The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigeria’s problem

  • But what really is Nigeria’s problem?

    But what really is Nigeria’s problem?

    When, in 1814, Europe’s leading statesman, Count Metternich, said that Italy “is only a geographical expression”, the former Deputy of the Kingdom of Italy and the Father of Modern Italy, Giuseppe Garibaldi, didn’t take it as an offence. Instead, the only question on his mind was how to create Italians.

    Take the recent detention escape of one of the Binance Executives held in Nigeria for tax evasion, Nadeem Anjarwalla, as a case study! Anjarwalla’s escape from protective custody didn’t tell us anything other than the statelessness of the Nigerian state. In some countries, there would by now have been a gale of resignations. But in Nigeria, that has never happened; and may never happen! Instead, the country moves on, until the fire next time!

    Apart from the run-of-the-mill criminals, a jailbreak or detention escape does not portend anything other than a weak state, that those who aided and abetted it knew what they were doing, and that nothing would happen to them ultimately. Mayer Amschel Rothschild once asked that he be given control of a nation’s money supply and he cared not who wrote the laws. That the Binance Executive who was trying to undermine the control of the Nigerian currency could escape from custody at all was a national disgrace! It’s a telltale sign of failure of intelligence and it’s sad! It’s tantamount to America informing a stunned world that Osama Bin Laden had escaped from custody. For America, it’s not possible!

    The raging insecurity in Nigeria also says something about a broken-down state where lack of internal security mechanisms has become the norm. Take, for instance, Nigeria has 371,800 police officers serving a population of 213.4 million Nigerians. Regrettably however, half of them are already fanned out to political bigwigs. So, what do we expect?  That’s all the more reason to devolve power to the states if Nigeria wants to stop terrorism and associated criminalities. Matter-of-factly, the vigilantes involved in the war against terrorism and banditry deserve national awards because of the risks involved in fighting with Dane guns against men with AK 47 and other sophisticated weapons and networks. Added to this is that Nigeria is currently ‘blessed’ with loads of ungoverned spaces. For example, Sambisa Forest alone is reportedly the size of Belgium. Niger State is also almost thrice the size of the Netherlands. However, while the Netherlands maintains her position as the world’s 2nd largest exporter of food and agricultural products, what’s Niger State exporting?

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    Nigeria is the world’s 9th largest crude petroleum exporting country. Still, she is deep in the sea of palliative miasma. Dishearteningly, that’s emblematic of a dehumanized society and lack of transparency on the part of the organizers and it’s disheartening! Nigeria’s problem isn’t a question of not producing enough food. Rather, it’s that the country does not have the infrastructure to have stable prices. The truth is that Nigeria has antediluvian agriculture. It is primitive and rain-fed! She doesn’t have Commodities Exchange and Boards and/or storage facilities. In my considered opinion, the drivers involved in the movement of goods and services from the hinterland to the cities are risking their lives. So, how much are they going to be paid to compensate for the risks? Unfortunately, instead of building rural roads, our governors are busy building flyovers and other vanity projects.

    On the whole, Nigeria’s problem is a defective constitution. If we go back to what was the cost-benefit analysis and general wellbeing under the 1960 and 1963 Constitutions, what has happened subsequently is that Nigeria now has more than 133 million Nigerians battling multidimensional poverty. Under the 1963 Constitution, that’s not possible! For those who care to know, India, Australia, Canada and Brazil have been operating under the same kind of Constitution. Look at where they are, compared to where Nigeria is hibernating!

    While we cannot build a country without production, we cannot also build production on a defective constitution in which every state goes to Abuja every month, cap-in-hand, for handouts. The way out is for power to be devolved to the states, including powers to raise their own finances. It should be like the 1963 revenue sharing formula, which favoured 50% to the state and 50% to the centre. How can Nigeria have more than 68 items on the Exclusive List? For God’s sake, they shouldn’t be more than 8 or 9 items; and they must have a revenue allocation formula that allows each state to carry out its responsibilities as a real subnational.

    The key point here is that Nigeria is presently running on a very defective foundation and, until a Nigerian leader – and we hope that President Bola Tinubu would be the game-changer – is able to say what Massimo d’Azeglio said about Italy in 1861, Nigeria will remain captured. But the day a Nigerian leader possesses the interminable refinement and the presence of mind to emphasize that: “we have made a geographical expression called Nigeria; now we must make Nigerians”, and he develops the capacity to do the needful, Nigeria will be free! And the only way to create Nigeria is to revisit her foundational defects, not by piecemeal constitution amendments but by writing a brand new Constitution that’s based largely on the spirit and letter of the 1960 and 1963 Constitutions and have it passed by plebiscite. There and then, everything will change because the states can now have control over their resources.

