Our problem is not really about ''our leaders'', who after all are derived from us, not from outer space.

Our mentality as a people is the No 1 problem we have.

For example, the only reason we have unemployment in Nigeria is NOT because of the usual govt blaming excuses we give, such as ''poor power supply, poor infrastructure, corruption'' etc.

The REAL reason we have unemployment in Nigeria is that Nigerians prefer foreign made goods over Nigerian made goods.

Contrast that with an average Chinese man who will rather buy a 'substandard' Chinese made product, than its western counterpart. He knows that by so doing, he is building up his country's industries, and his children's future.

A typical British man believes that goods made in England are superior to anything made outside, even though that belief is baseless and unfounded.

But Nigerians will laugh at you and mock you if you wear Nigerian made shoes.

''You are wearing Aba made! Local champion. Village man. Poor man!''.

Women will happily pay a million naira or more for a Fendi handbag, but scream blue murder if you charge them 100k for a Nigerian branded handbag.

That one million naira you are sending to Italy, is every bit as corrupt as stealing from the national coffers.

Nigeria could save millions of dollars in capital flight per annum if Nigerian women decided to simply braid or plait their hair instead of importing Brazilian dog hair.

If all Nigerians decide tomorrow that they will only patronise Nigerian made goods, unemployment will disappear overnight and millions of new businesses will spring up to meet the new demand.

In fact, jobs would be so plentiful that we would need to import labour from neighbouring countries to fill positions.

We have no idea how much power we have to transform this nation. Instead we lay everything at the feet of a tiny few people we call ''our leaders''.

That has to change.

You have a point man.
It is Africa thing, I wonder why we are so backward and still wandering on how to move forward.
Our leaders are also contributing factor man, they fails to build a conducive society where industrialization will thrive.
We are still battling steady power supply, water, infrastructure and very poor education system.

High institution offer you admission to study "Library science "?
Why can't them offer a "shoe making" as a course?
This will change your life for good.

I weep man

The average Nigerian hears that his brother/son/uncle/daughter/wife/father/friend etc has just been appointed a state governor.

Immediately, he starts to emotionally blackmail the new appointee into making him 'rich', either through cash handouts or via contracts which he is not qualified to execute.

Your own PARENTS, WIFE, and KIDS will call you a fool if you don't enrich yourself excessively while in office.

They will even say you are cursed.

The mad man who spat out the juicy fruit the gods placed in his mouth.

So why would there not be corruption?

'Our leaders' are corrupt because WE are corrupt.

Ussycool:
You have a point man.
It is Africa thing, I wonder why we are so backward and still wandering on how to move forward.
Our leaders are also contributing factor man, they fails to build a conducive society where industrialization will thrive.
We are still battling steady power supply, water, infrastructure and very poor education system.

High institution offer you admission to study "Library science "?
Why can't them offer a "shoe making" as a course?
This will change your life for good.

I weep man

Again, you are putting the cart before the horse. Blaming govt as usual.

You will NEVER have reliable power supply until majority of you start to patronise Nigerian made goods, which will create the economic boom that will lead to a massive increase in govt revenue and the national budget via business taxes.

I'm talking of an economic boom that will override the effects of corruption.

An economic boom that sees our annual budget rise from the current, pitiful 35 billion dollars a year to 200 billion dollars or more.

South Africa has an annual budget of 125 billion dollars for its 60 million people.

Our oil income is a pittance for our 220 million population. ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION IS THE WAY TO GO, and it will not work if Nigerians maintain their current habit of preferring foreign-made goods over Nigerian.

Curb the societal tendency to push your relatives into corruption by your demands and criminal expectations.

END YOUR DYSFUNCTIONAL MENTALITY, and everything else will fall into place.

Nollywood - the 2nd or 3rd largest film industry on Earth, employing over a million Nigerians, is a shining example of what can happen when Nigerians decide they want to patronise Nigerian-made.

Suddenly, the usual excuses of ''poor infrastructure, lack of enabling environment'' etc etc, held no sway, and Nollywood exploded regardless.

Today, it accounts for 18% of our annual GDP.

Nigerian music is now a worldwide phenomenon and staple, producing major international superstars, and employing thousands of people, because at some point Nigerians decided they'd had enough of US R&B and hiphop, and preferred Afrobeats.

Imagine if we extend that pro-Nigeria attitude to other industries.

To every other industry.

Joblessness would vanish overnight.

Living standards would improve dramatically.

We have the power.

Agreed, but the leadership is our major problem. A good and focused leader will ensure things work.

