This question was first provoked by a United
States security analysis in 2009 which said, in
effect, "No!". And the Government of Nigeria, bristling with
outrage, asserted otherwise. The truth is that we have never lacked words in
Nigeria. But words are not action, nor do they
correct the impact of negative actions. As we inch
towards the political watershed of 2015, the
dissonance between words and action, along with
insincere, incompetent and malicious governance, could make seers of the Americans. For some people, all we have to do to make
Nigeria better is replace the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) with another party. That is simplistic. Our problem is not about
parties; it is about the Nigerian politician. That
explains why, at the National Assembly which has
emerged as some kind of legitimized looting
institution, there are no arguments between
parties, as they all have equal access to the money. There are no party differences or loyalties
there. Will there be a difference in approach should one
of the new parties win at the centre in 2015? Not
unless such a party, long before that time, can
demonstrate the mettle of which it is made. We already know there are two conflicting
Nigerias, whatever direction you look. For
instance, there are those who have, and those
who lack. Those who have, usually people with access to the
government, often have a ton of money lying
around, but with money-laundering being
considerably more difficult these days, they spend
the funds on property: expensive homes, land,
and cars. They would repeat that scenario in another town,
another city, their home village, and sometimes
your village or mine. Most of the $18 billion that is
guzzled by corruption in Nigeria every year goes
towards feeding this monster, which feeds private
greed but not the economy. All over Nigeria, those who lack continue to grow
poorer and more disenchanted. While the country
is dotted all over by expensive property into which
stolen funds have been deployed, our people are
dying: hunger, road crashes on account of
horrendous roads; in armed robbery because there is no security; and from guns shot by
policemen or soldiers that are more dangerous
than kidnappers or religious zealots. We have
neither hospitals for our families nor jobs for our
children. Two more Nigerias: the rift between the moral
space and the political. Think about it: President Goodluck Jonathan says
he does not "give a damn" about declaring his
assets, that is, about leading by example. Yet the same man says he has a "transformation"
agenda. How can you lead the way forward when
you cannot lead by example, that is, when you are
behind? How can you transform when you are
unformed or-worse still-malformed? The natural order for national transformation is
that first, you must provide the moral framework,
or compass. Only then can you provide a political
or economic compass. It is the absence of this
understanding that makes the Jonathan
administration so unworkable and could make it the last government of Nigeria. This is also why, when the new parties say they
are the answer to the PDP, for instance, they must
understand why we must laugh and remind them
this is not a game of substitution. I believe that the starting point for these parties is
to throw their energies into the quest for a viable
electoral law and strong institutions openly
devoted to the national interest. Without a
formidable electoral law that not only makes
rigging difficult but also opens the turf to a new generation of good leaders, a lawless country
such as Nigeria is headed for disintegration, or at
least regression. Think about it: some of those governors who
claim to be the signpost to the future are the very
Nigerians who, in their executive jets, are allegedly
buying up weapons in preparation for 2015. Why?
Is there a war scheduled for 2015, or are they
scheduling one by themselves? And while we are at it, what are these governors
doing to provide leadership by example or selfless
service? The new parties are beating their chests, but if
there is 2015, or if there is to be life after 2015,
their best contribution would be in how much
selflessness they are willing to invest, starting
from now, to enable Nigerians to assess the
quality of their hearts. Such selflessness would aim at giving Nigeria
institutions that are, in practice, bigger than
anyone and any party. It would encourage a new
public attitude indexed on merit and service, not
luck or political affiliation. Such an orientation would focus on putting
Nigeria first, the rule of law, and justice. If Nigeria
were to go into turmoil in 2015, one of the
reasons would be the institutionalization of
injustice in our country. If you want proof, do a
simple computation of the vast numbers of high- profile crooks in high places, enjoying official
pardon or comradeship, or flying private jets. That
never happens in a society that is moving forward. The new orientation would focus on Nigerian
leaders being sensitive to the challenge not
simply to accelerate national development, but of
a bold and honest "Marshall Plan" to fight
corruption, and so open up the country to the best
of our energies as well as foreign investment; build infrastructure and electricity, so that
Nigerians can engage in more productive activity
everywhere and at any time; develop security that
wins success from being partners with the people
rather than their overlords; invest in education
with great vision and vigour; and break with a tradition where the government holds the poor in
contempt. The truth known to the world is that Nigeria has
failed to develop not because we lack the
resources, but because of pathetic, insincere and
incapable leadership. Our national concept of
leadership lies not in developing society, but in
dividing it. The exercise of power comprises not in multiplying opportunity for the people but in
doing so for ourselves. Followership has helped to
perpetuate this crisis because as a people, we are
either deathly afraid, seem to believe that the
blind can lead the sighted, or both. As a result, the North and the South mistrust each
other, the East and the West look away from each
other, and Country Hide Knows not Country Seek.
Our institutions are barely there, and there is little
pride in our common bonds. Politicians seem to
believe that the vast population of the unemployed proves not that our system is
collapsing, but that they are a special breed that
has "risen" above it. The comforting thing is that Nigerians realize they
are stronger together, and guaranteed nothing
should they walk apart. Hopefully, they will
increasingly realize they are united by a common
betrayal, and therefore work together to take back
their country. In the end, it is not those who say Nigeria will
disintegrate but to whom Nigeria is of no
particular consequence, or those hypocritical
Nigerian leaders who say it will not although they
consistently subvert her progress, who will
determine the future of Nigeria. That responsibility and privilege belong to the
ordinary Nigerian. But we must do it by finding
the courage to rise to our feet before it is too late

Time will tell...

I am looking forward to the end of this Evil Satanic Headquarter called Nigeria,