    If California in the United States of America was a sovereign state, it would be the 6th largest economy in the world as of today. Apart from having a fantastic, innovative income, California is a major contributor to the federal budget. In 2022, California had a record operating surplus of $97.5 billion, to which a special legislative session was called to debate the spending formula. Of course, that has gone to show the real essence of True Federalism. Until Nigeria develops that kind of framework, Nigerians will only be moving in circles, fantasizing and gambling about the naira-to-dollar exchange nonsense. After all, bandits were not born as bandits. They are bandits because they are produced from a factory!

    For Mama Ijesa North at 60!

    On April 5, 2024, Nigerians from all walks of life will converge on the Cathedral Church of St. Matthew, Ijebu-Jesa, Osun State, for the 60th Birthday Thanksgiving Service of Dr. (Mrs.) Margaret Olusola Oluyamo.

    Margaret Olusola is the wife of the Rt. Revd. Isaac Oluyamo, the lord Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Ijesa North. She’s a PhD in Yorùbá Literature from the University of Ilorin and lectures at the Osun State College of Education, Ila-Orangun. For some years between 2011 and 2018, she translated Pastor E. A. Adeboye’s ‘Open Heavens’ into Yorùbá.

    Famously referred to as ‘Mama Ijesa North’, that Oluyamo has led a good life is not in doubt. So, she should thank God for His mercy as many have fallen by the wayside.

    Oluyamo is a woman of intellect, integrity and industry. His husband describes her as a “lovely, loving and beautiful wife; a caring, disciplined and sharply focused mother” and “a praying religious leader.” To Olalekan, my worthy younger brother, ‘Mama Bishop’ is “an outstanding illustration of intellectual humility and transmissible optimism. She’s one leader who’s always as effective as the trust and confidence the people repose in her.”

    Oluyamo has done very well! But then, this ‘faithful at the frontline’ still has a historical duty ahead. The decades ahead expect her to be at the forefront of the much-needed rearmament and moral rejuvenation that a society in decay and fast falling apart like Nigeria vitally needs.

    May Dr. (Mrs.) Margaret Olusola Oluyamo’s years ahead be filled with His bliss and love!

    May the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, grant us peace in Nigeria!

  • Blame NASS, not Buhari for Nigeria’s problem

  • Seeking answers to Nigeria’s problem

    In 2014, Nigeria celebrated 100 years of cohesive unity. A celebration, which signifies the day the Northern and Southern protectorate came together as one. The celebration also served as a platform to ignite the sense of unity in Nigerians because at that time Nigeria was faced with threats that were militating against its existence as a country. Therefore, the centenary celebration was organised to commemorate 100 years since Nigeria was amalgamated. It was also used as an avenue to send a clear message to Nigerians and the outside world that nothing can break or separate Nigeria.

    Lord Fredrick Lugard was the brain behind the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern protectorate, which he joined together to form what is known as Nigeria.   Although his decision was met with criticism and divergent views, Lugard still went on with the amalgamation. And that was how the name Nigeria was created.

    Four years after the centenary celebration, Nigeria is still faced with the same threat it has been running away from. Today in the south, Biafra is agitating for self-governance, in the Northern Boko Haram is continuously fighting to Islamise the country and the West stands as the referee patiently observing which part to follow. This has been one of the major headaches of the Buhari administration since it came into power and that of the past administration.

    Nigeria Beyond Oil is a book coming at the right time in a period when oil seems to be the only pride of the country. The book written by General Sam Momah (rtd) is a projection of the possibilities that exist if Nigeria begins to look beyond oil which has become a cursed blessing.

    The author of the book has carefully looked into the future to search for answers into the problem of Nigeria. The problem of Nigeria is its inability to promote a united difference: United difference in the sense that it is a well-known fact that we are a nation of diverse culture but rather than this dividing us, it should instead unite us.

    ‘Nigeria beyond oil’ is a compendium of thoughts as seeking to explain ways by which Nigeria can solve this problem of disunity along religion or culture. The solution given by the author is that if Nigeria must remain Nigeria then restructuring must take place. Momah explained, backing it with examples of what is going to happen if Nigeria can restructure its system.

    According to the former army General, there are enough reasons  restructuring should be considered at the control of affairs of the country: A section of the book reads, “For Nigeria to avoid the above catastrophe and eventually be a strong, united and prosperous county, she should restructure and reduce the number of states to a viable and sustainable number.”

    Going further, the author carefully analysed other issues that must be considered with restructuring, like federal allocation of funds, part time allowances for legislator and no more salaries and constituency project, review of federal character policy, the need for ant- corruption war to be a mass movement, youth empowerment and also free and fair elections.

    A beautiful suggestion is the creation of a two-party system that would bring to an end the scourge of god fatherism. This is a thoughtful suggestion because god fatherism remains part of what is making Nigerian electorates not to vote competent leaders.