9japride:
Agreed, but the leadership is our major problem. A good and focused leader will ensure things work.

HOW?

How will a ''good and focused leader'' make our women pay as much for a NigerIan branded handbag as they would an Italian one?

Or make the average Nigerian stop pestering his govt employed relative for illicit funds and contracts?

When will you people take personal responsibility?

We did not need a ''good and focused leader'' to make Nollywood and Afrobeats the booming industries they are today.

All it took was a collective change in consumer behaviour by the people.

Our Leaders will not fall from the sky, they emerge from the pool of individuals in the society.

Reflect7:


HOW?

How will a ''good and focused leader'' make our women pay as much for a NigerIan branded handbag as they would an Italian one?

Or make the average Nigerian stop pestering his govt employed relative for illicit funds and contracts?

When will you people take personal responsibility?

[color=#006600][/color]

A focused leader is not easily influenced by distractors. For example Peter Obi, though not perfect but he's one person that is not easily influenced by people. If we can have such persons in various levels of leadership in Nigeria, I am certain that the country will move forward. No matter how you look at it, leadership is the major thing that can make any nation focused. For example look at China, Russia etc their leaders though not perfect, have a way of ensuring that things work well for their people.

Skyview01:
Our Leaders will not fall from the sky, they emerge from the pool of individuals in the society.

Thank you.

9japride:
[color=#006600][/color]

A focused leader is not easily influenced by distractors. For example Peter Obi, though not perfect but he's one person that is not easily influenced by people. If we can have such persons in various levels of leadership in Nigeria, I am certain that the country will move forward. No matter how you look at it, leadership is the major thing that can make any nation focused. For example look at China, Russia etc their leaders though not perfect, have a way of ensuring that things work well for their people.

Peter Obi can do nothing to change Nigeria if Nigerians maintain their current habits, in my view.

At most he will achieve cosmetic changes.

He cannot create jobs out of thin air, if Nigerians won't patronise their own products.

Russia and China used raw coercion and barbaric dictatorship and repression to force their people to look inwards. Millions were killed and jailed in the process. Read up on Stalin's tactics.

We don't need that.

Reflect7:


Peter Obi can do nothing to change Nigeria if Nigerians maintain their current habits, in my view.

At most he will achieve cosmetic changes.

He cannot create jobs out of thin air, if Nigerians won't patronise their own products.

Russia and China used raw coercion and barbaric dictatorship and repression to force their people to look inwards. Millions were killed and jailed in the process. Read up on Stalin's tactics.

We don't need that.

[color=#006600][/color]

It's a gradual process, it will take time but don't expect sudden change. Nigerians mindset is already messed up due to successive bad government. It will be nice if you can study Peter Obi's style of governance with an open mind. The most viable solution is to start training the younger ones on the best practices and constants mass media indoctrination of how a normal human should behave. The grown ups are already messed up and I don't see any prospect that an adult even this present generation of teenagers to have a positive change. Things can get better if we start shaping the morals of our future leaders who are presently the toddlers now.

Op, there's this course called sociology. Go read the first chapter of any standard sociology text, and you will understand that Nigerians, Africans, and in fact every human being (some animals, too) have the same basic instinct, whether they are in Nigeria, Canada, India, or even US.
The only difference between Nigerians and others is that Nigerians have been subjected to a series of bad leadership, from generation to generation that they now think there's something genetically wrong with them. People like you lacking basic knowledge of human behavior make things worse by muddying the water.
A good example is cultural accutration of newly arriving Nigerians in the US, here it takes them well over 3-5 years to learn to wait for their turns at the bank, post office, traffic etc, because they, like people in Nigeria are afraid that it will never become their turn. In Nigeria it may never become your turn, because the leaders set it up that way. US is not perfect, but over hundreds of years, they have evolved a leadership that almost guaranteed that it certainly be your turn one day.

On the average, the Nigerians are much better than Americans, but the leadership in America is better, while leadership in Nigeria has been said to be engineered for failure.
In any collection of animals, even elephants, lions, and whales, leadership is everything. More so in people, Nigerians included.

9japride:
[color=#006600][/color]

It's a gradual process, it will take time but don't expect sudden change. Nigerians mindset is already messed up due to successive bad government. It will be nice if you can study Peter Obi's style of governance with an open mind. The most viable solution is to start training the younger ones on the best practices and constants mass media indoctrination of how a normal human should behave. The grown ups are already messed up and I don't see any prospect that an adult even this present generation of teenagers to have a positive change. Things can get better if we start shaping the morals of our future leaders who are presently the toddlers now.

