Through training and sheer instinct, the Columnist has been conditioned to search for utopia. He/she is in the perpetual quest for a better society. This is more so in a social formation like ours, where things are, what they are not supposed to be. Even then, and in the more settled societies, there is still a role for the Columnist. He is still to be found pointing out pitfalls and downsides in his own society. After all, there is no perfect society.
However, this fault-finding posture of the Columnist carries with it, its own danger. And the danger is that, there is the tendency to see only the thorns. Whereas in real life, though there may be thorns, yet a closer look will reveal that, there are in fact also roses . A cursory look at Nigerian newspapers and its Columnists reveals some stark realities which point to the fact that Nigeria is headed for the dustbin. Indeed, a recent report contends that Nigeria is in the same league as countries like Venezuela and Zimbabwe as far as governance credentials are concerned.
As a student of comparative politics, I know one or two things about these countries. As regards Caracas for instance, there was a strong man who in his quest to forge a strong linkage between oil and social justice, virtually brought the country to its knees. Moreover, big brother up there also poured oil into the fire. And the situation was such that even attempts were made on the life of the Venezuelan strong man. The ensuing outcome was hyperinflation, in which the Venezuelan currency began to look like a virtual phenomenon.
Luckily for us, we are yet to get to this point. Which is why, for whatever it is worth, the startling revelations by the Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki are worthy of commendation. Unknown to him, perhaps, the technocrat in him has blown an early warning whistle which would stem Nigeria’s slide into the hyperinflation which continues to hallmark Caracas and Harare. As regards the latter, it is worth stressing here that the conditions in that Southern African country are not exactly the same here. Perhaps the most obvious is that we do not have strong men like the late Zimbabwean leader. In that country, however, the external realm is also very hostile as in Caracas.
This cannot but be so in the light of what Robert Mugabe has done to the white settler farmers. He has seized their lands and same have been distributed to the black comrades and other cadres. The consequence has been some form of unremitting hostility from external forces that can be likened to what obtained in Venezuela. Luckily for us, such external forces are largely absent in Nigeria. Perhaps the only feature which comes close to that has to do with French presence in countries proximate to us. And in view of our status in the region, the posture of Paris has necessarily alternated between hostility and amity, depending on the circumstances. But back to Zimbabwe and Nigeria.
Recently in the course of my monthly health care regimen, (massage and the rest of it) I got talking with a masseur from Zimbabwe. I asked her why she was in Nigeria, when she could have plied her trade in any other country apart from Zimbabwe and Nigeria. Her reply took me aback. According to her, Zimbabwe is a country where, when you work, there is no guarantee that you will lead a comfortable life. Whereas in Nigeria, she was of the view that, when you work, the rewards are there. I had to do a reality check, as regards what I was hearing. For this was something being said about my country by an outsider, and it happens to be positive. It then occurred to me that, the way in which we see ourselves, may not be consistent with the way outsiders see us. At least, it is worth noting that as bad as we think things are, still here was a foreigner who was of the view that an organic linkage can be drawn between industry and the good life in Nigeria.
Incidentally, very much the same thing can be said about another lady from Namibia who had nothing but good things to say about Nigeria and Nigerians. According to her, her high school education was in Warri, Nigeria, where in her own testimony, she had a wonderful time by way of generosity from the Nigerian government on one hand, and Nigerians on the other. Such indeed was her love for the country that this has been rendered in more personal terms. She is now married to a Nigerian who is Namibian based. But her rosy story did not stop there.
She is currently engaged in selling Nigerian foods to the increasing Nigerian nationals in her country. In saying this, she was almost salivating about the pleasure embedded in Nigerian victuals. As if to crown her sweet story, her next plans were to relocate to Nigeria. On this platform, she is hoping to give the competition here a good run for its money by investing heavily in the business of Nigerian foodstuff sales.
Now can you beat that? In a country where individuals are heading to Europe, even via the Sahara desert; where people are voting with their feet to Canada, almost on a daily basis, yet we have this kind of roseate narrative. Hell, certainly is not here yet. And for us to stave it off, there is a lot of work to be done. Hence, the need for the constant interventions of the Columnist. But still, and in the process, the Columnist and other critics, should also appreciate from much of the foregoing that; thorns, as prickly as they are, still have roses.
Professor Kayode Soremekun is The Chairman, Editorial Board of BusinessDay.
