Review of Grace and Guts (3)

This is the final part of the remarkable book, ‘Grace and Guts’, by Edoleyi Andrew Egonmwan. The interesting thing is that aspects of the author’s life mirror the various milestones of the Nigerian nation. When the author was born in 1945, the process of decolonization was on. Nigeria was in a ferment. The drums of the nationalists were beating fast and furious. What was essentially responsible for the situation was that in 1945, the Second World War had just ended. It was a situation which brought in its wake certain consequences. Perhaps the most important of these was the demystification of the white man and the imperial nations, like France and England.

Again, by the time Andrew was finishing high school at the age of 15 in 1960 – some 55 years ago – Nigeria was in the grips of another expectation. The colonialists had formally withdrawn to be replaced by the black elite, i.e., Nigerians. This watershed was amply captured by Andrew in his book. According to him, there were parades even in rural Irrua to celebrate Nigeria’s Independence. He reveals further that one of his contemporaries was a nephew of one of the new ministers. This colleague of his was thus invited to Lagos, and he regaled them with stories of how Independence was celebrated in Lagos, the then capital of Nigeria. Incidentally, and as I write, this momentous occasion has just been celebrated in the country.

The seductive figure of 55 constitutes some form of attraction. And, the omniscient observer cannot but appreciate from the newspapers a clear mood of cautious optimism as regards what Independence since 1960 has meant for Nigerians. Indeed, it is possible to summarize the mood thus: the euphoria is over; series of broken dreams and dashed hopes have laid the country low. Clearly, this beleaguered nation continues to punch below her weight.

Evidently, this kind of introspection did not feature in this book – at least, not yet. This is because Andrew had a life to lead. Thus it was that in 1967, when hostilities commenced between Nigeria and the then Biafra, Andrew registered formally as potential member of the elite by commencing the study of Economics at the University of Ibadan. Thus, not for Andrew the hardships and deprivations of the war.

On this note, it is possible to visualize another scenario. In 1967, when the war started, Andrew was in the prime of his youth. He was 22 years old. If he had been in Biafra, and of Igbo origin, he could well have been one of the casualties of the war, since he would have been pressed into active service. And, who knows, the consequences would have been mortal. But then, the Higher Being preserved him.

The preservation was such that as he was graduating in 1970, the Nigerian nation was also emerging from the civil war. Thus, armed with a degree in Economics, Andrew entered the world of work. And as fate would have it, his first port of call was the then Standard Bank of Nigeria – now First Bank.

After some near heart-breaking experiences, Andrew managed to climb the greasy pole of the corporate ladder. His ascent was so momentous that by the relatively young age of 41, Andrew had become an executive director of two banks in quick succession. He initially served at the Nigerian Industrial Bank and later at Union Bank.

Success, so to say, has arrived. The boy who was born under very unfavourable circumstances had made it. He could now count himself as one of the notables of the society. But can the same thing be said for Nigeria? The answer comes forth with a resounding NO.

Andrew himself echoes these numbing sentiments in the later part of his book. On this note, Andrew laments in the book that it would appear that we were better off several years and decades ago and particularly had a better sense of direction in our distant past. Hard words. Even then, Andrew was not done yet about the Nigerian condition or non-condition. This is because he goes on to state that Nigeria as a nation does not have a lot to show in terms of improvement in the living standards of the people. The majority of the people still live below the poverty line. Social amenities and infrastructure, such as good roads, electricity, good educational and health institutions and, indeed, potable water, have unfortunately remained a mirage.

The lamentation by Andrew goes on with perhaps more candour that corruption, waste, greed, and outright stealing of the nation’s resources have continued to plague the nation. It is incontrovertible that much of what the author has written here is virtually a report card on Nigeria at 55. This is why the book in its own way speaks eloquently to the past, present and future of this beleaguered country.

But despite my enjoyment of this well-written book, it was still marked by a number of errors. All the same, there is a lot to be said for this book. Enjoy it. It will be worth your while.

Kayode Soremekun