STILL THERE IS HOPE: A QUEST FOR BETTER NIGERIA

By: Usman Ibrahim Algurawy 


ABSTRACT 

Nigeria as the sixth largest producer of oil, with abundant human and natural resources (material and nonmaterial), with highest number of literacy and lowest number of illiteracy in Africa; and as an ideal laboratory to study African politics; some people see it as the poorest and backward country in Africa with no potential of becoming great again. This is nothing but an illusion and utopianism as well as pessimistic view.

This article thoroughly identified and justified the fact that Nigeria is not as some people see it, it is a great country with people of integrity. The fact is that it is just a few and small number of people (elites) who manipulate the majority of the population to achieved their personal interest. This influence comes from perceived majority number of unemployed youths. 

Nigeria is referred as “the giant of Africa” because it is the superpower of the continent. Whenever you talk about Africa, Nigeria will comes to your mind first, because it is an ideal laboratory to study African politics. Comparatively there is no country can be compare with Nigeria, this is due to its highest number of literates (Nigerian produces more than 50 thousand graduates annually) in educational sector in Africa. If you perceived development in economic sector, it is fastest economic growing country in Africa. Politically also, it is the most stable democracy in Africa. 

To overcome those few challenges that hinder Nigerian progress, Nigerian government must be accountable, and considers the majorities’ interests as its primary aim. Create employment opportunities that will block all the ways in which they were persuaded by those few elites who tarnish the image of the country.

Key Words: Nigeria, Elites, Politics and Economy


INTRODUCTION

Many people….writers, analysts, activists and students see Nigeria as a “Fail State”, corrupt with no bright future. Chinua Achebe in his book “There was a Country: A Personal History of Biafra”, described Nigeria as a fail state (Achebe: 2012). This sort of pessimistic ideology led to revolt against government by some citizens calling for revolution.

 As in many African states, corruption, mismanagement, sectionalism, ethnicity, political inclination are some of the identity of Nigeria. Despite the above obstacles and challenges, Nigeria is an ideal laboratory in which African politics and development to be studied. This is because, Nigeria is the most populated and richest country in Africa and most stable political institution in the continent. This article will do away with all bad images attached to the country by supporting the argument with relevant references.

The fact is Nigeria is a country which endowed with human, material and nonmaterial resources, honorable people of integrity, educated and many sort of important personalities; only the interest of few corrupt elites tarnish the image of the country. That is why many writers see Nigeria as a fail country. But Nigeria will be great again.

This article will find out the way forward on tackling the current problem and challenges of misrepresentation and how to restructure the tarnished image of Nigeria.

OBJECTIVE OF THE RESEARCH 

To identify how the interest of few elites tarnished the image of the country,

To find out possible way out to the above mentioned obstacles, and

To answer the question of “How Nigeria Will be Great Again?”


LITTERETURE SURVEY: OPTIMISTS AND PESSIMISTS 

In this section the researcher will identify some related literatures of some optimists and pessimists on the future of Nigeria.

The Optimists believed that Nigeria can be great again, while the Pessimists opined that Nigeria will never be great again. 


THE OPTIMISTS VIEW 

Abbas (2013) in his article “Post-Military Era and the Challengers of Democratic Governance in Nigeria” identified that, the long military interruption in Nigerian politics hinders Nigerian progress; and Abbas (2013) concluded that, “the civilian administration, which Nigerians have for long aspired for, can be said to have, at last arrived and consolidated with 14 years of uninterrupted democratic governance. Nigeria now have the opportunity to make their dreams comes true as a result of new development despite the challenges”. 

Nigeria is one of the most interesting countries in the world. It is energetic and sometimes chaotic, and its people are wonderful entrepreneur. Nigerian women are particularly enterprising. The actions of small Nigerian population have given the country a bad name. One associated with corruption….. But the overwhelming majority of Nigerians are honest, hardworking citizens who want what citizen elsewhere want- for their government to provide peace, stability, and basic services and then get out of their way so that they can live their lives (Okonjo-Iwela :2018).

She is in the view that Nigerian is a great and will be great again; the only way out is to do away with those few elites whose interest tarnish the image of the country in the eyes of the world and to place men and women of integrity in the governance of the country and bureaucracy.


THE PESSIMISTS VIEW

......during the colonial era despite the diversity of Nigerian ethnic….from different historical background had once united and led the way for independence; the unity in diversity become diverse. This is due to the lust for power and property. The newly appointed leaders got into the trap of power and inherited attitude (such corruption) from their former colonial masters. Corruption, tribalism, favorism, prevendalism become the image of Nigerian politicians in the post-colonial politics. (Ibrahim: 2019).

One of the problem is……the citizens, and analysts do not pay attention to governance but to politics. For example, when an election take place, they focus on who will be the next. While the elected one does not assume political power (Ibid).

Another book which centered mainly on ethnic basis is “There was a Country”, by Achebe. In the book Achebe identified Nigeria as …..Cesspool of corruption and misrule. Public servant helped themselves freely to the nation’s wealth, election was blatantly rigged.  In this book Achebe described Nigeria as a country with no future if northerners will still rule. He disbelieved in one Nigeria, the only way out is to divide the country. This is utopian and pessimistic ideology.

McCormick J. (2007) identified that one of the fundamental problem facing Nigeria is how to achieve a balance between the powers of national and local government. It could decide that its internal divisions are so great that the concept of Nigerian should be abandoned and the country split up into smaller states based around different ethnic groups or religious…. This opinion also is in line with Achebe’s opinion.

