Nigeria Nation at 53: Independence Day Celebration, The Journey so Far!

Despite its challenges, Nigeria remains a great nation with promises of a better tomorrow for its people, top political office holders and well wishers all over the world  in their messages to commemorate the 53rd independence anniversary of the country today.

Many Nigerians leaders such as Senate President David Mark, House of Representatives Speaker, Hon. AminuTambuwal, Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu and governors therefore called on Nigerians not to despair of the trying times the nation is passing through.

According to them, better days are ahead as Nigeria, with the support of its leaders and their followers, will overcome its challenges to realise its potential as a great nation.

United States President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, also felicitated with Nigeria on its 53rd anniversary, and expressed hope of better ties between Nigerian and both nations in the years ahead.

Mark, in his message, said even though Nigeria was yet to realise all its dreams, the fact that it had recorded some landmark achievements could not be ignored.

The Senate president in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh, said: “Besides the infrastructure developments across the country, we now have skilled and qualified manpower in virtually all fields of human endeavour.”

He implored Nigerians to renew their hopes and faith in the capacity to rise to internationally acceptable standards of living and sought their support and cooperation in the task of nation building.

 “We must therefore strive to harness our human and material resources in a way and manner that would engender development in all ramifications,”

Many Nigerians living in the towns and cities may not have the opportunity to listen to President Goodluck Jonathan’s live independence broadcast days back. It is not because they cannot afford television sets. As usual, electricity is beyond their reach due to power failure. Those taking the advantage of the independence holiday to travel will endure the hardship of a boring journey on the roads, which are death traps. From this week, many people will transfer their ailing relations from the public hospitals to private clinics in sorrow because another strike is imminent in the health sector.

Already, confused and restless university students are at home, owing to the prolonged lecturers’ strike. There is no end in sight yet. This week, the polytechnic teachers will also resume their suspended strike for welfare package. Also, their counterparts in the Colleges of Education are threatening to down tools. The fear of the future that has engulfed the tertiary students is heightened by the awareness of the soaring number of unemployed graduates roaming the streets in search of elusive jobs. According to the embattled governors, it may be difficult to pay salaries in some states because of the sudden drop in monthly allocations from the federal purse.

Although several challenges of insecurity facing the nation, canvassed for a review of the strategy with a view to ending the menace.

we hope with optimism that Nigeria would overcome all these challenges, but there must be justice to all, irrespective of ethnic, religious or political leanings, fairness and equitable distribution of national resources.

“One thing is certain that no matter the misgivings, all Nigerians have come to accept that one united, indivisible nation is far better than a fragmented one. Therefore it becomes incumbent on all of us to do our utmost best honestly to make the project Nigeria work,” he said.

Tambuwal, in his message, urged Nigerians not to allow the present challenges confronting the nation affect their determination to foster unity, peace and reconciliation among one another.

The speaker, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Malam Imam Imam, called on all Nigerians to work tirelessly to promote the tenets of democracy, good governance and responsible citizenry.

He appealed to the political elite to moderate their utterances and be mindful of their responsibility to the country.

Across the six geo-political zone, there no peace. In the North, the Boko Haram sect is on the prowl. The state of emergency has not restore normalcy. In the Middlebelt, the Ombatse Group has intensified killings. The brands of terrorism in the South are armed robbery and commercial kidnapping. Corruption, according to Transparency International, has not abated among public office holders. Rather than making the transformation agenda to work, the preoccupation of those in power is the 2015 calculation. This is the story of Nigeria at 53.

It is important that the people must isolate and expose all obstacles that hamper the attainment of peace, development, and progress of the nation.

While congratulating Nigerians on the country’s 53rd independence anniversary, Tambuwal the speaker of house of representative in Nigeria lower house restated the commitment of the House   to uphold the ideals of a united Nigeria, to enable it take its rightful place in the comity of nations.

Many Nigerians such as , Ekweremadu in a statement by his Special Adviser, Media, Uche Anichukwu, urged Nigerians to keep praying for the nation to attain its potential.

He said the present challenges confronting the country would not stop its march towards greatness.

“We have no doubt faced challenges living up to the promises we held at independence; we might have missed opportunities but we are also overcoming our challenges.

“I call on all Nigerians to join the present crusade to reinvent and transform Nigeria; and in this wise, I urge hope, courage, perseverance, prayers, reconciliation, peaceful co-existence and patriotic fervour to build the Nigeria of our dreams as no one else would do that for us,” he said.

