On-rawlings-advice-to-nigerians-a-food-for-thought-for-nigerians-and-political-leaders
September 7, 2020 | News
ON RAWLINGS ADVICE TO NIGERIANS – A FOOD FOR THOUGHT FOR NIGERIANS AND POLITICAL LEADERS
Recently, a reported advice to Nigerians, by former Ghanaian President, Jerry Rawlings, got our attention. And we strongly believe it should serve as food for thought for all Nigerians, especially the political class.
In the words of Rawlings: “I can't believe that despite the setback of Nigeria as a result of a failed British experiment on that country, Nigeria is still very much in Love with them. Nigeria has everything it needs to be the greatest country, not just in Africa but in the world, and the British knew about it. There are two things that can salvage Nigeria: the first is Nigeria must peacefully retire these old colonial leaders who are still servants to western imperialism. The second is Nigeria must restructure their country back to the days when it was regional system of government. Let every region develop at its own pace, build its resources and people. With this, that country called Nigeria will be the greatest hub for the people of color in the world.”
Strong words you would agree, which touches on the vital roots of Nigeria’s problem, and which if well-addressed with sincerity of purpose, the country would not be where it is today in a couple of years to come. The first is that Nigeria, though, was colonialized by Britain, and there are still traces of imperialism and neo-colonialism all around us, especially with Nigeria’s romance with China, but the fact still remains that these foreigners are not Nigeria’s problem, or the reason for our underdevelopment. The political leadership of Nigeria, especially in the last two decades, has been the major problem of Nigeria’s backwardness. It is as if the country’s overdependence on crude oil and natural gas revenues, have made our past and present political leaders to lose their sense of reasoning, innovation and wealth creation for the good of the citizenry.
Nigeria in the 70s had one of the strongest currencies in the world with 75 Kobo = 1 Pound Sterling and 60 Kobo = US$1. Back then, there was constant power supply, excess jobs, Finland once called Nigeria “a future world power”, Gowon once said then that “Nigeria’s only problem was how to spend the money.” Back then, neighboring countries like Ghana and its citizens were trooping to Nigeria for ‘greener pastures’. The country was doing well then when we were not so heavily dependent on crude oi and natural gas revenues. But today, all of that has changed for the worse; as State Governors no longer use their heads to develop and create wealth within their States, but rather, they prefer to rush to Abuja to receive their monthly salaries called Federal Allocations. Today, young Nigerians are the ones trooping out in droves to Ghana, South-Africa, Botswana, Kenya, Angola, etc. Indeed, our post-Independence generation politicians and the military have ruined the entire country.
The Dreams of our Nigerian Founding Fathers have all been crushed. Where is Nigeria now? What happened to us? The close to two decades of Military dictatorship plus the advent of Civilian administration since 1999, have left a Nigerian populace that is more disappointed with its political leaders than before. In the 70s and early 80s, I still recall how the Europeans, Americans and Asians were begging for Teaching jobs, and very willing to accept such jobs even in the remote interior villages in Nigeria. If Nigeria was what it is today back then, will they have come here for such Teaching jobs in those days? Obviously not! If Nigeria had continued with the ‘developmental pace’ it started with back then till today, we are very certain that no single Nigerian will desire to move to America or Europe in search of greener pastures. Rather, it will be the other way around – with Europeans and Americans desiring to come stay as residents/citizens in Nigeria. But here we are – an ‘ever-developing nation’ daily plundered by some selected few to the detriment of the majority. Accumulated years of ‘bad leadership’, coupled with blind/ignorant elites and common masses, have ‘continued’ to create enormous problems for all and all of which have left countless many in abject poverty and the entire country in a perpetual state of underdevelopment.
Right now, our political leaders are enjoying the romance with China, as they patronize the Asians to do practically everything for them. And the Chinese leaders and investors are obviously encouraging this trend because it does not only create room for Nigerian politicians to loot more, it also avails the Chinese the opportunity to gain grounds in Africa’s most populous nation in projecting their self-centered economic and political interests. Our Nigerian political leaders, who do not use their brains, are not even aware of the fact that the Chinese are like parasites, who come under the pretence of helping you, but only to suck you dry. They have done so in some African countries already.
Like we have repeatedly mentioned in several write ups: no foreign country will genuinely help Nigeria to develop as it ought to. No foreign country will honestly help Nigeria to holistically fight corruption with sincerity of purpose. All they know how to do is to mock Nigeria whenever they are discussing about the country. Nigeria must be developed by Nigerians, period!