    However, the author rejects the creation of state police and he suggested that instead of creation there should be an overhaul of the police force. Although some argue that the creation of state police would ensure that crimes and insecurity issues are dealt with from the grassroots. This would help in dealing with security issue from the source.

    Above all, Nigeria beyond oil is a great medicine for the sickness currently ravaging the health of Nigeria. The author General Momah (rtd), is a former member of the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council and Minister of Science and Technology. He holds a PhD in Strategic Studies and is a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers. He once served as a Principal Staff Officer to General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd). General  Momah is also a Fellow of National War College.

  • Recession: Nigeria’s plight started in 1884 – Prof Ojeniyi

    Recession: Nigeria’s plight started in 1884 – Prof Ojeniyi

    Nigerians are impatient with the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, Professor Ade Ojeniyi has said maintaining that it is too early to criticise the current administration for problems that are embedded in the foundation of the country.

    In his opinion, Nigerians are expecting results too soon, “because the foundation for our suffering as a people was laid on 15th of November 1884 at 2:00pm in Germany where all the European countries except Switzerland had the Balkanisation of Africa.

    Prof. Ojeniyi, who holds doctoral degrees in both veterinary and human medicine further noted that Nigerians need not blame the current recession on the Buhari-led administration, noting that many should revisit the country’s history for a better understanding of the crisis.

    The Professor admonished Nigerians to return to those days when farming was the major

    abroad have proved their mettle, their capacity, their efficiency, their devotion, their knowledge and their experience.

    He lamented that the professionalism and skills of these professionals are hampered by so many factors that introduce so many variables in their functionality when they return to home country to practise.

    The one-time Chief Physician and Government Medical Advisor to the Ministry of Health in Greenland identified the lack of power supply, lack of equipment as well as the lack of drugs, and of course security, which affects all, as factors that compromise the energy, the enthusiasm, the devotion, the conviction, their truism of Nigerian professionals abroad.

    The Denmark-based Professor, who emphasised that the lack of security heightens the tension for all Nigerian professionals in the security service, the state and civil services, and others, condemned the level of noise pollution in the country observing that besides transporters who make unnecessary noise on the road, religious activities have also become another major source.

    His words: “The noise pollution is just deafening. When somebody returns from work, then in the neighbourhood you see some people shouting ‘Jesus is coming with noise’ you can’t even rest your head. At 7pm, the Arabic people start with loudspeakers; ‘Allah Akbar’.

    “If you say your religion is the best and it is a personal thing, why do you want to disturb your Neighbour? Probably your neighbour wants to rest or perhaps he is on night duty and he works 5 days in a week, the noise damages or lowers the loop of people that are exposed to it.

    “If somebody does that in my wife’s country (Denmark), no problem, within 10minutes, there would be a Police car and an ambulance with a doctor, so that the person would be handcuffed by the police and the doctor with the ambulance would take such a person to the psychiatric ward and all the shouting would be over once the person is taken. Then they would check if something is wrong with the head because you have neighbours who want to rest.”

    It is very dangerous to people’s ears, some people don’t relate it and they discover that as time goes on people have to raise their voices to communicate because they think that they are not been helped because the number of decibels should actually determine the level of reaction to sound.

    Speaking about the level of concentration at the workplace from the perspective of a professional surgeon, Ojeniyi observed that sometimes you may be doing something and the electricity distribution company decides to interrupt power supply or somebody comes in for some injury of a nature, which demands that you do something right away but can’t be done because of power outage. 

    “It is just difficult for you to concentrate on a major operation per time because of so many interfering factors from the government to individuals and even other societal issues,” he said.

    According to him, industrial actions may not be the best for medical professionals to express their grievances but maintaining that when you have a medical personnel, for instance, going on strike, it has to be extremely serious before they do that, even when they go on strike, they always ensure that emergency service is still maintained.

    Currently a visiting Professor at the University of Texas, School of Public Health in Houston, Texas, Ojeniyi said: “Industrial action can be based on several things; one, is it because of selfishness, is it because of greed, or is it because you are frustrated that you can’t give that service you really want to give because of lack of this or that, because of passion. So it is difficult to just condemn outright.

    “We have also gone on strike in Denmark where things work perfectly. Maybe just a tiny thing, when they take action it could be for one hour or two hours, but that one o two hours would be effect by the society because everything goes smoothly.

    “So, when there is any strike, it affects the system, it reverberates. It is like pulling a net and it affects the whole system. So ideally, there shouldn’t be reasons for any strike but frustrations many times necessitate their attention because when they do not draw attention, it is ignored. And when the attention is gained you discover that it is bureaucrats who have no idea of what medicine means, that are taking the decisions.”

  • ‘Buhari’ll solve Nigeria’s problem’

    Edo State Deputy Governor Dr. Pius Egberanmwen Odubu has endorsed the All Progressives Congress (APC) standard bearer, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd). He said Buhari is the panacea to the problems bedeviling Nigeria.