Great contribution, albeit slightly depressing with the thought of having to wait for current toddlers to be future drivers of change.

Regarding the highlighted, I believe Nigerians' minds were messed up by colonialism, not by ''successive bad govts''.

The attitude of preferring foreign made to Nigerian made started during British colonial rule. The colonial govt discouraged Nigerian industry and favoured the importation of just about everything from England, in order to enrich that country. Which of course is the prime objective of every colonial adventure.

Reflect7:


Great contribution, albeit slightly depressing with the thought of having to wait for current toddlers to be future drivers of change.

Regarding the highlighted, I believe Nigerians' minds were messed up by colonialism, not by ''successive bad govts''.

The attitude of preferring foreign made to Nigerian made started during colonial rule. The colonial govt discouraged Nigerian industry and favoured the importation of just about everything from England, in order to enrich that country. Which of course is the prime objective of every colonial adventure.

[color=#006600][/color]

Yea, you are right. In my opinion, it's only the the toddlers that can effectively change this present situation if only the government can start teaching them properly. This is a good thread, thumbs up.

9japride:
[color=#006600][/color]

Yea, you are right. In my opinion, it's only the the toddlers that can effectively change this present situation if only the government can start teaching them properly. This is a good thread, thumbs up.

The Chinese did something similar in the last century. In a country reeling with corruption, poverty, and underdevelopment, they introduced Confucian principles in nursery/primary/secondary schools.

Confucius of course was the great Chinese philosopher of 500 BC who set out principles for living, which relate to frugality, wisdom, self-sufficiency, honesty, patriotism, etc. Most Chinese adults of today grew up imbibing Confucian principles. So it can work in Nigeria.

The problem is how do you reach consensus in a democratic setting on how to do it?

Who do we choose to be our 'Confucius'?

Our Ghandi?

Our Mandela?

Will he be acceptable to all regions and religions of the country?

Or perhaps we can create a new thought paradigm without an inspirational personality?

Historically, these attempts at 'social engineering' seem to succeed only under repressive, authoritarian rule.

When average Nigerians are now seeing abnormal things as norm..

Reflect7:


The Chinese did something similar in the last century. In a country reeling with corruption, poverty, and underdevelopment, they introduced Confucian principles in nursery/primary/secondary schools.

Confucius of course was the great Chinese philosopher of 500 BC who set out principles for living, which relate to frugality, wisdom, self-sufficiency, honesty, patriotism, etc. Most Chinese adults of today grew up imbibing Confucian principles. So it can work in Nigeria.

The problem is how do you reach consensus in a democratic setting on how to do it?

Who do we choose to be our 'Confucius'?

Our Ghandi?

Our Mandela?

Will he be acceptable to all regions and religions of the country?

Or perhaps we can create a new thought paradigm without an inspirational personality?

Historically, these attempts at 'social engineering' seem to succeed only under repressive, authoritarian rule.

[color=#006600][/color]

That's a great insight. Though it might be difficult to replicate such programme in Nigeria why? Because, the country is made up of various people who don't share same ideology of life. The southerners reason differently from Northerners. As such both north and south may not agree to such programmes. The colonial masters messed everything up. It's only the political class that are enjoying the present situation in the country and they united in looting. Every region should try and work things out for themselves and any region that is not ready to move forward should be left behind. That's my take.

9japride:
[color=#006600][/color]

That's a great insight. Though it might be difficult to replicate such programme in Nigeria why? Because, the country is made up of various people who don't share same ideology of life. The southerners reason differently from Northerners. As such both north and south may not agree to such programmes. The colonial masters messed everything up. It's only the political class that are enjoying the present situation in the country and they united in looting. Every region should try and work things out for themselves and any region that is not ready to move forward should be left behind. That's my take.

The solution to this cultural disunity is a benevolent dictatorship, I reckon.

I doubt democracy will be able to midwife the task of national re-orientation. It will just lead to disagreements and disputes.

Reflect7:


The solution to this cultural disunity is a benevolent dictatorship, I reckon.

I doubt democracy will be able to midwife the task of national re-orientation. It will just lead to disagreements and disputes.

[color=#006600][/color]

Democracy can work, but as I said earlier there is huge cultural difference amongst the major tribes in Nigeria specifically the zones. Even with a dictatoral leader, things might not work. To me it's best every region do what's best for them. Presently, there is no national interest amongst those Holding political posts. They are just there to gather wealth. Its just like putting together those from Arab countries and Poland together in one country. Things will never work. Nigerians have to tell themselves the truth and should leave too many hypocrital talks on togetherness. People know the truth but because of oil/gas nobody wants to be truthful. The north is so rich and it will be more beneficial if both north and south do trades together because one can't trade by himself/herself alone. You will be surprised that in many years to come the country will still be having this discussion.