The other issue mentioned by Rawlings in his advice, is the need to restructure the country back to the days when it was regional system of government, so that every region would develop at its own pace, build its resources and people. Though, the subject of restructuring has been a contentious and controversial matter in Nigeria’s political and public space, but the fact still remains that restructuring in not really Nigeria’s problem. Agreed that the British came and left us with the Parliamentary system of Government, which many have argued that it may be less expensive to run, in a country like Nigeria, when compared to Nigeria’s adopted styled-Presidential system of Government. Our argument here is that, it is not really the system adopted that makes all the difference, but it is the Operators of the system of government that makes all the difference in the citizens’ lives. It is those who drive the system of government that matters. Truth is, if Nigeria should practice True Federalism, there would not be any need to restructure the country. The country is not practicing True Federalism, and those asking/demanding for restructuring, are the same set of politicians that are stealing/misappropriating our collective wealth into their private pockets.
Who were the advocates of Resource Control in the Niger Delta region for instance? They are the same people that have been the problems of Niger Delta’s development strides. They are the same people exporting Nigeria’s money abroad to buy houses/mansions and luxury cars in the UK, Dubai, etc. In other words, restructuring is not Nigeria’s problem. Our problem is the gross ‘INSINCERITY OF THE NIGERIAN POLITICAL LEADERS’ at all levels of Government. Some Nigerians that are calling for restructuring, are doing so because of the bad governance all around us. If the political leaders are sincere in their governance, nobody will be asking for restructuring.
The Nigerian elites and masses who see nothing wrong in the country’s bad leadership, depending of who is in power, are the ones we see hailing and praising these inept political leaders despite their incompetence, thievery of our collective wealth and gross lack of vision to bring about change in the society. Often times, they do this, either the political leader concerned is from their tribe, religion, political party affiliations, or from the same locality, or they simply have something to gain in monetary terms from such a political leader. As such, they turn a blind eye to every corrupt practice and incompetence in office exhibited by such a political leader. The Traditional Rulers give these corrupt leaders Chieftaincy titles/awards, while the supposed men of God open their Church doors to them because of their huge offerings/tithes. Practically everyone does not see anything they are doing wrong, as they run after these political leaders, singing their praises for doing nothing.
Perhaps, Rawlings advice should serve as a wake-up call to Nigeria’s political leaders. That is, if they will listen. But there is nothing really wrong with the system of government Nigeria has adopted to practice. The problem is “how” the said system is being practiced/operated by the players. So, with restructuring or no restructuring, what is wrong is the Operators of the system, and the group of Nigerians who have accepted all the kinds of nonsense being exhibited by their political leaders, who have refused to be accountable to the people. Majority of them only join Government to make money and nothing else. And until they stop to see Government as a ‘lucrative business empire,’ Nigeria will remain underdeveloped in years to come, period!
Zik Gbemre.
February 7, 2019
We Mobilize Others to Fight for Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes
Recently, a reported advice to Nigerians, by former Ghanaian President, Jerry Rawlings, got our attention. And we strongly believe it should serve as food for thought for all Nigerians, especially the political class.
In the words of Rawlings: “I can't believe that despite the setback of Nigeria as a result of a failed British experiment on that country, Nigeria is still very much in Love with them. Nigeria has everything it needs to be the greatest country, not just in Africa but in the world, and the British knew about it. There are two things that can salvage Nigeria: the first is Nigeria must peacefully retire these old colonial leaders who are still servants to western imperialism. The second is Nigeria must restructure their country back to the days when it was regional system of government. Let every region develop at its own pace, build its resources and people. With this, that country called Nigeria will be the greatest hub for the people of color in the world.”
Strong words you would agree, which touches on the vital roots of Nigeria’s problem, and which if well-addressed with sincerity of purpose, the country would not be where it is today in a couple of years to come. The first is that Nigeria, though, was colonialized by Britain, and there are still traces of imperialism and neo-colonialism all around us, especially with Nigeria’s romance with China, but the fact still remains that these foreigners are not Nigeria’s problem, or the reason for our underdevelopment. The political leadership of Nigeria, especially in the last two decades, has been the major problem of Nigeria’s backwardness. It is as if the country’s overdependence on crude oil and natural gas revenues, have made our past and present political leaders to lose their sense of reasoning, innovation and wealth creation for the good of the citizenry.
Nigeria in the 70s had one of the strongest currencies in the world with 75 Kobo = 1 Pound Sterling and 60 Kobo = US$1. Back then, there was constant power supply, excess jobs, Finland once called Nigeria “a future world power”, Gowon once said then that “Nigeria’s only problem was how to spend the money.” Back then, neighboring countries like Ghana and its citizens were trooping to Nigeria for ‘greener pastures’. The country was doing well then when we were not so heavily dependent on crude oi and natural gas revenues. But today, all of that has changed for the worse; as State Governors no longer use their heads to develop and create wealth within their States, but rather, they prefer to rush to Abuja to receive their monthly salaries called Federal Allocations. Today, young Nigerians are the ones trooping out in droves to Ghana, South-Africa, Botswana, Kenya, Angola, etc. Indeed, our post-Independence generation politicians and the military have ruined the entire country.
