I can no longer in good conscience give you the benefit of the doubt. The body of evidence indicting you as an agent of a pernicious government is overwhelming. I remain open to conversion, and a good listen will surely greet any attempts you make at redemption. But I must confess that my heart hardens with every obsequious piece you unleash on us, and threatens to quash my objectivity. So over to you, Taslim. I want to believe you. Please show me why I should believe in Obasanjo. Posted by Naija for life| 08.05.2006 21:09

JayJay1  Villager

# 8 Can you expect anything good and non-pro third term from Taslim Anibaba, NO- this article is another evidence Posted by JayJay1| 09.05.2006 03:47

what?

# 9 The posters on this thread should re-read the article. Mr Anibaba's thesis is that the indigenization decree created a managerial class that was not large enough and largely unprepared. In my mind the major problem of this period, as I indicated above was the dearth of managers to run the economy. In most cases the shoes left by the receding foreigners were too big for my people to wear. In not so many words he said Obasanjo screwed up. owever, today, thirty years after, the same, now President Olusegun Obasanjo is searching for foreign investors across the globe to invest in the Nigerian economy! Can you believe that? What went wrong over the 30years? What is the implication of this policy thrust for Nigerian managers? What is the performance of the Nigerian managers over this period of 30 years? Is the problem just about foreign inflow of capital, technology or sound business ethnics? Did we lose thirty years of nationhood to waste? It is important to mention at this stage that most of the enterprises that were privatized then are either dead (liquidated) or comatose or are on the lower ranks of the ladder in their various sectors on the stock exchange. Where are such companies as SCOA, UAC, Volkswagen, etc today? Posted by what?| 09.05.2006 04:15

tanibaba  Villager

# 10 Apart fro emj I am sorry to say that all the others missed the issues raised in the article. Infact, for emj she addressed just about 10% of the issues raised. She mentioned braindrain and the negative effects of bad government policies (this I think could also mean the negative effects of long years of military rule). Emj thank you. With people like you there is hope for this country. To assist you, you may wish to consider alternative titles which may read "why businesses fail in nigeria" or "leadership considerations in a complex society". OBJ and other Nigerians who have done very well for this country have been mentioned. Unfortunately the OBJ phobia has damaged the attitude of some of us to issues. What happened in the last 30years that will make a government make a complete policy reversal vis-a-vis indigenization and FDI. These are mutually exclusive issues yet each is being favoured in the same country within a 30year period. How come opposition is not selling their programs but are more inclined towards issuing threats etc How come the civil society groups have not been able to produce even a councillor in seven years. You may call me whatever names you like but the truth is the truth. What happens after OBJ? Do we leave that to chance? Do we continue of this culture of disagreements over issues that we can tackle effectively before they snowball into something else. For me OBJ and his opponents have become interesting and key subjects to study today. I have not taken a kobo from anybody and I am not anybody's agent. I am a Nigerian citizen examining issues concerning my country. Shikena. Insha Allah I will be back but meanwhile address the issues raised please if you must comment. What is your opinion about the concluding part of the article ie Mrs Saraki's opinion about Nigeria and Nigerians? Or is her statement being confirmed by the responses?These are some of the issues in my article. taslim Posted by tanibaba| 09.05.2006 06:41

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