Nigeria at 60: Time for a more sober assessment of our situation

AS Nigeria celebrates its diamond jubilee anniversary as a federation on Thursday October 1, 2020, Naija Times would like to congratulate Nigerians on this remarkable milestone. Without a doubt, the various ethnic and political forces in the country have managed to co-exist as a united entity these past six decades since independence in 1960 despite the challenges of nationhood. Like most post-colonial states, the Nigerian federation went into independence with a great deal of promise and optimism.

Unfortunately, certain socio-political contradictions have stymied the hope and optimism that ushered our independence from British colonial rule. As a result, Nigerians appear not so excited about the independence anniversary. What with the present gloomy economic situation, crushing challenges of insecurity, and increasing calls for restructuring of the country.

Although there are aspects of nation-building and development worth celebrating, Nigeria sadly still lags behind in many basic indices of development, because of endemic corruption, dysfunctional infrastructure, faltering power supply, appalling road networks, high unemployment, a fractious security situation, outmoded health service, and a worsening capital and foreign exchange market. Moreover, many of the national institutions such as universities, government parastatals, hospitals, and so on, are either in decay or crippled by one crisis or another. The country’s growing debt burden is also worsening. Not surprising then, that Transparency International, the Berlin-based anti-corruption organisation, recently categorised Nigeria as one of the most corrupt nations in the world. In addition, the World Bank, using what it calls the “unorthodox benchmark,” has classified Nigeria among the world’s poorest nations.

For instance, despite producing an average of two million barrels of crude oil a day, the sixth largest in the world, the country imports finished petroleum products from other countries. Whole sections of the population live in abject poverty while youth unemployment is rapidly worsening as a national problem. All these could only exacerbate political sectarianism, mutual suspicion among the people and crime and other kinds of sectarian violence.

Now, the existing historical and communal bonds that have held the country together could potentially further degenerate into ethnic and regional crisis. Hence, rather than the country’s abundant human and natural resources, and a large and dynamic population of about 200 million people driving development, they have become liabilities. A central explanation for the present parlous situation is the failure of leadership at all levels, especially at the centre.

Trapped in the quagmire of an irresponsible and insensitive governing elite and a largely sycophantic and gullible population, Nigeria has sunk incredibly low in development index and stable political culture. The phenomenon of political instability and the lack of a veritable consensus on some key national issues have not helped matters.

Rather than work toward forging a co-operative federalism, the type that was envisioned by the founding fathers of the nation, those privileged to lead since independence have failed to build a productive federal, constitutional democracy free from destructive tribal, ethnic, and neo-feudal tendencies.

Barely six years after independence, military officers seized political power and the attendant intrigues plunged the young nation into civil war. Thus, the country missed the opportunity for immediate post-independence integration of all ethnic and political interests into a veritable and progressive sovereign state. The result was years of entrenchment of a unitary command structure based on authoritarian military control in all institutions of the nation, including crude oil production.

Despite some years of economic growth following the civil war, subsequent half-hearted democratisation that began in 1979 could not stave off the debilitating economic and political crises that ensued. These included economic stagnation and the rapid erosion of the will of the people and the very democratic institutions that would have ensured the popular identification of the state with its citizens.

Thus, for the Nigerian society to make progress in the direction of national integration and economic viability, nothing short of a more representative and economically nimble federal constitutional democracy would do. The pervasive failure of the Nigerian state is evidenced by the following: poor economic policies; continuing wasteful expenditure on political engineering and diversion of colossal resources to serve elite interest and programmes; heavy dependence of the country on oil; failure to modernise large sections of the security apparatus, and widespread insecurity of life and property across the states.

Ethnic tension, partisan intolerance, communal violence, and dissatisfaction with the policies of the state have become the order of the day. It is lamentable that national unity has now become an exceptional item on our national agenda, as tendencies that were thought to have been overcome since the civil war ended about 50 years ago, keep rising with greater intensity. At the moment, violence, by both state and non-state actors threatens to undermine Nigeria’s national cohesion. Our diversity, which ought to be a source of national strength and pride, has, unfortunately, become our burden.

It is worth noting that at independence, we were economically ahead of most Asian countries such as Indonesia, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, for example. Today, we have become the butt of jokes in the international community, thereby lending credence to Kwame Nkrumah’s dim opinion of Nigeria as a “big-for-nothing” country, a giant with feet of clay. Ghana, which faced serious economic crisis in the 1980s due to poor leadership, has now become a haven for some of our citizens and an example of a thriving liberal democracy in Africa. Similarly, Rwanda successfully overcame the 1994 genocide to become a favorite African destination for tourism and business.

Notwithstanding Nigeria’s negative brand, however, our dear country can still rise from the ashes of decadence. Enormously blessed with rich natural resources and incredible human capital, Nigeria cannot, in general terms, be described as a failed state. In fields as diverse as literature, sports, science, entrepreneurship, law, and journalism, among others, talented Nigerians have distinguished themselves. But collectively and regrettably, such successes have not translated into comparable national development. The missing link, many would agree, has been a conscientious and patriotic leadership as well as a nationalistic citizenry better committed to nation-building.

Nigeria needs visionary, selfless and inclusive leadership that recognises the role of our many talented and hardworking people; a leadership that puts country first while caring for the wellbeing of the people and motivating them to give their utmost for their country. Also, the citizens must be perceptive enough to rise to the challenges of holding their leaders accountable. In this digital age, with the #NotTooYoungToRun consciousness, Nigerian youths must engage more politically and mobilise accordingly to build a modern, technology-driven state that generates novel ideas to deal with everyday challenges including climate crisis and explore
green energy.

Additionally, Nigeria needs to re-invent its outdated system of federalism into one that justly embraces the economic and political peculiarities of its constituent parts. It could be a return to a purely federal constitutional arrangement and fiscal federalism like the 1963 Republican Constitution. In fact, we see nothing wrong with constitutionally recognising the current six geo-political zones.

We call on the Muhammadu Buhari administration and the leadership of the National Assembly to urgently adopt a more imaginative implementation of the recommendations of the 2014 National Political Conference. Needless to add that the recommendations emerged from an enlightened dialogue amongst the country’s diverse and competing groups and interests. In so doing, they will ensure the fulfillment of the noble vision of our nation-state that is united in diversity and thus make our independence enduring and beneficial to every citizen, not just a few privileged and opportunistic politicians, bureaucrats, and business people.