The Dreams of our Nigerian Founding Fathers have all been crushed. Where is Nigeria now? What happened to us? The close to two decades of Military dictatorship plus the advent of Civilian administration since 1999, have left a Nigerian populace that is more disappointed with its political leaders than before. In the 70s and early 80s, I still recall how the Europeans, Americans and Asians were begging for Teaching jobs, and very willing to accept such jobs even in the remote interior villages in Nigeria. If Nigeria was what it is today back then, will they have come here for such Teaching jobs in those days? Obviously not! If Nigeria had continued with the ‘developmental pace’ it started with back then till today, we are very certain that no single Nigerian will desire to move to America or Europe in search of greener pastures. Rather, it will be the other way around – with Europeans and Americans desiring to come stay as residents/citizens in Nigeria. But here we are – an ‘ever-developing nation’ daily plundered by some selected few to the detriment of the majority. Accumulated years of ‘bad leadership’, coupled with blind/ignorant elites and common masses, have ‘continued’ to create enormous problems for all and all of which have left countless many in abject poverty and the entire country in a perpetual state of underdevelopment.
Right now, our political leaders are enjoying the romance with China, as they patronize the Asians to do practically everything for them. And the Chinese leaders and investors are obviously encouraging this trend because it does not only create room for Nigerian politicians to loot more, it also avails the Chinese the opportunity to gain grounds in Africa’s most populous nation in projecting their self-centered economic and political interests. Our Nigerian political leaders, who do not use their brains, are not even aware of the fact that the Chinese are like parasites, who come under the pretence of helping you, but only to suck you dry. They have done so in some African countries already.
Like we have repeatedly mentioned in several write ups: no foreign country will genuinely help Nigeria to develop as it ought to. No foreign country will honestly help Nigeria to holistically fight corruption with sincerity of purpose. All they know how to do is to mock Nigeria whenever they are discussing about the country. Nigeria must be developed by Nigerians, period!
The other issue mentioned by Rawlings in his advice, is the need to restructure the country back to the days when it was regional system of government, so that every region would develop at its own pace, build its resources and people. Though, the subject of restructuring has been a contentious and controversial matter in Nigeria’s political and public space, but the fact still remains that restructuring in not really Nigeria’s problem. Agreed that the British came and left us with the Parliamentary system of Government, which many have argued that it may be less expensive to run, in a country like Nigeria, when compared to Nigeria’s adopted styled-Presidential system of Government. Our argument here is that, it is not really the system adopted that makes all the difference, but it is the Operators of the system of government that makes all the difference in the citizens’ lives. It is those who drive the system of government that matters. Truth is, if Nigeria should practice True Federalism, there would not be any need to restructure the country. The country is not practicing True Federalism, and those asking/demanding for restructuring, are the same set of politicians that are stealing/misappropriating our collective wealth into their private pockets.
Who were the advocates of Resource Control in the Niger Delta region for instance? They are the same people that have been the problems of Niger Delta’s development strides. They are the same people exporting Nigeria’s money abroad to buy houses/mansions and luxury cars in the UK, Dubai, etc. In other words, restructuring is not Nigeria’s problem. Our problem is the gross ‘INSINCERITY OF THE NIGERIAN POLITICAL LEADERS’ at all levels of Government. Some Nigerians that are calling for restructuring, are doing so because of the bad governance all around us. If the political leaders are sincere in their governance, nobody will be asking for restructuring.
The Nigerian elites and masses who see nothing wrong in the country’s bad leadership, depending of who is in power, are the ones we see hailing and praising these inept political leaders despite their incompetence, thievery of our collective wealth and gross lack of vision to bring about change in the society. Often times, they do this, either the political leader concerned is from their tribe, religion, political party affiliations, or from the same locality, or they simply have something to gain in monetary terms from such a political leader. As such, they turn a blind eye to every corrupt practice and incompetence in office exhibited by such a political leader. The Traditional Rulers give these corrupt leaders Chieftaincy titles/awards, while the supposed men of God open their Church doors to them because of their huge offerings/tithes. Practically everyone does not see anything they are doing wrong, as they run after these political leaders, singing their praises for doing nothing.
Perhaps, Rawlings advice should serve as a wake-up call to Nigeria’s political leaders. That is, if they will listen. But there is nothing really wrong with the system of government Nigeria has adopted to practice. The problem is “how” the said system is being practiced/operated by the players. So, with restructuring or no restructuring, what is wrong is the Operators of the system, and the group of Nigerians who have accepted all the kinds of nonsense being exhibited by their political leaders, who have refused to be accountable to the people. Majority of them only join Government to make money and nothing else. And until they stop to see Government as a ‘lucrative business empire,’ Nigeria will remain underdeveloped in years to come, period!
Zik Gbemre.
February 7, 2019
We Mobilize Others to Fight for Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes