THE NIGERIAN TRAGEDY by Yemi Obideyi

The troubles with governance in Nigeria are not only inherent but hydra-headed. A plunge into the parliamentary system of government in the 1950s (an inheritance from Britain, our colonial masters), could not tackle Nigeria’s basic problems. Three or more attempts at the American presidential form of government had brought her more woes. Shall we then talk about the military intermittent incursions that held the country for over a quarter of a Century and bruised our national psyche, fractured Nigeria's seed of nationhood with corruption missile. It is said commonly that the Nigerian situation is a tragedy. 

Tragedy  because, her plethora of human and material resources are easily dwarfed by her mounting and daunting leadership problems.

Selection or election of rulers into various arms of government had become a recalcitrant challenge to various political actors, parties and political organizations. In this regard, there had been several experiments including mergers of political parties, absorption, political plea bargaining, electoral reforms, unity government etcetera, yet, all to no avail.

Nomination of political appointees through political party bigwigs has left the nation with poor infrastructure, insensitive style of governance and disjointed policy action. “God -fatherism” in politics has caused untold destruction of lives and property in various states of the federation; fractionalized the populace into destructive opposition camps with attendant incidences of thuggery and wanton looting of the nation’s treasury.

Failure of the various leadership selection or recruitment processes to achieve meaningful development has made the situation complex and complicated.

It has, for instance, heightened political mis-alignment and professionals’ mis-adventure in politics.

Perhaps most painful is the fact that none of the various forms of government adopted or practiced so far has been able to integrate the multiple ethnic groups in the country since it came into being in 1914. Instead there has been a consistent emission of cultural dissonance among the groups, the struggle for identity and pre-eminence among religious and tribal entities.

WHY THE PROBLEMS LINGER

Over the years, the Nigerian situation has ebbed into large scale dis-orientation, mis-perception, mutual distrust and suspicion among the leadership and followership of ethnic groups, dove-tailing into partisanship, compromise, and impropriety in the civil service, parastatals and arms of government.

Indeed, attempts by both the political class and the authoritarian governments to forge a common front and raise the people’s consciousness above primordial cleavages failed to yield result even at the umpteenth time. The reasons are not far-fetched. For one, the various governments- civil and military- were based largely on ethnic considerations. 

Secondly, these governments’ efforts served only to assuage frayed nerves and calm rising tempers without tackling the issues from the roots. Again, there were inherent contradictions in the government themselves and the pod that produced them. Let us examine this further.

THE MILITARY:

The Nigerian armed forces framework is run largely on ethnic consideration. From recruitment through selection, placement and promotion, such factors as your state/place of origin and ethnic identity play crucial roles. 

In fact, it is viewed (erroneously though) as the first parameter of loyalty. To move up from the rank of a colonel to Brigadier-General for instance, your ethnic background becomes a crucial factor. So, by implications, these men in uniform see themselves primarily as representing their ethnic group as against the nation. Those of the same tribe prefer as usual to address themselves in their dialect so others could be easily shut out.

One of the dangers in nudging ethnic consciousness is that (unknown to many of us), there is no end to ethnocentrism. In other words, those who believe in it also outsmart one another as application of filial ties or sentiment shifts from tribes to minor groups and community. Ethnic definition often ebbs from national to zone, state, local government and minor groups, the clan, extended family, to the nuclear and even the individual involved.

Let us check out this illustration. Say, Abu is a Colonel in the Army and he is to be promoted to Brigadier-General on the basis of the state he represents. Thus, he becomes a Brig,-General from Ondo State, his state of origin. Then in government (Military Administration), a new hospital project is zoned to Ondo State, south western part of Nigeria. Abu then fights to ensure it is located in Ode-Aye, a town under Okitipupa Local Government area, where he hails from. Now, Abu’s promotion is no longer beneficial to the state as a whole but his home-town, Ode-Aye. He goes further to ensure his relations are employed in the hospital or be involved in its construction. In turn, these Abu’s people would view the hospital as their own largesse from the federal purse thus undermining discipline, uprightness or administrative propriety altogether. In some cases, the contractors to the project would not complete the job because the whole thing is seen “as our own share”. And do not forget that the whole matter began with enlisting and promoting Abu on ethnic or place of origin basis.

