Against the backdrop of increasing socio-economic and political challenges that have hampered Nigeria’s progress since Independence in 1960, government at all levels has been urged not to engage in wasteful celebration but to use the occasion of the commemoration of the anniversary to reflect on the mournful state of the country.
This is because other nations that Nigeria was seen as having much more potential for growth and development than in 1960 such as Indonesia and South Korea have since gone on to emerge as part of the exclusive club of 20 most industrialised nations on earth or G-20.
Speaking differently with BusinessDay on their individual assessment and way forward for Nigeria, Balarabe Musa, a former governor of Old Kaduna State; Ayo Adebanjo, leader of the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere; Guy Ikokwu, a Second Republic politician; Dauda Birma, a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and former education minister, among others said they were not satisfied at the level of progress Nigeria has made in the last 59 years.
In a statement, a copy of which was sent to BusinessDay, a group, The Guild of Public Affairs Analysts of Nigeria, noted that Nigeria, since 1960, has continued to oscillate from one self-inflicted crisis to another, which have left her far behind her peers.
The group said that “Heightened insecurity in the country leading to continuous kidnappings, maiming and killing of innocent Nigerians has become a serious concern to all Nigerians. The economy has gone from bad to worse, causing many industries to close down with attendant job losses. With huge number of Nigerians pushed into the labour market; emigration to other countries including South Africa has exposed Nigerians to hatred and unnecessary deaths.”
Balarabe Musa, a former governor of the Old Kaduna State, said that there was nothing to celebrate in the 59 years of the country, adding that the only difference is that it is still a united country despite the crises.
“There is nothing to be proud of in the 59 years that the country has had independence; except that despite our problems we still remain one nation,” Musa added.
Blaming the woes of the country on bad leadership, the former presidential candidate of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP), said: “The only way to move forward is to change the faulty system that has continued to enthrone bad leadership. I believe we have stagnated. What is happening now is that all of them are after their personal interest and it should not be so; it has to change to the public interest. We have not been able to ensure peace and justice, which is why development would be difficult for the country.”
Musa also said that restructuring of the country has become inevitable if Nigeria was to get out of its current woes.
“I agree with the call for restructuring. I agree that we should go back to the regional system; each region should have its own constitution which should be consistent with the federal constitution.
“No state in Nigeria is presently viable, but I believe the regions should control their resources and use it to develop themselves. With this, they would be more viable; even Lagos State is not viable now,” he said.
Speaking in similar vein, Ayo Adebanjo, leader of the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, said that the nation had stagnated, while advocating for a new constitution to address the nation’s multifarious challenges.
“We are not making any progress as a country; if you want to be sincere with yourself, you would admit that we have retrogressed. We have to move away from the current constitution. The current constitution has to change to a federal constitution; so that we can address the several issues affecting the country. Look at the security state of the country and all that. Everything has collapsed in Nigeria. We are just patching up,” Adebanjo said.
Speaking to BusinessDay on the way forward for Nigeria, Guy Ikokwu, a Second Republic politician, said leadership was at the core of the country’s problems, and that it must also leverage technology like other countries to succeed in the present age.
“The solution for Nigeria as in other countries is leadership, ICT capabilities, technical and scientific education to elevate our capacities in the productive sectors for the sake of our present children and children unborn,” he said.
Ikokwu further said: “Let us ensure that henceforth, we all abide by the fundamental objectives and directive principles of state policy in our constitutions. That the Federal Government of Nigeria shall be a state based on the principles of democracy and social justice.
“That sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria from whom government derives ALL its powers and authority.
“That security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government, and that accordingly, national integration shall be actively encouraged whilst discrimination on the grounds of place of origin, sex, religion, status, ethnic or linguistic association or ties shall be prohibited”.
Dauda Birma, a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and former education minister in the late Sani Abacha era, said: “The agitations and uprising we are seeing today have their root in what happened in the civil war days that have not been properly addressed. I cannot tell you that I am happy the way things are going in the country. I have more fears than hope, because every passing day, new agitations and challenges show up.
“There is an adversarial development between government and the governed, and it is growing on a daily basis. In consonant with my age and experience, I do not like what I am seeing. I just hope that God will intervene, because without God intervening, the adversarial relationship between the government and the governed may even grow worse and new problem could emerge. I cannot tell you that I am optimistic about the signs that I see. I hope God will set our affairs in order in spite of us.” Solomon Kumangar, director-general media and communication to the Adamawa State Governor, who spoke with our correspondent in Yola, urged all Nigerians to work in unity to realise the dream of the founding fathers of Nigeria.
“Our forefathers had a vision to see a country that is united; they had a vision to see a country where every Nigerian would be his/her brother’s keeper, but certain developments recently have intended to give an impression that a knife has been put on the rope that binds us and things have fallen apart. But in spite of all the challenges, Nigeria is a country that is full of potentials only that we have to rise up and realise that we cannot continue to live on a potential of greatness alone. We must put ourselves together and ensure that the greatness which we ever dream that Nigeria will become is achieved in our life time,” Kumangar said.
The Guild of Public Affairs Analysts of Nigeria further said: “A country that is still grappling with a mere 4,500 megawatts of electricity for a population of 180 million people cannot be said to have done well in the provision of electricity. Tertiary institutions are churning out hundreds of thousands of half-baked graduates yearly without industries to absorb them due to lack of infrastructural support. Recall, Egypt and South Africa with population figures of 81 million and 43 million, respectively, generate about 45,000 mega watts each.”
Ayo Oyoze Baje, president of the group in the statement, said: “Health tourism has become a norm as the leaders patronise foreign hospitals because local hospitals are decrepit and one doctor attends to 5,000 people as against one doctor to 600 patients as recommended by United Nations.
“Nigeria is now the poverty capital of the world and may likely overtake India in October as open defecation capital of the world! These are not indices that should prompt any serious-thinking nation to celebrate.”
It further noted that “Everything is virtually being imported; from ordinary toothpick to toothbrush and rice. Certainly, this is neither development nor independence. In view of the aforementioned, it will be unnecessary for billions of naira to be earmarked and the drums rolled out to celebrate the 59th independence anniversary in a country that is not truly independent in the true meaning of the word. It should be a period of reflection for the ruling class.”
Zebulon Agomuo & Iniobong Iwok
