Any man at age 60 is a full-fledged adult and by all reckonings is considered an elder of the society. Nigeria is an elder today and is expected to stand out with accomplishments that would naturally be expected of countries that have attained this age bracket. The celebration of any anniversary is something that is expected to evoke so much joy and cause people to roll out the drums, adorn their best attire and jump out to catch fun.
That is exactly what we ought to expect celebrating an elder like Nigeria but today the reverse is the case feeling the pulse of Nigerians. It is inconceivable and difficult to explain why Nigeria has moved from bad to worse and putting every foot wrong in its development efforts. Nigeria is highly endowed with human and natural resources with huge potential to stun the world with earth shaking break through
It is sad that we have continued to wobble from one point to another. There is a pervading deep feeling of disillusionment and loss of hope among the people leading many to conclude that there is nothing to celebrate but lots of woes to lament. It is difficult to place a finger on the actual cause of the matter that has lowered Nigeria but what cannot be ruled out according to political observers is the bad leadership which has been identified as the natural disaster of the country.
Leadership has long been identified as captured by the late legendary writer Chinua Achebe when he declared in his famous book ‘The trouble with Nigeria’ that leadership is Nigeria’s greatest challenge. Ever since he made this declaration the country has yet to find its bearing in terms of leading the people aright in its journey of development. Other people have also anchored the problem on what they refer to as the faulty foundation in which the colonial overlords lumped different ethnic groups together.
Taking stock from the beginning it is never an encouraging tale, nothing appears to be working. The health sector, infrastructural development, security, education, electricity, agriculture, welfare issues and other indices of development are in a sorry state. Injustice, corruption, ethnicism, inequity pervades the landscape. This has led to various agitations for a separatist state that is now threatening the peace of the state. Nigeria has continued to prod on like a rudderless ship.
Some hold the views that Nigeria has made giant strides in development focusing their argument on the physical structures that are springing up here and there. This by the reckoning of economists doesn’t translate to real development taking into account that it does not real generate real growth. However, it is not to say that the country has not been able to hold its ground in certain areas among the comity of nations.
Nigeria has made significant impact and raised its head up in sports competitions especially in football. At individual levels we have produced giants that can rate among the bests in the world in various endeavours. Nigerians are making waves in various parts of the world acquitting themselves in intellectual activities. At leadership levels they have been found worthy to hold political offices in the same developed nations that they look up to as role models and who at the same time despise their level of developments.
We have heard that it can never be too late for a new beginning. Whatever shortcoming we are experiencing can be remedied. The country needs to go back to the drawing board and rediscover the abode of peace which appears its greatest challenge at the moment. Nothing can ever work in an environment of discord such as we have where everyone is working at cross purposes and struggling to promote ethnic interest. This is quite unhealthy and antithetical to development.
Nigeria’s ethnic groups at present are singing discordant tunes with the major ones angling for separatist states to actualize their dream because according to them they have been badly short changed in the Nigeria project which they further claim holds no future. The agitations are strong and growing by the day. It puts the unity of the country in quandary.
News Echo appeals to the leadership of the nation to bring back the country from the collapse it is headed to.
This it can achieve by sincerely committing in words and actions to respond to the yearnings of the majority of Nigerians and make the country safe and secure for habitation. Until Nigerians begin to feel safe with each other without the thoughts of superiority of one race against another we may still be on a wild goose chase. The peace and unity of this country should be the topmost agenda and priority of all governments. It should go beyond lip service.
The situation at hand is still redeemable but if we choose to remain insincere and uncommitted as usual pretending to be doing right, then Nigeria’s emancipation remains a long walk to freedom.
