“He loves the
display of power but fails to realize its responsibility. He will work hard
with a less incentive than most races. He has the courage of the fighting
animal, an instinct rather than a moral virtue.” - LORD LUGARD.
Eighty- seven years ago, the comments in quote above were made by the first British (Colonial) Governor-General of Nigeria, Lord Lugard, in his analysis of Nigerians as a type of race in Africa.
In 1926, when Lugard made these statements, Nigerians had
not been voted into any position of political relevance or appointed into
portfolio of administrative significance.
The highest Nigerians had attained then was the role granted some kings
or Emirs to serve as intermediaries between the people and the colonial
administrators. Even then, the arrangement could not hold for too long as the
British Government strengthened its hold and “conquered” the territories
thereby relegating the Emirs and Kings.
The questions then arise: What did Lugard see in 1926
that gave him the impression that Nigerians love to display power but fail to
appreciate its responsibility?
Beside the fact that Nigeria was not yet into politics as
at that time, it makes sense to note that, twelve years after the merger of the
Northern and Southern Protectorates in 1914, Nigeria was still preponderantly
administered separately along the lines of barrier created by distance and
language.
The multi-ethnic groups submerged under three major languages (Igbo,
Yoruba and Hausa) were individually at different stages of civilization. How
then did Lugard arrive at the conclusion that the same traits pin-pointed by
him were inherent in all of the groups. Can we trust Lugard? Was he right or
totally off the track?
Again, let us examine carefully the issues he raised.
First, that Nigerians love to crave for power and show off with it but detest
the real reason for the power (responsibility).
Secondly, that Nigerians in
particular and Africans in general can work extra hard with little or next to
nothing incentive than any other race on earth. Thirdly, that Nigerians and
Africans do have courage to tackle opponents or an enemy, but that this ability
to face pain or handle danger is not borne out of moral strength, instead, a
product of instinct typical of a fighting animal. Now, which of these
viewpoints of Lugard is untrue? Let us begin the journey from the last point.
Are Nigerians courageous? Do Nigerians have what it takes
to intimidate an opponent? Are Nigerians distinguished as a people without
fear? Yes they are. In fact Nigerians are noted for boldness across the world.
Boldness for what? Boldness for crime
and fearlessness in taking shortcuts. On
how to circumvent a system, Nigerians are “respected”. The neighbouring
countries do pay special attention to Nigerians and anything from Nigeria. The
other day a Nigerian so desperate to travel out of the country, wangled his way
into the engine compartment of a commercial aircraft, and by the time the
aircraft touched down in the United States, his body had been crushed beyond
recognition.
Courage, being the grace to confront challenges without
fear, could be derived from instinct or virtue. When it is of virtue, it is
buoyed up by morality, ethics and social treasure like trust, nationhood and
patriotism. This way, it gives room for harmony, consistency, sustainable
coordination, and progression.
The courage fathomed of instinct, on the other hand,
lacks savvy, longevity, sustainable sense of rationality and character.
Usually, it is ferried in different direction by the wind. It is driven by the
desire to survive for the moment. Instinctive courage has no staying power, no
coordination and is bereft of wisdom for, it is all about what the personality
involved can eat, gain or get.
Through the wisdom and ingenuity of Chief Obafemi
Awolowo, then as the first Premier and leader of the defunct Western Nigeria
government, acquired television transmission facilities in the 60s well ahead
of some European countries. Over fifty years later, Nigeria has no television
viewing set made on her soil; instead, the nation is still heavily dependent on
other nations not only for the technology but also for TV viewing set and
cables. Many of the countries Nigeria imports from now had access to TV
facilities only after Nigeria.
The Liberty
stadium in Ibadan, Oyo state capital, South West Nigeria, built under the leadership
of Awolowo was the first of its kind in Africa. It was put up with high hope
and great expectation about 50 years ago. Today, not only has sporting
activities nosedived in Nigeria, her facilities have become shadows of
themselves. To prepare for major sporting competition, Nigeria has become
notorious for hiring sporting facilities of other nations. Year in year out,
huge resources are spent on taking her sportsmen and women to other nations in
preparation for tournaments. The immediate consequence of this is that her
abundant talents and resources in sports and other areas of human endeavours
are wasted, handicapped and underutilized.
Power supply in Nigeria as at now is less than 35
percent. A lot of manufacturing companies had closed down due to poor power
supply and high cost of running factories on generating sets. In Nigeria, the
parastatal responsible for power generation, transmission and distribution
actively powers its own offices by generator. Not that alone, when these low
capacity generators are due for servicing or repairs, contractors are invited
to fix the problems.
(To be continued)
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