Also, Deputy Speaker of the House, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, urged Nigerians to remain optimistic about the nation’s future, which he said remained bright in spite of challenges of national development.

Ihedioha, in a message to mark the 53rd independence anniversary, called on Nigerians to know that it is only their determinations that will enable the country overcome its challenges.

“Let us not despair in the face of daunting challenges even though at 53, we ought to have surpassed certain minimum expectations. Nigeria remains ours to build and we must continue to maintain hope and optimism. 

“Nigeria will achieve her destiny and realise the lofty dreams of our founding fathers if we keep an attitude of resilience and determination to succeed,” he said.

Obama, in his congratulatory message issued yesterday by US Secretary of State, John Kerry, said: “A warm friendship connects the Nigerian and American people, reflecting our shared values of democracy, economic growth, security, and respect for human rights and the rule of law.

“Our partnership is strong because of our people, as the proverb tells us, if you want to go quickly go alone. If you want to go far go together.”

He added that in the coming years, the US would be looking forward to going further with Nigeria as the country expands education, jobs and opportunity for its people.

“On the 53rd anniversary of your independence, I wish all Nigerians a safe and prosperous future,” the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported the US president as stating.

 “Distinguished Mr. President, please accept my sincere congratulation on the occasion of the national day of your country — Independence Day.

“I am confident that the relations between Russia and Nigeria, based on the principles of friendship and mutual respect, will keep on developing actively in all main directions for the benefit of our peoples and will contribute to stability and security in the African continent,” Putin said.

 Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi, in his message, called on Nigerians to show more commitment to national development.

According to him, this is necessary so that the country can overcome the political and security challenges facing it.

He said: “Nigeria holds a great dream for all of us, and we should endeavour to build on the contributions of our founding fathers. When the leadership as well as followership, each compelled by love of country discharges its responsibility to the state, Nigeria will take its pride of place among the comity of nations.

“Notwithstanding the problems of nation-building, which we may be grappling with at the moment, the Nigerian spirit is alive and should continue to be nourished as the vehicle of our national journey.”

He urged support for the anti-graft war and stressed the need to redress imbalances in some aspects of the nation’s life.   

Comments from Other Nigeria

Obi’s counterpart in Rivers State, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi, called for national cohesion and true democracy as the country marks its 53rd Independence Day anniversary.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. David Iyofor, the Rivers governor said democracy could only thrive when the people live in peace and unity and leaders show true leadership and statesmanship in line with democratic tenets.

“No democracy can grow in the face of unending conflicts and in the midst of impunity. 

“Nigeria is one country in spite of our varying cultures, religion and ethnic nationalities; and we can only succeed as a nation if we stand united,” he said.

He urged Nigerians to shelve their anger, put away strife and work together to promote peace and development.

Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, also preached hope to Nigerians as the nation marks its 53rd independence anniversary today.

The governor, in a statement by the state Commissioner for Information, Mr Kayode Akinmade, urged Nigerians to rally round their leaders to ensure that the nation's unity is not compromised.

Mimiko acknowledged that the nation's unity is its strength and everything should be done to safeguard it.

He seized the occasion to reiterate the commitment of his administration to implementing policies that will enhance the welfare of the people.

He explained that he has tried to keep faith with the pact he made with them at the outset of his second tenure that he would work for them, as he did during his first term.

“We must work together like partners in progress to bring to fruition the Ondo State of our dream.

“While the government under my leadership is prepared to do all within its power to move Ondo State to the next level, I enjoin the well-meaning citizenry to join me in this onerous task. This is the only way that we can be successful,” he said.

Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, also called on Nigerians to unite for the development of the country.

He urged all citizens to keep hope alive and live in peace with one another so that the country could overcome its challenges.

A statement by the governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mrs. FunmiWakama, said Nigeria had reasons to appreciate God despite its current challenges.

He said all the developed countries of the world had surmounted one difficulty or the other during their journey to nationhood and Nigeria, like them, would overcome its challenges too.

“With single-minded commitment, hard work and sincerity of purpose, we can make our country great,” the Ogun governor, said.

Who we are, our history our pride

It has been a tortuous journey from 1914. Crisis of development have continued to assail the fragile federation. At independence, Nigeria emerged as a country of many nations struggling for relevance. The sustaining power was the subscription to federalism by the leaders who built on the foundation laid by the colonial masters.

On October 1, 1960, the future was bright. World leaders acknowledged the enormous natural endowment, quality and quantity of its population, and vast opportunities available to the former British Colony. The three premiers have laid examples of transformational leadership in the Western, Eastern and Northern Regions. Also, the colonial masters predicted that, by the mid seventies, Nigeria would become a medium ranking world power playing enviable roles in the comity of nations and shouldering continental responsibilities in times of peace and war.

