The table turned and the circumstances ran at variance. From melodious chants of glory the tune transitioned few years after achieving self-rule to sorrowful cries of dismay pummeled by series of recorded administrative failures. Today, Nigeria 61 years after liberation, falls within the ring of nations faring below average with handful of years post-colonial control.
They say you can give a man the world and all its luxuries but still bear the brunt of his rapacious rebellion inasmush as his Liberty to incisive choice between things and stands of varying divides falls under your supportive adjudication even when this was done for his end return betterment. A relating case study in how nations under colonial influence bred agile fighters that triumphed in crushing the walls of coercive dependence, consequently fulfilling the dreamed freedom of self determination by undeterred means of secular and spirited resistance. Freedom was afterall believed to be innate for Mankind; its denial thus risks a full scale confrotation with a stimulus of natural instinctive objection. To this end, Jean-Paul Sartre opined that Man is condemned to be free; because once thrown into the world, he is responsible for everything he does.
How ironic it may seem, still what trails the attainment of independence was not always that pictured dreamland of sweetness and joy. It was, when the initial plans put forward by early national heroes were maintained as the rigid foundation upon which the country is built, eschewing differences to chase a uniform cause of rounding up a great sovereign nation supported by stiff pillars of astonishing unity formed from decentralized diversity. Like how the aftermath of the famous 1775 American war of independence that saw the disconnection of American people from the influence of their British colonial masters showed the country’s spear progress in almost every field of human and capital development made her undisputed accession to the seat of super power century after independence inevitable. The United States got to where it is credit to coordinated leadership principled with strict policy preservation. This was but otherwise for some nation post-colonial rule. The table turned and the circumstances ran at variance. From melodious chants of glory the tune transitioned few years after achieving self-rule to sorrowful cries of dismay pummeled by series of recorded administrative failures. Today, Nigeria 61 years after liberation, falls within the ring of nations faring below average with handful of years post-colonial control.
Nigeria after independence perhaps would have fared as one of the leading nations of the world as it manifested signs of promising beginning, but the excesses of its citizens, especially the leaders have been the dog in the manger. Following the assassination of nearly all the first set of nationalist leaders that secured the country’s freedom, the subsequent set of leaders that emerged succeeded in planting the seed of the country’s misfortunes by injecting life to some primordial customs and standards that were a threat to the oneness of Nigeria as polity. No sooner did their emergence into power than they were found to be overtly and covertly reviving ethnic chauvinism. Thus, upholding the interest of the nation that was earlier seen as a national cause and patriotism, slowly began to be politicised, regionalized and ethnicised. Albeit before long their true colors started to show and their actions noted that they were all with one mission; that is personal wealth accumulation. The ethnicism was apparent showdown to entice their fellow tribes men into electing them to positions of authority where they would pursue nothing but their own individual gains. This political mischief continued from one generation of leaders to another and up to today, exploitation of Nigeria’s resources at the detriment of Nigerians remains their trademark way of governance.
Nigeria laments and identifies corruption as the main cause of all her woes and miseries. This is the same corruption many previous administrations spent huge amount, sponsored several campaigns and established parastatals for its annihilation. In fact, the current administration was voted into power with its main policy thrust being the termination of corruption. But it may surprise many to know that there was never a corrupt-free administration in the recorded history of mankind and there certainly would never be. Many developed countries of the world have filthy corrupt politicians and that stands not a hindrance to their progress as nations.
The difference lies in accountability and level of tolerance to the abominable act. In many countries, if authorities were found guilty of such offence, they are usually meted by strict penalties. And still some may have numerous corruption scandal engagements during their time in power yet somehow managed to dodge scrutiny although one thing remains a given, that is they must deliver when discharging their duties to a level enough to serve as a filip that will sway the minds of public from having second thoughts on their integrity. Else they risk sailing under heavy storm of invective immediately new faces occupy the offices. There have been several corruption cases in the United States. Ranging from mail and wire fraud, honest services fraud, bribery and many more. In Germany, a survey shows that 11% of the respondents claim to have been asked to pay bribe at one point in their life and only few of those said that they had refused to pay the bribe. Yet investors never consider corruption a problem in these countries.
The situation on this part flows in antithesis. Here the leaders will loot public funds like the entire treasury is their hard earned fortune, exhaust their spells with nothing good to write home about yet shamelessly and craftily ride on the gullibility of the citizens to return to power with the same devilish mindset. How the country is spurring in the wrong direction got to be painful for any right thinking Nigerian, and with the current trend of things, one can only be hopefully optimistic.
Faruk Abdulkadir Waziri
farukakwaziri019@gmail.com
