There is no gainsaying that, in the last 25 years of democratic governance in Nigeria, more time has been spent highlighting the multifaceted maladies that dwarf any developmental strides. This is mainly due to the perennial leadership deficit that has marked governance here. In societies with quality leadership where service to nationhood and the general good are pivotal to assuming power, issues of national interest are handled with utmost fidelity to the collective good. When people no longer trust a leader to steer the ship of state, it is not uncommon for such leaders to voluntarily step down, even before the expiration of their tenures. Here, leaders at any level—national, state, or local—rarely quit. Public outcry over the state of affairs means little as long as they can afford a group of fawning supporters who urge them to continue their deceitful dance, watching from behind to prevent any untoward attacks. With a system that glorifies the men of power as demi gods and a populace that feels comfortable being passive for as long as crumbs fall off the slave drivers’ tables, Nigeria seems trapped in a web of contradictions. Those milking it dry can conveniently stroll off to their palatial mansions, sniggering at the impotence and powerlessness of a captive citizenry.
Why this resort to philosophical monologue? It is because one gets tired of movement without motion. For how long will we continue to take a step forward and two steps backward? For years, the narrative remains the same. Nigeria is in dire straits, yet both leaders and citizens keep focusing on the intangibles, hugging self-deceit as a sort of escapism. A little Google search about the country’s problems would shock anyone who truly has the interest of this country at heart. Nigeria, Google reveals, is “the most populous country in Africa and faces a multitude of challenges. Some of the most pressing issues include: Economic instability—poverty, inflation, and unemployment, despite being the largest economy in Africa; Security threats—terrorism from Boko Haram and banditry in the north, as well as separatist movements in the southeast; Corruption—widespread corruption and nepotism hinder economic development and undermine trust in government institutions; Infrastructure deficits—inadequate power supply, poor road networks, and insufficient healthcare facilities are major challenges; Political instability—periods of political unrest, including coups and election-related violence; Environmental degradation—deforestation, oil spills, and pollution threaten the country’s biodiversity and natural resources; Health crises—recurring outbreaks of diseases like malaria, cholera, and Lassa fever, as well as high HIV/AIDS prevalence; Education challenges—limited access to quality education, especially in rural areas, hinders human capital development; Social inequality—gender inequality, ethnic tensions, and regional disparities persist, leading to social and political tensions; Climate change—rising temperatures, desertification, and flooding affect agriculture and livelihoods.” Ha!!!
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These challenges require more than the passing, almost laid back attention that the various governments pay to them. With the emergence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government precisely a year ago, many had hoped that some of these problems would be addressed headlong, especially when the President highlighted his 8-point agenda for “building a safer, stronger, and prosperous Nigeria.” Ordinarily, one wouldn’t take Tinubu seriously for saying the right things at the right time. For the record, his predecessors were never found wanting in that department of not walking their talk. They wobbled through office and left Nigeria worse than they met it. But because Tinubu and his men said they had dissected the problems and that they would come up with a roadmap to economic recovery, the mantra for renewed hope trended for a while. At one point, sceptics started talking about some optics that pointed to a favorable outcome. That was when the naira firmed up against the dollar before the present slide, which has left tongues wagging about the sustainability of the Central Bank’s intervention.
Despite this, the government insists it is seeing tremendous progress in its economic policies and that the impact will soon be felt by the people. In its one-year assessment published by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, and as captured by all the ministers at the ongoing one-year Ministerial Briefing, a lot, the government said, has been achieved in key areas: economic reform for sustained growth; strengthening national security; boosting agriculture for food security; unlocking energy and natural resources; enhancing infrastructure and transportation; impacting citizens’ lives in education, health, and social services; accelerating economic diversification; and improving governance. In a nutshell, this is the state of affairs as seen from the government’s binoculars. Backed with data, the government says all its men in charge of strategic sectors are working assiduously to etch smiles back on the faces of the suffering masses.
Yet, the question remains: Are Nigerians truly smiling? As they say, every story has another side. The harsh reality is that, for now, they are not smiling on the streets. From Maiduguri to Lagos, the story is the same. Life is tough, brutal, and nasty. Poverty is biting the majority of the people. The other day, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Senator Mahmood Abubakar, said there are enough foodstuffs in the country and that Nigerians can access them. He said rice and grains are everywhere. The interesting thing is that he didn’t tell the gathering that the prices of these foodstuffs are way beyond the pockets of most Nigerians. Is the Minister not aware that a bag of rice sells for over N70,000 while a bag of tomatoes goes for N100,000? How many people can the poverty alleviation programme capture in a country where the middle class is shrinking daily and the number of the poor continues to grow? Figures and data are useful only when they directly impact the people positively. Can we say that is what is happening today? That all is well with our country and the people are happy with the turn of events?i
Nigeria is a country of many complexities. Despite the crying poverty, the legislature, in its wisdom, thinks the best way to engender a sense of loyalty and patriotism in all of us is by reverting to chanting the old national anthem; an anthem some of us chanted in primary school. Written by a British citizen resident in Nigeria, Lillian Jean Williams, ‘Nigeria we hail thee” was composed into music by Frances Berda and played an important role in shaping Nigeria’s national identity in the 60s and late 70s before it was changed to ‘Arise O compatriots” in 1978 by the General Olusegun Obasanjo military junta. What was the reason for this sudden adoption of the old anthem? The lawmakers, in their esteemed reasoning, opined that “it will promote brotherhood and help unite them irrespective of ethnic or religious bias. It is in tandem with the spirit of unity and will undoubtedly inspire the zeal for patriotism and cooperation. It will promote cultural heritage and chart a path for greater unity.
Though a done deal as the President has already assented to the bill, I dare to ask if this is the solution Nigeria requires to resolve its multifaceted problems. In a country where leaders are always united in raiding the public vaults after taking oaths of allegiance and office, will reverting to the old national anthem change their deadly grip on our collective patrimony? Will it stop them from playing the divisive politics that has torn us into shreds and transformed us into ethnic bigots? Will it stop the looting and stealing in high places? Will chanting this so-called inspiring anthem lead to a reversal of the prices of fuel and all other items whose prices have blown off the rooftops? Will it bring affordable food back to the kitchens of broke, broken, and beaten masses of a nation flowing with milk and honey? How well can it help revive old values and shape positive orientations? Is this the one-way solution to Nigeria’s perilous maladies? I doubt. But then, let’s all gather to hail Nigeria. We are a special breed!!!
