Opinions

REGURGITATING AND RECEDING THE DEBILITATION OF THE NIGERIAN PAST DECADES

By Dr. Abdulkareem Onakoya (PhD, FNIMC)

Nigeria ignorantly and unmindfully got her independence from the British colonial trap on the 1st of October, 1960 with little or no cognition of the task and business of self-rule. Hence, the celebration of the clandestined, hushed, superstitious ceremony today.

Resoundingly, China is also celebrating her independence with much enthusiasm and super-power prowess in the comity of nations.

Cyprus on the other hand is jubilating in her 19th year of joining the European Union showcasing steady growth and unprecedented economic recovery with gallantry national pride among equals.

Nigeria and China celebrating their independence days today is really a coincidence with a socio-economic lesson to learn from. When the PRC leaders and 300,000 Chinese converged at the Tian’anmen square on October 1st 1949 to celebrate the birth of a new China, they visualised a more common concern for a nation of their own. And truly, they are having it.

Along the same lines, Cyprus is not only making landmark economic growth and social breakthroughs since her freedom from the same British government and military occupation from 1914 to 1960, but also charting new routes to achieve greater fortunes in the international community.

The Nigerian experience is better imagined than described with nothing but nothing to show for our 63 years of sovereignty amid gloomy economic conditions, uncertainty and discontent over the political imbalances of the state.

It is always assumed that any sane individual who by the power of being surmounts the critical age of 40 and or 50 is characterised with certain behavioural traits which must be welcomed as being matured or ‘of age’. Nigeria is not likely to be in this radar in another 63 years to come.

A 63-year old man who cannot feed himself properly, lamed by his uncleaned sores and blinded by his self inflicted viruses could be tagged an idiot for his ‘uncleverness’.

While the citizens of the aforementioned nations are always happy being identified with their countries, the case of a typical Nigerian is so worrisome to be associated with the ‘green-white-green’ talk less of possessing the green passport.

Chief Obafemi Awolowo conjured the nation’s status before independence as a “mere geographical expression”, while Ahmadu Bello attributed the sustainability of our visioned greatness to “strong foundation of autonomy for diverse nationalities”.

From the failed democracy in the nation to dilapidated educational institutions with crippling economy. The nation has failed the litmus test for quite a number of years in the hands our clueless leaders.

The UNDP’s Human Development index 2023 placed Nigeria in the 164th out of 191 nations of the world. These indices were the health, education, economic, social and political sectors.

The average global GDP in 2022 was $12,607 according to WorldData, Nigeria stood at $2,184 compared to Brazil’s $8,918, South Africa’s $6,776 and Egypt’s $4,295 (The Punch, 1/10/2023).

Some developing countries in the world are using the ‘green economy’ to boost development and growth in the face of the current global crisis and the relics of the COVID-19 surge, Nigeria is busy loosing our arable lands to ‘unguided’ housing estates and property development.

Out-of-school children in the country according to UNESCO in 2022 are estimated to be 20 million out of the world’s estimate of 224 million. Though, efforts were made by the government and the international community to reduce this, but the prevalence is still not limited to a normal minimum (The Guardian Newspaper, 2023).

We are in the 10th Republic of democratic rule. No doubt that we should be able to conduct free and fair elections for the sustainability of our national pride. Only the 2023 general elections produced more than 2,576 different electoral cases of irregularities. Ranging from certificate forgeries, incompetence, frauds, over-voting etc.

Insecurity is another danger to battle with. In the just released 2023 Global Organised Crime Index, Nigeria is 6th in the rank. Between 1999 and 2022, over 80,000 were feared to have been killed by terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, Boko Haram, Fulani Herdsmen, ISWAP etc.

The killings of rival cult gangs is also on rampage. The brutal murder of Ilerioluwa (Mohbad) few weeks ago tells the nation of a new wave of terror in the land. Many more of Mohbad’s were not reported anyways, but that portends an alarm for insecurity in the country.

The agony of the common man seems unending as the current administration is likely not to put the smile on his face. Since the era of subsidy removal began in May, scores of unfriendly policies have been on the increase.

All things being equal, the nation will witness yet another economic crisis with the threat of strike by the labour this week. The week of Nigerian Independence. What a BIRTHDAY GIFT !!!

Cries and clamours have all failed to call the government to order and make it ‘reason’ for a while. Measures to cushion effects of the ‘self-understood’ reasons for the subsidy removal would have been put in place before the action is necessitated. This is sane enough.

Worried enough, the exchange rate of dollar to naira is going beyond the reach of the common man. The price of the cooking gas is also skyrocketing. As at this morning (1/10/2023), a kilogram goes for N1,000. Bread is becoming a ‘recipe’ for the rich.

Only those in government are surviving. This at the expense of over 219.5 million Nigerians. The percentage of these set of people according Essien, 2023 is put at 0.56% of the total population. What a bitter proportion !!!

Most Nigerians leaving the country perform creditably well in other countries. The Migration Policy Institute, Washington, US says that Nigerians are the most educated foreigners in the country (NPI-US, 2023).

Over 40% of foreigners providing health care services in the UK are Nigerians trained with our resources but couldn’t wait to be subdued by the unstable economy.

The Arab world is also feeling the impacts of our best brains. In their pools of academics, Nigerians are seen as leading visiting and seasonal academics. Statistics show that not less than 504,457 Nigerians are in various Arab states performing wonders and salvaging their economies (Adewale, 2022).

While regionalism and ‘sectional government’ could be very important to be revisited and re-engaged, the existing state of togetherness can still be put on the front-burner to make hay in the shining sun.

Urgent and unreversed ‘thinkable economic policies’ are needed to support the dwindling economy from total collapse.

Agricultural development is also imperative for national growth at this juncture. Local farmers and other palliative measures must be called to work.

We can use our bountiful natural resources, good geographical position, population density, academic prowess and lots more to invite better days ahead and maintain our continental standard as the Giant of Africa.

Enough of unholy activities against the labour. Nigeria stands to loose more N1.34trn daily if the sector is allowed to embark on the planned strike.

Our leaders waste much more funds on frivolities and ‘holiday things’ in order to better their lots alone and alone.

Each passing decade should be characterised with resounding success as we can see in the cases of China, Cyprus, North and South Koreas, Japan, US and the likes.

Dr. Abdulkareem Onakoya (PhD, FNIMC), is a Lecturer at the Department of Political Science, Lagos State University of Education, Oto-Ijanikin, Lagos, Tel:- +2348026621805, Email:- onakoyaa@lasued.edu.ng

editor

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