POVERTY IN THE MIDST OF PLENTY

Many finds it had to understand why Nigeria would be this poor despite the abundant resources,knowledge and man power. Many countries of the world didn't have half of what we have and they are doing so well above us. How then do we explain the inability of our leaders to effectively manage our natural and human resources to the benefit of Nigerians and the world.

This is my opinion boils down to management,leadership and understanding.

Using a football team as an example, A big team with abundant talents is more difficult to manage than a smaller team with less choice to select from. In a football team with less talents, the manager who serves as the leader just pick from the little options he had and that's it. Since everyone is just trying to be recognized,the level of threat,heat and pressure he receive is less,the team's management is hoping for good results but not at all cost. The team can with its little resources achieve the little it can and in some cases achieve a great success which usually come once in a while.

But in a big team with established stars,big players and management. Every player wants to play,which puts the manager in the middle of two lions,any choice he made would be questioned,he would be under constant pressure and any side he didn't choose would be angry and the management is just waiting to fire an under performing manager. If he make the wrong choice,the entire team would be down,the side he fielded would be criticized and so on. This situation can be compared to the Nigerian situation, a giant with abundant talents and resources,everyone is struggling to be relevant,any choice of the leader is questioned,he would want to maintain a balance and ensure everyone is satisfied,but it has always end up not satisfying anyone. Lack of a principled leadership is one way that brought us to this stage,wanting to satisfy everyone is another question which boil down to management and the lack of clear understanding of the situation and what to do is another issue.

Nigeria, a country of over 160million is not a football team,with over 320 ethnic groups and languages.

Poverty in the midst of plenty can not be justified in anyway,our leaders must learn to be principled,take reasonable,well researched and decisive decision. the citizens must be well briefed and their assistance must be sorted at all times, they must be allowed to understand the working process so as not to demand more than the government can deliver. A leader who wishes to lead such a country must have a clear entry and strategic goal to achieve and how to achieve it.