The 1966 military coup deepened the distrust and suspicion among the unequal regions. Legitimate authorities gave way for dictatorial leadership. The mistake of the first military ruler, Major General Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi, who foisted the unitary system on the country through his controversial unification decree marked the beginning of the journey to gloom.

From the initial three regions, the country gave birth to 36 dependent component units, following state creation by successive military governments. But the structure did not change the feelings of primordial sentiments by the unwilling partners.

Fifty three years after flag independence, the rich country is in pains. Its oil is both a blessing and curse. The natural resource is domiciled in a region. Ironically, the zone is struggling with poverty. But majority of its citizens wallow in poverty. Life expectancy has dropped abysmally in Nigeria. Basic amenities, including portable water, electricity, medical facilities, and roads, are in pitiable state of disrepair. The only prosperous people are those in government, who have cornered state power and appropriated public resources.

Our Challenges Nigerians speaks

Many analysts described Nigeria as a big contract up for grab. In their view, government has become the greatest corrupter of society. “There is a disconnect between the government and the people”, observed Ayo Opadokun, the Secretary of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), who blamed the leadership for lack of vision.

Apparently piqued by persistent challenges of nation-building staring the forced union in the face, international agencies have repeatedly warned that, by 2015, the federation may break up. The signs, observers contend, are the inherent strains, which tend to predispose the country into failure or fragility. “Our nation has been moving backwards at a disheartening speed”, said former university don and politician Dr. Femi Okunrounmu. Education, he said, lay prostrate, industries are on the slide, owing to arrested growth, electricity is a tall ambition and agriculture, which was the mainstream of the economy, is utterly neglected.

‘Our clean cities have become slums. Infrastructure has collapsed; roads are now death traps, killing more people annually than the dreadful diseases like AIDS and malaria. Corruption is on the increase daily. More than 60 percent of our people have no access to pipe borne water and medical facilities. Our country is a country of imports and moral values have collapsed, making us the object of scorn and derision in civilized circles’, Okunrounmu added.

Many youths entertain much fear about their future. There is a correlation between mass unemployment and soaring crime rate which the country has ignored to its peril. “Government has neglected development planning”, said former Federal Commissioner for Works and Housing Alhaji Femi Okunnu. The elders statesman lamented that this omission had widened the gap between expectation and reality.

Former Special Adviser to the President on Economic Matters Chief Philip AsioduAsiodu chided the successive administrations for lack of vision and intellectual bent, adding that the civil service of yesteryears, which generated ideas and policies for the executive arm had gone to sleep.

Okunrounmu pointed out that countries whose visionary leaders embraced that culture of planning for the future have reaped the benefits. He pointed out that the Asian countries, including India, Singapore and Malaysia have left Nigeria behind in the march of development,although they are not more endowed than Nigeria. “They became the Asian Tigers because they have good leaders”, he said.

It is an understatement. India became independence in 1947. But by 1997, when it marked its golden jubilee, it was a celebration of achievements. “India has transformed itself into a fast growing economy and achieved a considerable breakthrough in agricultural production. In 1991, electricity generation had reached 80,000 mega watts, which could not still meet their industrial, agricultural and domestic needs and most of the power generating equipment were manufactured in India”, Okunrounmu added.

Every decade, India has always struggled to make a point. In 1969, only 22 years after its independence, the country launched an indigenous rocket into space. In July 1980, she became the sixth member of the World Space Club after launching an indigenous satellite. In 1974, and later in 1988, India detonated her own nuclear bomb. At 50, the country had developed an advanced computer industry, exporting computer and software to other developing and developed countries.

However, unlike India, which had been blessed with visionary leaders—Mahatma Ghandi, Jawaharlai Nehru, IndraGhandi and Manmohan Singh, corrupt coup rulers, who sacked elected leaders, who shoved aside the committed and patriotic leader have bestrode the Nigeria’s corridor of power since January 15, 1966.

Apart from plunging the country into a protracted civil war, the soldiers of fortune prolonged the tortuous journey to civil rule, jettisoned merit in favour of expediency, ruled without peoples’ consent, annulled the most credible and unifying election and created a club of rich military elite, who persistently threaten the country with their ill-gotten wealth.