Nigeria can never get better in the face of Britain!
That's the sad reality but foolish Nigerians will never want to hear this.
The confusian pinciple can only be applied in an authoritative government and Britain will never open her eyes for Nigeria to have a authoritarian government.

Nigeria will be good, if and only if Britain sees to exist on this earth!

Reflect7:


The solution to this cultural disunity is a benevolent dictatorship, I reckon.

I doubt democracy will be able to midwife the task of national re-orientation. It will just lead to disagreements and disputes.

Reflect7:


The Chinese did something similar in the last century. In a country reeling with corruption, poverty, and underdevelopment, they introduced Confucian principles in nursery/primary/secondary schools.

Confucius of course was the great Chinese philosopher of 500 BC who set out principles for living, which relate to frugality, wisdom, self-sufficiency, honesty, patriotism, etc. Most Chinese adults of today grew up imbibing Confucian principles. So it can work in Nigeria.

The problem is how do you reach consensus in a democratic setting on how to do it?

Who do we choose to be our 'Confucius'?

Our Ghandi?

Our Mandela?

Will he be acceptable to all regions and religions of the country?

Or perhaps we can create a new thought paradigm without an inspirational personality?

Historically, these attempts at 'social engineering' seem to succeed only under repressive, authoritarian rule.

After counting a few exceptional leaders who made a difference in other countries, you still think that Nigerian's problems are not related to lack of quality leadership?

From Confucius to Ghenjis Khan, to Alexander the great, George Washington, to Winston Churchill, to Ghandi, to Mandela: Nigeria has never been blessed with such a visionary leader.
The surprise is why Nigeria is not even worse, despite the machinations against her.
Instead of visionary leaders, we have sectional and tribal leaders who were turned against each other and against their own long run interest by the colonizing power.

Understanding this conudrum is essential for profering solutions on what ails our nation.

Also, when a leader who understands the trap emerges, our chances of getting a Mandela also increases.

Very educative

Reflect7:
Our problem is not really about ''our leaders'', who after all are derived from us, not from outer space.

Our mentality as a people is the No 1 problem we have.

For example, the only reason we have unemployment in Nigeria is NOT because of the usual govt blaming excuses we give, such as ''poor power supply, poor infrastructure, corruption'' etc.

The REAL reason we have unemployment in Nigeria is that Nigerians prefer foreign made goods over Nigerian made goods.

Contrast that with an average Chinese man who will rather buy a 'substandard' Chinese made product, than its western counterpart. He knows that by so doing, he is building up his country's industries, and his children's future.

A typical British man believes that goods made in England are superior to anything made outside, even though that belief is baseless and unfounded.

But Nigerians will laugh at you and mock you if you wear Nigerian made shoes.

''You are wearing Aba made! Local champion. Village man. Poor man!''.

Women will happily pay a million naira or more for a Fendi handbag, but scream blue murder if you charge them 100k for a Nigerian branded handbag.

That one million naira you are sending to Italy, is every bit as corrupt as stealing from the national coffers.

Nigeria could save millions of dollars in capital flight per annum if Nigerian women decided to simply braid or plait their hair instead of importing Brazilian dog hair.

If all Nigerians decide tomorrow that they will only patronise Nigerian made goods, unemployment will disappear overnight and millions of new businesses will spring up to meet the new demand.

In fact, jobs would be so plentiful that we would need to import labour from neighbouring countries to fill positions.

We have no idea how much power we have to transform this nation. Instead we lay everything at the feet of a tiny few people we call ''our leaders''.

That has to change.

Accepting mediocrity should not be an alternative.
Nigeria or Africa for that matter as never been known for foreign standard quality.
In other to change that a strong leadership is required.
Individual's can't do it, it as to be collective.

SIBF:
Nigeria can never get better in the face of Britain!
That's the sad reality but foolish Nigerians will never want to hear this.
The confusian pinciple can only be applied in an authoritative government and Britain will never open her eyes for Nigeria to have a authoritarian government.

Nigeria will be good, if and only if Britain sees to exist on this earth!

Why the pessimism.
Britain is actually too preoccupied with the east west conflict presently brewing to care about Nigeria.
No form of government is bad that can't be improved be it democracy or authoritarian.
What is needed is a few strong willed persons with the right ambition.

naijaking1:



After counting a few exceptional leaders who made a difference in other countries, you still think that Nigerian's problems are not related to lack of quality leadership?

