Nigeria, Which Way from Here?

NIGERIA, WHICH WAY FROM HERE?

     
Currently in the Nigerian polity especially on the socio-political platform, several unthinkable scenes have transpired in different occasions since the present administration assumed duty ranging from the #DasukiGate to rapid fall of the crude oil price, hiking of the petrol pump price, reemergence of Biafran agitation and Niger-Delta militancy, the governors’ protest over continued payment of the #18000 minimum wage, the alleged abrupt disappearance of original copy of the 2016 appropriation bill from the National Assembly, the ongoing drowsy physiognomy  of the Nigeria’s foreign exchange, among others too numerous to mention thereby posing a great threat to the country’s economy.

     
The aforementioned seemingly foreseen anomalies had made many of the country’s citizens both home and in the diaspora coupled with concerned observers to unequivocally insinuate that Nigeria has encroached her doomed state. Though such presumption or insinuation presently preoccupying the mindset of the majority of Nigerians might not be unconnected to the fact that quick assertion of conclusion to happenings is peculiar to the human nature, but it’s worthy to note that that isn’t a wholesome perception; hence, not acceptable.

     
Every sane being as well as anyone who thinks good of this country otherwise known as the ‘giant of Africa’ ought to be concerned with the way forward from this vertex of quagmire that seems not unlike a paradox. To this end, it’s needless to state that the topic of this piece was informed by this very fact – acknowledging the inevitable role of way forward in a situation like this.

       In any circumstance, while searching for the most viable way of settling a crisis or putting a holistic end to any menace, it is imperative to firstly ascertain the origin or rudimentary causes of the plight in question; therefore the ongoing societal crises in Nigeria won’t be an exception. In view of this obvious fact, there’s a compelling need for us to look inwards with a view to unraveling the genesis of this apparently poignant odyssey solely begotten by the country’s democratic era.

      
Thus, before seeking for the way out, the paramount question is, how did we get here? In some quarters, people are of the view that these predicaments are attributable to the 16-year misrule of the acclaimed largest political party in Africa – the People’s Democratic Party (PDP); some persons in their understanding are preoccupied with a belief that these plights are attributed to so much promises made by the ruling party – the APC; on another axis, people believe that most of the ongoing crises were occasioned by Nigeria’s unending sole dependence on the oil sector. Among all, some schools of thought are strongly of the opinion that the origin of this state of poignancy is traceable to the presumed high level of docility that marred the Goodluck Jonathan’s leadership.

      If I must be vocal or if I’m bound to speak wholly, in a concise term I would say that there are two major factors responsible for all these brouhahas currently ravaging all facets of our economy. One of the factors is that those whom are negatively affected by the ongoing anti-graft war or whom have perceived a ‘witch-hunt’ as the case may be have vowed to make the country ungovernable by the President Mohammadu Buhari’s led administration.

     
The second factor is scepticism; many Nigerians are still sceptical over the established notion that President Buhari was the awaited Messiah; people are still sceptical over the sincerity surrounding the ongoing colossal anti-corruption cases; the electorate are sceptical over the anticipated actualization of the 2016 proposed budget; people are still sceptical if this administration truly has a genuine agenda that would lead this country to the anticipated promised-land. Therefore, the two factors are: the wrong use of opposition in a democratic dispensation as well as scepticism on the part of the electorate which is not unusual. Any interregnum often yields scepticism, apprehension, uncalled fear and what have you.

      Undoubtedly, in a situation like this, it is the prerogative of everyone to nurture or be entitled to his/her own opinion. But for the interest of Nigeria whom is already crying foul, we are not meant to be concerned or bothered over people’s personal opinions rather how to salvage them from this untold hardship irrespective of whose ox is gored. Thus at this juncture, the most consequential and rational question becomes, which way from here?

     
For the present administration to be thoroughly described and recognized as a responsible and responsive administration, it must be willing and ready to absorb constructive criticism, which remains an inevitable veritable tool in nation-building. It is expected to spread its hands open for any form of criticism that is aimed at addressing any anomaly or ill.

      In the same vein, the administration must at all cost be willing to adhere to the principle guiding the rule of law. If anyone detained by the EFCC or the DSS has reached or tendered all the required conditions for him to be bailed, he should be released without much ado prior to when next he would needed for further scrutiny or interrogation; it is only the military that does not understand the language of bail. To restrict the person’s movement afterwards or after the bail, they must endeavour to seize his/her International Passport or travelling documents.

      And anyone who is still in detention that pleads to be allowed to see his doctor abroad or claims to be passing through a severe medical condition, should be allowed to travel out but in custody of the DSS, EFCC or ICPC as the case might be, or better still his doctor should be invited from abroad to attend to him in the cell. We must note that the person’s health condition is very crucial in such situation; a detainee must be medically sound to enable him/her pass through any stress during arraignment. In other words, one must be alive to attend to any query.

     
More so, the government ought to be prepared to charge accused persons to court because Nigerians can’t wait to witness such scenario. Everyone yearns for pragmatic and tangible approach towards tackling corruption, and unarguably it is only the judiciary that can showcase the anticipated scene. Corrupt people shouldn’t just return the stolen monies and be allowed to go scourge free; if such tradition is to be upheld, subsequently public office holders would attempt to steal more public funds in their custodies since they would only be asked to return them thereafter.

       Regarding the renewed Biafran agitation, I urge the government to handle the matter with extreme diplomacy. First, it ought to endeavour to unravel what actually prompted the reemergence of a protest that is believed to have faded off long ago, after all the aggrieved group in question have a constitutional right to ask for freedom if they feel marginalized; hence they deserve a fair hearing. Thus, the treasonable felony established against the leader of the IPOB, Mr Nnamdi Kanu should be reviewed in earnest for the interest of Nigeria in its entirety.

     
Above all, the 2016 proposed budget was estimated on the targeted oil benchmark of $38 per barrel but right now, the oil benchmark is already $27 per barrel and it is liable to fall further; this simply implies that for the said budget to be feasible when duly implemented, the government must not compromised every effort targeted towards diversification of the sources of the country’s economy. Against this backdrop, I enjoin the government to take the education, health, tourism and agricultural sectors as priorities; the aforesaid sectors that were maltreated in the past need to be strengthened headlong.

     
The educational arena requires a drastic upgrade in order to encourage entrepreneurship drive among our young ones; the health sector cannot be neglected because ab initio billions of naira are invariably sent to foreign nations by the rich for payment of medical treatments to the detriment of our foreign reserve. This country is blessed with enormous cultural heritage, hence should be harnessed for the sake of tourism. The governors, rather than depending solely on the federal allocation should also be mandated to follow suit as regards diversification of their IGRs in their respective states to enable them not to see the continued payment of the #18000 minimum wage as a far-fetched concernment.

       On their part, the electorate must learn how to use civil language while tendering lamentations, criticisms, protests, media commentaries and so on, if truly they pray and earnestly seek for a salvaged Nigeria. At least the political wills being showcased by this administration deserve some credit or kudos; thus let’s exercise a little faith while we wait, after all Rome wasn’t built in a day. Think about it!

Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor