A Next Generation Report on Nigeria, commissioned by the British Council, reveals that Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation, could reap an enormous economic dividend in the next 20 years if it creates opportunities for its swelling young population estimated to soar by tens of millions by year 2050 otherwise Nigeria faces a demographic disaster. As part of Pentagon’s plan to create a new military command for Africa: the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) conducted a security survey for Africa’s most volatile regions and came to the conclusion that Nigeria faces a very high risk of internal disintegration by year 2015. According to the Director of the African Security Research Project in Washington DC, Mr. Daniel Volman, the Nigerian scenario was predicated upon a possible outbreak of escalated armed conflicts by 2013.
The recent addition of street bombings, organized sectarian violence in the Plateau/Bauchi axis and armed terrorism in Borno state to the cocktail of Nigeria’s security paradox, coupled with the resurgent militancy in the Niger Delta seem to concur with our deepest fears that Nigeria could be at her most perilous pass. In the midst of the prevailing endemic poverty, high rate of unemployment, rampant outbreaks of epidemics, comatose social infrastructures, heightened insecurity, prohibitive cost of running government, escalating rate of corruption and general meltdown in the living conditions of the populace, Nigerians are about to make what could turn out to be the most critical decisions of their lives - the April general elections.
Perhaps, the seriousness of the issue at hand has prompted several hitherto apolitical groups like faith based organizations and sections of the civil society to take more than a passing interest in the unfolding political developments. In the same vein, a conservative but vocal media is beginning to see itself as an integral stakeholder in the evolving political process in Nigeria. That was the context for the recent media debate for presidential aspirants and their running mates by NN24; a news satellite television outfit. Unfortunately, the candidate of the ruling party; PDP, President Jonathan and his running mate; Nemadi Sambo, failed to show up for the debates. The reasons for their absence are already in the public domain and should be judged by the voting public whether it is something that the Nigerian electorate could live with or otherwise.
Interestingly, the debate managed to confirm the notion in the minds of not a few Nigerians that it does not take a genius to provide the kind of leadership Nigerians have long longed for. The reason is not far-fetched. The expectations of Nigerians from the political leadership are quite minimal.
This could be as a result of long years of “irresponsible” military dictatorship and the attendant suppression of civil rights. Another reason could be the systemic destruction of the education and legal systems such that Nigerians are hardly aware of the governance process, social participation and checks and balances constitutionally guaranteed to protect the rights of every citizen.
Currently, the minimum the average Nigerian requires from the leadership is the reversal of the crass abnormality where every Nigerian has become a mini government to themselves; providing their own water supply, roads, security (vigilante groups), social services (private schools and healthcare) and even power stations (generators!).
At the NN24 debate, Mallam Shekarau proved his abilities to think outside the box, his oratorical skills also came handy. Mallam Ribadu came across as someone in such a hurry to effect some change but I think he was in such haste that a lot of details were left out in his presentation.
Well, you can forgive him since he is the youngest in the pool, a point he duly emphasized for some political gain. One thing stuck out at the debate, and that was General Buhari’s assertion that Nigeria needs strong personalities to build strong institutions. That was a significant modification to the remark made by President Barack Obama while on a state visit to Ghana.
Obama said that Africa needs strong institutions rather than strong men. That I think is imperative for Nigeria if we are to thoroughly deal with corruption which is one of the greatest impediment to our developmental aspirations. That is also one area that many Nigerians fear for President Jonathan. Would he be able to put down his feet and provide the kind of strong leadership that would truly fight corruption whilst surrounded by men and women whose greatest pedigree cannot be said to be transparency and accountability in governance, that is, if he gets our mandate? The red carpet thrown by the PDP for Bode George is yet to be rolled off from the memory of so many Nigerians!
Overall, there was nothing radically different from the manifestoes of the three presidential aspirants. They all subscribed to a private sector driven economy and listed job/wealth creation, security, improvement in social services, infrastructural development, the Niger Delta and the campaign against corruption as their areas of priority. None of them talked about wealth re-distribution as engendered by fiscal policies such as tax reforms to make the rich pay more for the enormous space they occupy in Nigeria’s socio-economic sphere. The closest hint to an agenda for wealth distribution was the promise by Buhari to convince lawmakers to cut down on their salaries. However, there are serious doubts if such would suffice in a society where over 80% of the national wealth is used to service the profligacy of the few rich amongst us.
There was also not much talk on diversifying the economy, and that is really where the robber hits the road. The operation of a monolithic economy based on rents from crude oil and its derivatives lie at the heart of the several and severe hemorrhage afflicting the Nigerian society. Apart from entrenching the age long allocation brouhaha, oil boom has also become the doom of productivity and sound moral values. It is worrisome that Nigeria is yet to finely ascertain the amount of crude oil that leaves her shores on daily basis; that leaves a lot for the boys and girls to share. The oil craze has also occasioned the anemic neglect of the agricultural and industrial sectors. The result is the current pervasive high rate of unemployment as young hands that could have been easily absorbed by the enormous employment opportunities offered by the agricultural/green sector are carried away by the misplaced allure of hardly existent white collar jobs. Nigeria needs a President who can convince us of his capabilities to reverse this trend.
Back to the electorate, the greatest challenge before us is to close our eyes to primordial ethno-religious sentiments and sincerely choose a candidate that can deliver on the job of fixing Nigeria. It is quite an enormous job which requires a lot of guts, tact, experience, integrity, gender sensitivity, innovation and nationalism. I hope we do not have a very hard choice before us?
Article By
Asuzu Echezona Prince
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