Man does not see the importance of God or seek His help, until they have a terrible encounter with the Devil. This is the typical Nigerian nature, only seeking solution when the worst occurs. Thanks to the Ebola outbreak, it has become obvious that more than 80% of public schools all over the country, especially at state level do not have pipe bore water, adequate sanitary facility and security. Thanks to Ebola, it has been confirmed true that most, if not all, medical research facilities in the country are both underfunded and overwhelmed by gross mismanagement in the appropriation and management of research fund. Thanks to insurgency, today we have seen that not only is the Nigerian military overwhelmed by the security challenges, underfunded by the government, but is also susceptible to the corruption, lack morale, transparency and accountability. Thanks to so many mishaps, we have come to see that the Nigerian state at 54 is not willing to; wedge herself and her citizens from the dangers ahead, avoid past mistakes and consciously drive on a course of true development and social justice.
While the campaigns for the 2015 elections is getting wild and most likely uncontrolled, strategic agenda setting by political parties, and rising demands for change by the electorates must not be clouded by cheap politicking; selling votes to crooked politicians, cultural and religious sentiments, zoning biases, or hypes of the so called achievements which are not different from building castles in the air. Today’s Nigeria is built on Pillars of; Myopism, Corruption, Impunity, Lies and the I-Don-Care- attitude of both leaders and citizens. These are reflective in the lack of; credible leadership and integrity in all arms and levels of governments; the piled-up high profile cases in the stores in the EFCC and ICPC, the corruptible and slow judicial system that have now become the punching bags of selected untouchables political radical, the high level of crime and unemployment, the epileptic infrastructures championed; by the poor electric situation across the country, the mass insecurity, the lack of’; social mentorship, credible and courageous clerics, who would back their religious calling and speak against the social and economic tyranny, and the docile citizens who would rather sell their integrity, if not remain in the dark; uninterested, hoping that God would one day appoint a messiah; This would not happen!!!
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Without all these pillar being pulled down, all achievements of development; established institution, constructed and commissioned infrastructure projects, privatization of national properties, reforms upon reforms, coated brand logo and slogan of the Nigerian image, will amount to nothing but another waste. Once upon a time we celebrated NEPA, NITEL, Water Board, Railway Corporation, etc, corruption killed them all, we privatized, now we enjoy nothing but inconsistent services and exploitation. Once upon a time we had four working refineries, corruption and myopism is killing them all, now a preposition lingers to privatize them; so we continue to import refined fuel, enjoy fuel scarcity and unbeatable oil theft. Once upon a time we could brag of the great groundnut and cocoa pyramids; our rich oil palm produce and fertile land; boasted of our potency to feed at least the whole West Africa with our agricultural produce, corruption and myopism gave that a back seat. Once upon a time we dreamt of constant power supply, hoped to learn from western renewable technology since we are more blessed with the geological feature to tap from the gains; yet myopism and corruption swore the dreams will never come to reality. Once upon a time we bragged of our prestigious university that attracted favourable rankings; corruption, lack of passion and mentorship, tenacity and innovation beclouds the glory, today all we have are beautiful school gates with no spirit of learning, knowledge, integrity or pride. Once upon a time we had a dream that state will be able to look inward and seek self sustaining revenue stream to cater for their indigenes, independent of federal monthly oil sharing, but no, corruption, sentiments, greed, laziness and myopism, have swore that that will not come to reality; forever we will fix our eyes; mind, body and soul on oil revenue alone.
While necessity continues to remains the mother of invention, it must be resounded that a stitch in time saves nine. The most successful plans, methods, ideas and preparation by an individual, organisation, community, locality, state and nation are crafted when the entity decides to be courageous enough to accept the possibility of the WORST CASE SCENARIO occurring. Nigeria and Nigerians have made it a tradition and have consistently assumed that the worst can never occur. Nigerians and more so, her technocrats have designed techniques of dodging the truth, so much so, that even when current trends and daily decision will most likely lead to the worse outcome/scenario, the make believe, becomes overwhelming. This has been exemplified over and over again; for instance, the Debt Management Office (DMO) in their debt sustainability reports and the Ministry of Finance (MoF) have over the years told Nigerians that Nigeria can sustain her debts levels, only for us to be plunged into further debt and then beg for pardon. Over the years we were told that the Nigerian military are the warriors of ECOMOG, today we have our sister and daughters in Chibok for over 177 day in the captive of Boko Haram; probably another tactical manoeuvre. Today, unemployment and poverty charts by the MoF, and Bureau of statics are saying there are declining indications, yet we cannot locate the address of the manufacturing plants or industries, see more made in Nigeria products, have working oil refineries, agro-processing units; real jobs not the unsustainable stop gap interventions. We have been told by the Ministry of Power that the country is making effort at increasing the power generation and transmission; expanding interventions for renewable energy and the likes; yet all the housing estates and development agencies spouting across the counties have never thought of having an estate run on renewable energy; no synergy and innovation in the system nor have we seen any significant adaptation of the renewable technology. We have been told by the MoF that innovations and activities are been carried out to increase the non-oil revenue stream; the outcome of this have been the Ministry of Finance replacing Boko Haram in her agenda against Western Education; introducing and imposing an increase of 50% import tax on books (when most, if not all, the books used in the learning institutions are imported; an additional burden on the poor parents who cannot afford to send their children abroad will have to bear); while losing over N170.73bn to exemption and import waivers from 2011 to 2013; to import (bullet proof) cars, kitchen materials, first madam NGO, import machineries, etc.