In a paper titled” “Nigeria in search of true federalism”, a political scientist, Prof. Dipo Kolawole, lamented that the military has damaged the federal structure, adding that it has been difficult to repair it. He pointed out that the practice of unitary system is incompatible with the Nigerian reality

Kolawole, former Vice Chancellor of University of Ado-Ekiti, also observed that the power-loaded and financially strong central government has reduced the component units into weak, unequal 36 states and obviously ineffective 774 local governments.

But more worrisome is corruption in high places, most Nigeria leaders are of crass opportunism and greed, stressing that they have wrecked havoc on the national treasury as huge sums of money budgeted for developmental purposes ended in their personal bank accounts. Frowning at their corrupt tendencies, the politician said the over $300 billion. Which according to World Bank, had been stolen by them, and could have solved the power problem, if properly channeled?

‘After looting the treasury, they are given GCFR, which is understood to mean the Grand Corruptor of the Federal Republic’,

Other critics have objected to the practice of presidential system, claiming that it is too expensive to run. Eminent lawyer Prince Bola Ajibola advocated a return to the parliamentary system. He said that, apart from its cost-effectiveness, it will foster accountability.

“The nation only exists for the political class, which is not more than one percent of the population’, he lamented.

Former university don, Prof. ItseySagay (SAN chided the lawmakers for awarding fabulous salaries and allowances to themselves while most Nigerians cannot afford the basic needs of life. He also flayed them for ignoring the wish of the people for a thorough overhauling of the 1999 Constitution.

However, the greatest headache of Nigeria at 50 is democratic consolidation. Thus, Prof.Tunde Makanju, a sociologist at the University of Lagos described the fifty years of independence as fifty years of problematic elections. Unlike neighboring Ghana, which had successfully stabilized its democratic process, Nigerian election, in the words of Ajibola, is a tragic comedy. Thus, while the country has achieved civil rule, democracy is still unattainable. Again, the implication is that the country is under the spell of illegitimate rulers.

Former Lagos State Governor Bola Tinubu, who described the electoral malaise as the greatest challenge, bemoaned the spate of electoral malpractices rocking the periodic polls, saying that it has cast Nigeria in the mould of an immature nation. He said the giant of Africa has failed to lay an example of electoral probity on the continent.

‘A rigged electoral system often turns simple, routine voting in other countries into do or die violence bordering on civil war. This rigged electoral process has also succeeded in imposing few illegitimate leaders at the top to dominate the bottom millions at the base. This has further deepened distrust between the leaders and the led.

‘The patent lack of fairness in the system has led to the consolidation of ethnic politics, with each ethnic group that has a shot at power thinking it is its turn to milk the common patrimony. A lack of social infrastructure, well entrenched in developed countries and welfare states, has led to grinding poverty, which has often led to the corruption of voters and prostitution of the vote. For as little as N500, unscrupulous politicians often buy voters cards off very poor and ignorant citizens’, he stressed.

But, is the hope lost for Nigeria at 50? No is the answer by Tinubu. The country only needs to act fast, he advised.

The first step, he said, is the reform of the electoral system to ensure electoral probity. His contention is that, reforms would usher in an atmosphere of free and fair elections.

“There is urgent need for a new generation of leaders that would clear the cobwebs of decadence and political scavengers. This new generation of leaders must take our dear country to its manifest destiny. If this happens, we would have laid the foundation for rapid socio-economic growth and development for the next 50 years’, he added.

Some called for a serious assessment and stock taking by the stakeholders. He said they should devise a method of moving the country forward.

But for canvassed concrete solutions. There is need for stiff penalty for financial corruption and rigging. “We should stop adulating our corrupt leaders. We should start shaming them publicly”

Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola called for the reassessment of politics and values, urging the political class to return to politics of principle and ideology. Apparently criticising the lopsided federalism, he also warned that a nation that is not erected on truth and justice cannot attain progress.

But, Kolawole said that, for Nigeria to have a true federalism, the fiscal policy must reflect equality of rights, equality of obligations and equality of access to positions. He also said that power must be more decentralized to reduce the attraction of the centre.

While endorsing the above suggestion, the leader of ‘The Patriots’, a group of elder statesman, Prof. Ben Nwabueze, said the solution to the ills of Nigeria can only be solved when a Sovereign National Conference (SNC) is convened. So far, this has been elusive.

The elder statesman and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State, speaking expressed sadness about the nation’s socio economic and political situation. He said the country at present was in dare need of divine intervention for the nation to get out of its ‘sick bed’. according to Shuluwa, “there is nothing to celebrate about the independence because the nation is precariously sick in all ramifications; the situation we have found ourselves now is worse than when late Major ChukwumaNzeogwu, interrupted the political structure of the nation.