    The deputy governor spoke on behalf of Governor Adams Oshiomhole when he received leaders and members of APC from Ogwa community Ward 1 in Esan West Local Government Area.

    Odubu, who lamented the infrastructural decay and economic quagmire in Nigeria, stressed that the APC’s presidential candidate have all it takes to fix Nigeria.

    He urged the leadership and members of APC in Ogwa Ward to redouble their efforts to ensure victory for the APC.

    Spokesman for Ogwa community Prince Eddy Imaralu said their visit was to reassure the governor of their continued loyalty and support for the administration and the APC.

    Imaralu emphasised that 193 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members from Ogwa Ward 1 recently defected to the APC.

     

  • ‘APC will tackle Nigeria’s problem’

    The Special Adviser to Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola on Environment, Hon.Bola Ilori, has expressed optimism that the All Progressive Congress (APC) will rescue the country from its present precarious situation.

    Ilori, who is a chieftain of the Action Congress of Nigeria(ACN), spoke to reporters at the High Court premises,Akure,the Ondo State capital when on a solidarity visit to the party supporters at the tribunal.

    He said the merging of the parties underscores the collective resolve aimed at rescuing the people of the country from the ‘’ruderless Peoples Democratic Party government”.

    Ilori emphasised that the merger is not to advance the political interests of the two leaders; Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), adding that it is in the national interest.

    The former Chairman of the Alimoso Local Government Area of Lagos State predicted success for the APC at the general elections.

    Ilori said the political leaders have overcome the problems that undermined the previous alliances, urging Nigerians to brace up for change at the centre.

    He described the PDP as a divided house assailed by a protracted civil war, adding that a house divided against itself will fall.

    Ilori stressed: “PDP has over the years used billions of dollars to produce darkness and poor quality of education. There is mass unemployment, particularly among the youths. The opposition is concerned. APC will soon flow down to the state level when all the necessary things are sorted out at the national level. Nigerians will reject PDP in 2015 and embrace the APC because they are tired of the inept PDP administration”.

    On the electoral litigation involving the ACN and Labour Party (LP) in Ondo State, Ilori said that, with the unprecedented evidence before the panel about all the illegalities that characterised the last governorship election, the case would be addressed in favour of Akeredolu.

    The politician urged the party supporters to remain steadfast and pray to God for the panel to uphold truth and justice.

  • Corruption: Nigeria’s biggest problem?

    To put simply, Corruption is the abuse of entrusted power for private gain. It hurts everyone who depends on the integrity of people in a position of authority.

    It is an illegal, immoral and dishonest behavior, particularly among people in position of authority.

    It is the fastest growing industry in Nigeria. There is a saying in some quarters that “if Nigeria does not kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria.”

    Graft has eaten deep into the nation’s fabric such that it would be an herculean task to find honest people in different corners of Nigeria.

    It has become a constant discussion on radio, television and other media. Corruption has dangerously threatened our society to an extent people don’t really cherish hardwork and diligence anymore.

    Those who acquire material wealth by crooked means were praised and honoured, while hardworking and poor people are treated with disdain.

    Corruption has become our way of life. Corruption is everywhere, you can see, feel, hear and even smell corruption in the country. The influence of corruption is highly felt in all sectors, including the various arms of government.

    The private sector and religious group are not left out; sometimes I wonder what the country has become. Those people that pilfered our commonwealth are hero worshipped by all and sundry.

    Even those who were expected to spearhead the fight against corruption in the society are also guilty of the same offence.

    Or what would you say about a police officer who was summoned to arrest a criminal only to turn around and accuse the complainant of committing the offence after money had exchange hands?

    Some Nigerians have expressed their views on the situation.

    To Sylvia Chikeze, a youth corps member, successive governments in Nigeria had not demonstrated the necessary political will to tackle the problem head on.

    She said, “The mentality of an average Nigerian is being exploited by our government in the sense that if you don’t do whatever it takes to either be rich or successful then you are never going to get anything. Corruption is something that has eaten deep into our society and I doubt if it can ever be tackled.”

    A retired Deputy Superintendent of Police, Musa Olisa, corroborated Chikeze’s view, saying government only paid lip service to anti-graft war.

    “We need political will to tackle graft in this country and it is obvious that the government is not ready to do this, but only paid lip service to it.

    “Corruption has gone round in Nigeria – both in the public and private sectors. Individuals too are not left out. Government at all levels are not genuinely concerned about tackling corruption. Several factors had made people think that the police force is one of the most corrupt organizations in Nigeria, but this is not true.

    “Recent reports have shown that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, the Nigerian Airways and even the media are more corrupt and that shows how far we had gone as a nation, “Olisa told our correspondent.