While this is not an attack on the day’s administrations, it remains a challenge and an issue that requires systematic approach to seeking solution by all aspiring political parties, and electorates alike. For if opposition parties cannot present a workable solution (and how it will be achieved; not the traditional “i-will-do political promises”), of what need is there to change government (at all levels)? Electorates, Political parties and politicians need to start the process of psychological acceptance of the possibility of the worst possible case for Nigeria. For without such acceptance, we would not see the urgency and need to activate proper planning; we must accept the reality, strength and closeness of the devil, so we can plan our steps of salvation towards God; because God is not going to come running towards us.
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Let us plan and proffer workable solutions to avert these worst case scenarios as citizens, communities, religious and traditional leaders, political parties (politicians), government appointed officers, civil servants and the private sectors. What if Nigeria as predicted breaks up (whether in a cold or hot form) in 2015; Can states and regions come up with self sustaining idea to cater for its indigenes using state and regional resources? What if the shadow arm deal of $9.3million tussle with the South Africa government is believed to be arm for groups outside the Nigerian military? What if our sister and daughters in the captive of Boko Haram are not rescued; continually molested and brainwashed to be used as terrorist? What if our oil wells dry up? What if the international community expand significantly in their technological breakthrough and replace the use of crude oil? What if the oil revenue disappears? What if Nigerian student abroad become an endanger species; unsafe and are no longer welcome to study abroad? What if our continued impunity and i-dont-care attitude leads to corruption and eventually war in Nigeria? What if the so called educated average citizens continue to remain unconcerned and do not vote? What if voters continue to sell their votes to corrupt politicians whose sole purpose is to go into office and recoup his investment; looting the contribution of the masses which is suppose to provide schools, hospitals, good roads, industries and power supply? What if the rate of poverty and anger increases so much that the rich becomes endanger specie; hunted down even by their most loyal poor neighbours? What if God does not forbid these possible scenarios? What if the grace and the blood of the lamb cannot avert these possible crises? What if prayer is not sufficient to remedy the situation?
We must therefore seek the best actionable solution today, by making the right choices; constantly learning from our past mistakes as an individuals, groups and Nation. We must abort all forms of sentiments; reward hardwork and appoint the best hands regardless of differences. We must embrace proactive and innovative leadership, vote for transparency and accountability; not thuggery, money bags and empty vessel politicians. We must not continue to sacrifice meritocracy on the altar of zoning, tribalism, religion and sentiments. We must spread the message of saving Nigeria in all tongues and languages. We must emulate good example from other nations of the world; removing the traditional myopic lens and seeking best alternatives. State governments and aspiring politician need to wake up from the sloppy dependence on the federal government for their survival; waiting for federal government power supply, monthly revenue allocation, road construction, jobs creation, water supply, etc all for their state indigenes. Its hard time indigenes-electorates, community groups, traditional leaders, CSOs, NGOs and faith based organisations in all locality wake up and engage political party manifesto on the management and exploration of the state resources.
For too long Nigeria as a nation and people have been on constant denial; enslaved, deceived, and made to believe that all is going to be, but the actions of citizens especially the leaders says otherwise. When truth (transparency, accountability, openness, and value for money) is nowhere to be found, then safety and improvement cannot be guaranteed.
We must never be impressed or oppressed by a man (group/party) with no message. As Nigerians we must be brave to care and accept the fact that the worst case scenario is possibility. We must respect ourselves enough to walk away from anything and anyone that no longer serves us, grow us as a nation, or make us happy.
We must ask and prepare for the - what ifs.
Ofoegbu Donald Ikenna
Socioeconomic Researcher and Program Officer (PFM)
Centre for Social Justice, Abuja.
08030840041
Twitter: @Donaldikenna1
Follow us” @Censoj
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