The living are alive by the grace of God, because the security situation of the country is in a shambles, no one is sure of what could happen the next minute. You cannot walk freely without the fear of kidnappers, Boko Haram, robbers. You communal clashes everywhere. What of corruption in all places? The leaders are diverting resources meant for the development of the nation to their private purses; some of our political leaders are richer than their states. Awolowo, Tafawa Balewa and Azikwe served this nation with their whole heart, but a visit to our major cities across the country shows magnificent edifices owned by political class.”

Shuluwa lamented about the poor implementation of budgets, saying: “Imagine at the beginning of the last quarter of the year, we are still talking about how to implement 2013 budget instead of making preparation towards 2014 budget. What of the exchange rate? Naira is turning whereas, in the 70’s, Naira appreciated more than the US dollars. Where are we heading,” he queried.

On the way forward, he said when the government strengthened all institutions and instilled disciplined, every other things would fall in place.

In his words, “what we need is to strengthen all our institutions; Judiciary, anti graft commissions, INEC, academic institutions, security agencies and instill discipline in our budgetary implementation, by the time we do these, other things will fall in places. To achieve this, Shuluwa added a leader that was focused and committed to the Nigerian project is needed, hence, ‘divine intervention.”

A former Minister of Communication and leader of Middle Belt Forum, Chief Isaac Shaahu, said there was nothing to cheer about as he described the situation in the country as a mess. He criticized the present young generation for plunging the country into the abyss of underdevelopment and urged them to relinquish power to the old brigade who he said were more visionary and committed to the country.

Matter Arising
The inability of successive political leaders to address the national question, unresolved issue of revenue sharing and political power configuration have combined to push the nation to a state where her citizens doubt her continued survival into the nearest future. Faith in the nation is regularly badly shaking and even many patriotic agreed that the soul of the nation is threatened. That alleged structural detects has in the last few days aroused calls for a sovereign national conference to determine the structure of the federation. A conference seen as a solution is now another divisive subject with leaders raising questions of how to convoke and what powers such gathering should have.

From across the six zones, the rumbling is clearly felt in the capital, raising questions as to how healthy the nation is. Those holding the view of a nation about to  crash see little hope in the Nigerian Project, while others believing it is not over for the country, pointed at a global crisis of governance with African Nations being the worst affected. To claim that the nation is healthy will attract reproach from many Nigerians.

Those pessimistic about the nation’ present and future listed alleged hopelessness of the leadership, its inability to meet the yearnings and aspirations of the people, uncontrollable level of corrupt enrichment, at all levels of government among others. Nigeria they felt is an artificial creation which has failed to transcend its artificiality.

To claim the nation is unhealthy at 53 years may also attract criticisms from those who believe the crisis of the moment cannot be a good index of measurement. The optimists pointed at expanded educational infrastructure, improving national infrastructure, cohesive  national security system and Military respect for civil rule despite endemic  political crisis, among others.

Between the optimists and pessimists is the truth about Nigeria, its past, present and future. Those disillusioned about the nation are scared of the alternatives of balkanisation, just as those comfortable with the status quo are secretly displeased and angered by the inability of the  establishment  to stabilise and run a truly competent government.

Several missteps were recorded; the most fatal of it all was the failure of the progressives to unite to form government after the 1959 elections.

The nation got it wrong as from independence, governance become ethnic based as nationalism receded to be replaced with ethnic criteria in decisions and administration. This was the foundation of the coup of 1966.

Nigeria @ 53: How healthy is the country?

MOST Nigerians usually shudder each time some institutions unfold some vital statistics about country. Such startling revelations do not come from some world leaders and international organizations alone.

Government agencies such as the Federal Office of Statistics, Bureau of Public Statistics, and Central Bank of Nigeria [CBN] give astonishing figures on issues that bother on the Nigerian polity.

A couple of years ago, a British Prime Minister, David Cameron raised the alarm about the frightening rise in youth employment in Nigeria.

He contended that it portend grave danger for the stability of the country. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has also consistently warned on a similar issue and called for concerted efforts to avert the looming danger. Besides, a number of government agencies have added their voice to the call for more proactive measures by the political gladiators because of the dire consequences those socio-and economic disequilibrium pose for the Nigerian political system.

Recently, the former Catholic Archbishop of Nigeria, Cardinal Anthony Olubunmi Okogie, cautioned on how the ongoing horse trading by the political class ahead of the 2015 was heating up the polity. His warning came amidst the ceaseless war by some major figures in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] over the next presidential race.

All these warnings are symptomatic that all is not well with the Nigerian state. They strongly drive home the often widely quoted a 2006 report by a United States of America [USA]-based intelligence agency about the possible disintegration of Nigeria in 2015. Entitled, Mapping the Global Future, the report claimed that the country could split along tribal and sectarian lines if some of the inherent challenges facing the nation was not properly managed and controlled. Though the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Terrence McCulley, has since denied that the US predicted that Nigeria might break up in 2015, the matter has refused to disappear from public discourse, especially in the political circle.

Again, while the issue attracted mixed reactions from Nigerian political leaders, it has since led to an unending debate over if the country could be categorized as a failed state. States with high levels of violence will not automatically be failed states.

Issues to Address
A history of ethnic distrust is only one of the many serious problems facing the nation A key issue is a faulty federal structure which, while appearing federal is largely unitary. The details contained in the legislative list leaves no one in doubt that the centre is the controlling body with states as mere appendages. The superiority of the centre ensures that the bulk of national resources are domiciled at the center, thereby ensuring bitter fight among ethnic groups for the control of the centre. As the nation was built on ethnic fault lines, the unitary system enhances ethnic domination, depending on which tribe is controlling the center. The battle for central presidency is thus so tense and hot that the chord of national unity is often jeopardized. This has been a recurring decimal in our national history .The lopsided federal structure then generated associated crisis troubling the nation.

A key fall-out was the crisis of revenue sharing and allocations. The independence constitution had enshrined a derivation formula which worked so well in the First Republic. The abolition of that system created challenges such as struggle for resource control within the oil-producing communities. The subsequent militancy in Niger Delta and extensive environmental damages had since become a permanent facet of our national life. The situation was not helped by a constitutional gridlock. The constitution while containing many contradictions, also made it hard to get its provisions amended. The procedures were so complex while it was also susceptible to influence from forces against amendment. From 1999 to date, the National Assembly has not succeeded in effective fundamental changes to the constitution.

Other core issues include elite greed; unproductive consumptive corruption; policy somersaults in national development plans, over bloated bureaucracy, a weak private sector, zero ideological conviction among parties, and unsustainable pay package for elected officials.

There is also low level of patriotism among leaders and following and inability to elect leaders under a free and fair process.

Leadership question
Most Nigerians tend to blame the instability in the political system to failure of leadership. Their argument is that a principled, focused and resourceful leader was all that the country needs to rise from its current slumber. Some cite Singapore, a tiny island in Asia that has within 48 years become one of the leading industrialized entities under Lee Kuan Yew. 

But regrettably, Nigerian politicians seem to fancy the views espoused by a former Prime Minister of Britain, Winston Churchill. He had characterized a politician as one who has the “ability to foretell what is going to happen tomorrow, next week, next month, next year and the ability afterwards to explain why it never happened.” In other words, the political class has not only been long in making promises but completely short in fulfilling their promises.

Yet, they loot the public treasury with reckless abandon such that the country is believed to have been frisked of a staggering $400 billion since it gained independence in 1960.  In fact, a fomer Minister of Foreogn Affairs, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, put the figure at $500 billion, much of which he said was siphoned and freighted by Nigerian leaders. According to him, the difference of $100 billion was stolen between 1999 and 2013, a trend he said culminated in Nigeria occupying almost number one from the rear in the United Nations Human Capital Development Index (HCDI).

It is however incredible that despite the public outcry on the consequence of the criminal tendency on the future of the country, especially the polity, the need for sanity, accountability and responsibility by the leadership has gained little ground. One of those leaders that consistently cried out then is the renowned chartered accountant, Chief J.K. Randle, who in a essay entitled, Whither Nigerian Industries, in May 1984, warned on the consequence on the polity.

He wrote, “The time has come to wipe the slate clean. We must recognize that our economy is fragile and our future is uncertain. The events of the last few years have been traumatic for the nation and painfully so, especially for our industries, many of which either collapsed or hovered in the brink.”

 The prevailing trend of riches and rags had also consistently provoked many other senior citizens like Oxford university-trained Allison Ayida.  He wondered how soon the country was whirling in a vicious circle of instability, when its peers had gone to the next level. “Nigeria was a symbol of integrity and sound monetary management 25 years ago. Today, when I look around the financial sector, it is in a shambles. In spite of the phenomenal growth in the banking sector, the economy is in ruins.

It is the fascinating but sad story of the rise and fall of nations, but it happened too soon.” That was the way he painted the predicament of Nigeria in 1987. It is arguable if the country is conscious of what Napoleon Bonaparte said about China: “There lies a sleeping giant. Let her sleep. Because when she wakes she will move the world.” There is mass poverty in the land [Nigeria] today in the midst of abundant human and material resources.  

‘Many are wont to blame military incursion into political power for the seamless problems facing the country, especially the general instability’.

One of such leaders who labour such sentiments is Second Republic President, Shehu Shagari. He said the political class would have corrected itself if it had been given the chance to learn from its mistakes during his tenure. His words, “The first term was somewhat experimental because as you know, we had been under military regime for a long time and the old system of government as they say, was history, so, we were practicing a new system and a new direction. And for anything new, we have to learn from experience, by practice, so, the first term was actively experimental and we were trying to make mistakes (and learn from them). And there was nobody who was experienced in that new administration.”

A similar advocacy almost dominated the tenure of former President Obasanjo who consistently stated that the country was still going through a learning process. But others say Nigerians ought to have put part of the ugly past behind them if the majority of the political leaders that took over the mantle of leadership had been more purposeful, determined and focused since the withdrawal of the military to their barracks.

Issues of Corruption
Corruption among public officials is considered as one of the factors that has continuously impeded the national development because of its negative consequence in the polity. Enormous national resources that earmarked for the provision of formal education, health care, infrastructure and public utilities towards creating an enabling environment for job creation, industrialisation and power are brazenly misappropriated by officials. A renowned jurist and former Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Justice Emmanule Ayoola, could not fathom how corruption had become the fad rather than an exception in the country.

He said, “It’s a puzzle about the Nigerian society. When armed robbers were being executed, right at the point of execution, people were still stealing. So, what deterrence has that occasioned? When we come to recent events, you know that we have had instances of high profile personalities convicted. But were they not celebrated back home? Were they not lionised and received as heroes? So, what type of society do we have?

In Nigeria of the past, a mere invitation to the police station as a suspect is enough to finish you in the society. Then, if you were convicted of a crime, you simply have to go on self exile until the generations that know of your conviction have become old or dead. But now, convicted people are received with drums and music and they go to church for thanks giving. Sometimes, the pastor even rain curses on the people who send them to jail.”

The nation’s descent uncontrollably down the valley of corruption is also graphically captured by another prominent person, Ambassador Dapo Fafowoora, in an assessment of Nigeria’s economic programme in the past. He observed that there is virtually no accountability in the public sector with vast sums of money simply disappearing into private pockets. In his words, “The country is littered with abandoned or uncompleted projects for which, in most cases, full payment has already being made.”  

One of the senior citizens that have led the crusade for national rebirth and renaissance in the former Archbishop, Metropolitan  and Primate Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most reverend Peter Akinola. The former president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) cautioned Nigerians against being lethargic on the war on corruption because the culprits were not only trying to destroy the fabrics of the society but also mortgaging opportunities of tomorrow.

His warning tallies with the remark of late nationalist, Chief Anthony Enahoro in 2000, a year after the country returned to civil rule. Fresh from self-exile occasioned by the fistic rule late military leader, General SaniAbacha, the septugenarian had declared, “Even the beginnings we establish long ago are today in jeopardy. Independence, democracy and modernisation which were our goals and our battle cry, have not yet been achieved irreversibly.”

Way forward
According to the Head of Department of Political Science at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Professor Solomon Akinboye, the inability of the Nigerian state to develop sustainable political frameworks for the management of group and class diversities enhanced political instability. 

But he observed that there has been an attempt to correct the anomaly in the Fourth Republic as the 1999 constitution has creatively strengthened both national consciousness and state legitimacy. He said political parties had tended to play divisive tendencies in the past which readily mobilise and deploy socio-economic sentiments to aggravate political conflict.

But it was general observation that the absence of internal democracy, suppression of internal dissent, penchant for consensus, prevalence of political godfathers and prevalence of paternalistic relationships had been dominant political values of particularly the parties that merged to form the All Progressives Congress (APC). On the other hand, he identified politics of supremacy and intolerance as the cause of the fractionalization in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He is miffed by the fact that “the political class rather than provide the dividends of democracy is engrossed with primitive accumulation, and engage the instrument of violence, incite and preach division and aggression.”