THE CIVILIAN :

Civilian administration on the basis of political party system cannot integrate ethnic groups into the grid of nationhood in Nigeria. Reasons are not far from the following:

Political party zoning system for appointment is anchored on tribe, ethnic group or location. From 1999 till date, each of the 36 states in Nigeria has one or two ministers at the federal level. The Nigerian Senate is made up three candidates or senators from each state of the federation. The House of Representatives comprises of members from each local government area of the country. Parastatals, ambassadorial appointments, extra-ministerial portfolios are all based on ethnic consciousness or balancing as against professionalism, knowledge or cognate experience.

Yet there is unending clamour by different ethnic groups for the position of the president. The South-South had dissipated a lot of energy and resources in this regard. The North- East is also campaigning vigorously for the same thing and so also are North-Central, North-West, South- East and the South- West.

The question however is – have the various positions already occupied on the basis of ethnic zoning or tribal consideration produced the desired result? Of course the answer is “no”. Shall we then continue to wallow in the same political parody or self delusion?.               

THE NEW DAWN

May your will, O Lord God, our Creator, be done in Nigeria.”

By all considerations and from all indications, no prayer is more important or appropriate than this one above now and in future.

The will of God usually, is a parcel that meets need. It satisfies need perfectly and accurately without adding sorrow, spot, wrinkle or blemish. And this is the uniqueness of the supremacy of God’s will.

Remember it is perfectly made to satisfy Need(s) not Want(s). When you attempt to satisfy wants with God’s will, you begin to delve into manipulation, mal-adjustment, deceit and falsehood. And no matter the sum of money, you decide to contribute to the construction of mosque or church cathedral (and their affiliates), or to give to the Alfa, Imam, or Pastors, Prophets, Reverend or beggars after manipulating God’s will to your own selfish advantage, you would have only succeeded in increasing your degree of inanity.

This is so because a part is a significant portion of the whole, and a whole is a reflection of the sum total of its parts.

A nation of ten people among whom two are owners of a number of luxury cars- Pajero, Lexus Jeep, Range Rovers, Mercedes V-12, BMW 7-Series, private jets etcetera- is at best a poor nation, for as long as the eight people in the population are in penury.

The Vision of the New Nigeria (VNN), centres on how to meet the need of the nation, through a re-channeling of our (mainly) human resource capabilities; sifting of our mentalities and re-directing our thought pattern, values and objectives.

In practical terms, the Vision of the New Nigeria captures the real issues bedeviling the Nigerian polity since inception and to which it provides a package of solution through a unique system of government called LIBERTOCRACY.

A system of government whereby participation is based on profession or legitimate occupation in a country. It refers to being free from the government by others and having a share in the government of the day through one’s occupation. In other words, each person belongs to the assembly of his or her profession and the unemployed belongs to the assembly of Labour till he or she secures a job or a legitimate occupation.

Quotes

“A nation of ten people among whom two are owners of a number of luxury cars- Pajero, Lexus Jeep, Range Rovers, Mercedes v-12, BMW 7-Series, private jets, etcetera- is at best a poor nation, for as lo as the eight people in the population are in penury.”

"what or which tribe does God like in Nigeria? Which ethnic group does God hate in Nigeria? Which ethnic group is God Himselk? What language does God speak? Is it Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba, Idoma, Ijaw, Ibibio - Which? Please your answer is needed.

A nation is one because of the people in it. The well-being of the majority of its population therefore defines its status. This is one thing we need to learn fast as Nigerians so that the grip of greed upon our hearts be eased out instantly.

It was never God’s intention originally for one person to speak and other would not understand. Opposition of man to God’s desire, purpose and direction brought about multiple languages. By all parameters, diverse languages had deterred man’s advancement more than any other factor you may think off. Diverse languages caused the first and second world wars. Ethnic clashes had wiped out millions of people across all the continents of the earth. Shall we then continue to widen the gap between one and the other through ethnocentrism? Now, the ball is in your court.