The above points are some of available literature on whether Nigeria will be great again or not. And we have seen optimists and pessimists scholars opposing views.


THE LEFT IN NIGERIAN POLITICS 

The few elites enjoy the country, manipulate it and paint it with the ink of corruption, tribalism and all sort of political inclination, just to get what they want. It is in Nigeria, when an elite want something and then someone blocked the way, he/she then legitimize all means for himself to get it (good or wrong); “the ends justify the means”. Therefore the corruption in Nigeria is just an illusion, only few powerful elites siege the country with their bad intentions.

For example, when Ungozi became a finance minister and blocked many ways of evil practices in Nigerian oil sector, her mother was kidnaped in 9 day of December, 2012. The kidnappers demanded her resignation as a ransom. 

Also, in 2013, there was an attempt to injure Ungozi and wanted to see her leaving office in a wheelchair (Okonjo-Iwela: 2018).

Another attempt was on president Buhari in 2016. When Buhari launched anti-corruption policy in 2016, attempt was made to poison him; in which he suffered and received medical care abroad.

Another recent issue was in October, 2020 ENDSERS PROTEST. The protest started peacefully, but ended brutally calling for president to resign, in which many lives were lost while others injured, properties (including police stations) were destroyed. The protest according to some analysts was sponsored by some elites.

There are many incidents that will justify that Nigeria is a great country and will be great, only few elites’ interest tarnish the image of the country.


THE RIGHT IN NIGERIAN POLITICS

Nigeria is a good and it will remain good. If you see development in comparative term , then we are “the giant of Africa” the most rapidly growing economy in Africa compare to other countries such as South-Africa, Egypt, Kenya, Ghana, Congo etc. This is because no country can be compare with Nigeria in Africa in political, economic or socio-cultural sectors. Therefore, “Nigeria is an ideal laboratory in which African politics can be studied”. Even at international level, when you talk of Africa, what comes to your mind is “Nigeria”.

Nigerian is always progressing and improving in many ways: Political, economic and educational sectors.

Political Sector: Nigeria faces many challenges in building stable and united state out of the society that is divided on ethnic and regional basis. And today, it is not as it was. Nigeria has strong democratic institutions with well-organized Executive body, bicameral legislature and independent judicial body. Nigeria tolerates strong opposition (which is ingredients of democracy) in which there many states that were ruled by opposition party.

 Many developmental policies were implemented such as Sure-P during   Jonathan’s administration, N-Power etc.

Economic Sector: when Nigeria became independent, its economic prospects looked good; it had network of roads and rail ways. It depend on petroleum and agricultural products.

It is also the world’s sixth largest oil producer. And currently Buhari launched a “Nation Feeding Program” to reduce the higher importation of food into the country. Also Lagos (a state in Nigeria) is the largest market in Africa.

Educational Sector:  Nigeria has 174 universities in 2020, it produced more than 50 thousand graduates every year. The number of literacy is increasing.

From the above analysis (if not because some few bad eggs) one will presume that Nigeria will be great again.

                       

A QUEST FOR BETTER NIGERIA 

The following are some of the solutions to Nigerian socio-political and economic challenges.

Government cannot employ all citizens, but can’t leave the increasing number of its population jobless, which will promote banditry, kidnaping, thugry, insecurity, and all sort of unwanted acts. Therefore, Nigerian government should create job opportunities which all citizens will have something to do, so that they will not be influenced by those few elites.

Good Governance:  scholars such as Achebe and other writers believed that there is nothing wrong with Nigerian youths nor its climate, but the “governance”.  The government should have transparency and accountability that promote and considers the interest of the citizenry as primary aims of the governance. 

Policy Continuation: the common problem in all democratic countries is “Policy Continuation”, if a previous leader implemented a policy, the new will not continue with that policy, will then abandoned it and bring his own; so also the next government. Therefore this policy problem must be divorced.


CONCLUSION

We now understand that majority of Nigerian citizens are good, and therefore, it will be good again. But it will not be good if the interest of the few still reflects in the country which led to the manipulation of all institutions. Therefore, government should improve educational sector, reform and restructure the economy, continue with the policy implemented by previous governments, ensure transparency and accountability, prioritize majorities’ interest over minority, protects the interest of minority group, create job opportunities and allow youths (those who are literate) to participate in politics.

If Nigerian government considers the above mentioned points, Nigerian will be great again, and can compete with not only African countries but the world economic powers. Nigeria will be in porefront of newspapers’ headlines, topic of discussion and analysis among analysts and students, and will produce disciplined global citizens. 

REFERENCE:

Ibrahim U. (2019). Lack of patriots and Patriotism among Nigerian 

              citizens as a factors that hinder Nigerian Progress…….

Okonjo-Iwela N. (2018). Fighting corruption is dangerous: the story

           behind the headlines. MIT Press Cambridge, Massachusetts    

           London, England.

Oshimole’s Allegations of all illegal Diversion of Abacha Funds

          Baseless Okonjo-Iwela. 2015 Daily Post, December 10.

Abbas A. I. (2013). Post military era and the challenges of democratic

          Governance in Nigeria: African dynamic of social science     review

          Vol. 4. No 4, June, 2013 (56-70).

Achebe C. (2012). There was a country: a personal History of Biafra.

          Allen Lane an imprint Penguin Books.

Daily Trust Newspaper (2016)……..

Anifowose, R. & Enemuo, F. (2008). Element of Politics. Lagos: Sam 

                     Publications.

McCormick J. (2007). Comparative Politics in transition. Indian    

           University Purdue University Indianapolis 



Email:usmanalgurawy@gmail.com