He concluded that the tendency of incumbency to manipulate the internal party provisions for power-sharing, encourage fragmentation of opposition parties, and exploit public office to influence electoral outcomes constituted impediments in institutionalizing democracy even in the present Fourth Republic. As the ay forward, Akinboye declared, “The recipe for stemming the pervasive tide of discord in Nigeria’s multiparty democracy and facing the challenge of national integration lies in generally in the ability of the leadership to confront frontally the cores like vicious circle of lawlessness, political brigandage, electoral malfeasance, episodic character of corruption, among others.

On his part, a university don, Dr. OkpoAjah said the only remarkable achievement recorded by Nigeria 53 years after independence is being able to stay united despite the insecurity and other problems it is presently going through.   The senior lecturer in the Institute of Public Policy and Administration, University of Calabar said the country was healthy to a large extent as the country has remained a united entity despite the some trying moments.

However, he said the country could be considered as partly unhealthy in terms of cultural and economic development. “You know what the CBN governor said that Nigeria’s economy should not be dollarized; let us try to emphasize on Naira. Why should we always catch cold when the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank cough? Let us learn to drive our own economy by ourselves successfully,” he advised. Ajah explained that for the country to achieve its full potentials, it must go back to its cultural pattern of living. He declared, “We should indigenize our economic approach and stop listening to the Washington Consensus”.

Also, a Calabar- based human rights lawyer, MrUtum Eteng said Nigeria had not done badly in its 53 years of independence, though its progress had been slow with the present leadership striving hard to improve on the provision of infrastructure. He however attributed the country’s woes to the activities of unpatriotic and tribal leaders who champion ethnic agenda rather than the overall interest and progress of the country.

Chief ChiemezieAdibe, a retired top civil servant, stated that the country was very sick and expressed doubts that the present administration could make Nigeria healthy again. He blamed the country’s dilemma on issue of corruption, which he said had “eaten deep into the nation’s fabric,” adding “yet our leaders are not bold enough to tackle it.

How can corrupt leaders fight corruption? Look at the way the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) is fighting the indicted past governors. If it were to be in Nigeria, a former governor of Delta State, James Ibori, would have been a free man.” He said the way forward for the country was for the civil society to sensitise the people on the need to vote bad government or leaders during elections. He said there was also the need “to change our value system.”

On his part, a rights activist, Mr Eke Ugwu, said despite its current challenges, the country would not break. “I can boldly say that Nigeria as a country lacks the will to break. And if we run a referendum or plebiscite, those who don’t want the country to break will win with a wide margin. If you do the assessment, you will find out that from the South-West to the North-West, North-Central and North-East nobody is talking about secession. It is only a few people in the South-South and the South-East that are talking about secession.

Even Boko Haram is not talking about secession; rather they are talking about a change of certain things in some states in the North. So, I didn’t see the possibility of Nigeria breaking up.” What I saw is a bitter politics surrounding the presidency which I strongly believe that we shall overcome with prayers. President Goodluck Jonathan, will have to contend with many forces on the cause of 2015 general election.

Number one, Jonathan will contend with those who are accusing him of poor performance. Two, he will contend with those who are of the view that he has no reason to stay beyond 2015 whether he performed well or not. The way forward is for Nigerians to turn to God and change our present orientation for good. Our leadership should be God-fearing and selfless in their service.”

But a cleric, Anthony Nwoko, said there was nothing for the country to celebrte at 53 because of bad leadership and asked Nigerians to show pertinence so that the country could have the favour of God.

Many other analysts have also proposed several ways out of the crisis. Some says the ability of a people to freely elect their leaders is a foundation of democracy. Nigeria needs to find an acceptable way of making the votes of the citizen’s count. The existing scenario is so bad that election results are often disputed as unrepresentative of the will of the people.

The need to ensure devolution of functions and resources to the state level can no longer be denied by political leaders. A revenue sharing based on derivation will lower ethnic rivalry and ensure healthy competition among the various zones and ethnic clubs in the nation. The battle for the presidency will no longer constitute a threat to national security.

“Everything is a mess. The young people who took over messed up everything and the only way the country can get out of the woods is to give power back to the old generation who have vision and commitment,” he stated.

Written in his book, Thought on Nigerian Constitution, Chief Awolowo emphasized the importance of political stability to any action.  He stated, “Of all the factors which conduce to the economic prosperity and again in material sense, to the greatness of a nation and its people, the most important is political stability.  Without it national resources, manpower and capital quality, whatever and capital quantity, whatever and quality, plus technical knowledge will avail very little.”

This article is compiled by campaign for New Nigeria Advocacy Group (CNNAG) to commemorate this year Independence Day Anniversary

Long live Nigeria!