Nigeria at 55: So much catching up to do

ARISING from the failure of indigenous leadership which, save at brief intervals, has largely defined the (mis) fortune of the country, Nigeria is a great country waiting to happen. To that extent, no patriot will claim to be satisfied with the development and the progress of this country 55 years after independence. Yet, it is not just mere optimism, but right to argue that the nation’s future is not bleak. It remains a country of diversity of nationalities, cultures, religions, values and worldviews, and has, despite all the strains and stresses, still held together. This is sufficient cause for self-congratulation and hope of greater things to come.

On the balance, however, there is little to cheer about Nigeria at 55. As the dejecting indices show in such areas as the security of life and property, food production, industrial output, quality of education and healthcare, diversification as well as productivity of the economy, there is indeed cause for worry. Not only do Nigerians eat the bread they do not produce, wear clothes they do not weave, and drink the wine from other people’s presses, they now import almost everything, including toothpicks. Nigerians today read the books, quote the facts and figures about their country from foreign sources, and parrot models of development and the meaning of progress not original to them, but designed and offered by outside and vested interests. Fifty-five years into self-government, many are even wont to insist that the present unhappy state of the country is the handiwork of the colonialists who left these shores more than five decades ago with lame excuse.

It is a truism that a country rises and thrives, or falls on the quality of its leadership. This country of diverse nationalists is a terrible victim of the poverty of good leadership at all levels, but most destructively, political leadership that determines other aspects of national life. It may be argued though that good leaders need willing followers to succeed and that every citizen must share the blame, one way or the other, for the ‘Nigerian condition.’ But the key point is that good leaders must show strength of conviction and character if they are to take their people not to where they want to be, but where they ought to be. What poor leadership in Nigeria has done is to create over time, absentee citizens, 175 million people who have no voice or whose voices have been stolen.

There has never been a shortage of pronouncements by Nigerian leaders in favour of good intentions to govern in the best interest of the country and its people. Over the years, Nigerians have heard, to the point of being deafened, that government, as represented by whatever official, is committed to promoting the security and welfare of the citizens – in sum, to good governance. A perusal of the inaugural addresses of elected leaders and the maiden speeches of military coup makers reveal uncanny similarities in justification and/or promises. And yet, as the quality of successive political leadership deteriorated, this country has regressed in terms of the truly important yardsticks for measuring the development and progress of nations, such as quality of life, food security, intellectual competitiveness, electricity and industrial outputs, and level of employment. All these notwithstanding, this newspaper is of the view that it is pointless, even unwise, to continue to look back with regret and in anger at lost opportunities. If the country gets its leadership right, gets its act together this can be as great and live-able a country as any under the sun.

There are, of course, a time and a season for everything. So, a change was inevitable. To some extent it can be assumed that the change began with the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the emergence of Muhammadu Buhari as President. The popular election of President Buhari, largely on the strength of his integrity, indicates a yearning by the people for a good leader they can trust to serve in the best interest of Nigeria. Of course, the APC’s mantra of change on which platform Buhari became president, contained the usual promises in both its campaign manifesto and party constitution. To that extent, therefore, this is a time of great challenge, and yet, a time of great opportunity. Buhari must embrace this time.

Nigeria has so much catching up to do. And let no one be self-deceived that 55 years is a short time in the life of a country. The progress of modern China since the late Chairman Mao declared the People’s Republic only 11 years before Nigeria’s independence debunks such balderdash. South Korea, Taiwan, India, Singapore and a host of others have done it. Regrettably, promises of change by Nigerian leaders in the past, have led to change of promises for Nigerians. Which is why Buhari must now articulate a grand vision for the country, create a new energy and re-direct the energy of Nigerians towards actualising that vision.

As a matter of collective honour, the APC must effect the changes that should redirect, regenerate, and reposition Nigeria for its deserving place in the global arena. And the best place to start is, in the words of the first article in the APC manifesto, ‘ initiate action to amend Constitution with a view to devolving powers, duties and responsibilities to states and local governments in order to entrench true Federalism and the federal spirit.’ If this is implemented, there are strong reasons to believe that most of the problems that hold Nigeria down, all really symptoms of the national question – would fade away. In addition, the government should commence the immediate implementation of the 2014 National Conference Report.

It is worthy of note that President Buhari concluded his inaugural speech on May 29 by quoting from Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. No doubt, the ‘tide’ in the affairs of Nigeria is here and this president has the opportunity to lead the country on to fortune.