From Confucius to Ghenjis Khan, to Alexander the great, George Washington, to Winston Churchill, to Ghandi, to Mandela: Nigeria has never been blessed with such a visionary leader.
The surprise is why Nigeria is not even worse, despite the machinations against her.
Instead of visionary leaders, we have sectional and tribal leaders who were turned against each other and against their own long run interest by the colonizing power.

Understanding this conudrum is essential for profering solutions on what ails our nation.

Also, when a leader who understands the trap emerges, our chances of getting a Mandela also increases.

I think the closest we came to having such a leader was Gen. Murtala Ramat Muhammed.

The same day this man came to power, corruption and mismanagement literally ended in Nigeria.

That is how uncompromising he was.

But he was assassinated after 7 months in power, reportedly at the instigation of the CIA.

If we are to have such a leader again, he would need to be given ultra-maximum personal security.

God bless you for this. It’s really a problem with us as black people that we need to remedy fast. Everything we do we prefer to patronize white people because it’s “better quality” , as if Japanese, Chinese, and Indian manufacturing didn’t start somewhere. Soon Ethiopia will too pass us as they’re beginning to manufacture things on their own.

Our main problem is that we want things easy and fast, and we think anything white is better

- It why many people scam
- It is why many people want to fly to the west
- It is why many people buy western products
- It is why people will promote western apps but mass review Nigerian apps negatively
- It is why politicians procure foreign construction firms
- It is why politicians procure foreign mining companies


Simple 10 year plan to teach its own population manufacturing and construction skill sets to set Nigeria up for the next 100 years, it is headache. Many politicians won’t because they lack foresight and can only think 4 years in the future. And even if they do many citizens will curse them because they automatically react negatively whenever anything is made by blacks.

Look at Lagos Ride launch. A right thinking government wanted to give citizens a right to own cars, replace Uber, build tax for the state, build a safer mobile taxi service (all cars have cameras and an S.O.S button in the app) all in one endeavor. What did Nigerians do? Curse the Nigerian government instead of telling their fellow Nigerians to patronize those apps instead of Uber,Lyft and Bolt which goes to supporting their own countries’ stock market.

Honestly many of this is so deep seated it will take something akin to an extremely aggressive national mandate like Mao’s cultural revolution to reset people’s brains. The Chinese would gather in crowds flogging and attacking people that didn’t promote and support Chinese culture. And look at them now.

Reflect7:


I think the closest we came to having such a leader was Gen. Murtala Ramat Muhammed.

The same day this man came to power, corruption and mismanagement literally ended in Nigeria.

That is how uncompromising he was.

But he was assassinated after 7 months in power, reportedly at the instigation of the CIA.

If we are to have such a leader again, he would need to be given ultra-maximum personal security.

Murtala Mohammed, Buhari, Abacha!
There's only so far a mediocre education, ethnic bias, religious favoritism can take a modern leader these days.
The Turkish model, Othman Dan Fodio replica in the north is not likely to produce a modern leader in Nigeria today.

Who is afraid of calling these people failed leaders?
Leadership is an art, a craft better learned, not inherited by birth or tribal origin---that's what our president is probably learning after 7 years of wasted opportunity to lift Nigeria up.

MrMaestro:
God bless you for this. It’s really a problem with us as black people that we need to remedy fast. Everything we do we prefer to patronize white people because it’s “better quality” , as if Japanese, Chinese, and Indian manufacturing didn’t start somewhere. Soon Ethiopia will too pass us as they’re beginning to manufacture things on their own.

Our main problem is that we want things easy and fast, and we think anything white is better

- It why many people scam
- It is why many people want to fly to the west
- It is why many people buy western products
- It is why people will promote western apps but mass review Nigerian apps negatively
- It is why politicians procure foreign construction firms
- It is why politicians procure foreign mining companies


Simple 10 year plan to teach its own population manufacturing and construction skill sets to set Nigeria up for the next 100 years, it is headache. Many politicians won’t because they lack foresight and can only think 4 years in the future. And even if they do many citizens will curse them because they automatically react negatively whenever anything is made by blacks.

Look at Lagos Ride launch. A right thinking government wanted to give citizens a right to own cars, replace Uber, build tax for the state, build a safer mobile taxi service (all cars have cameras and an S.O.S button in the app) all in one endeavor. What did Nigerians do? Curse the Nigerian government instead of telling their fellow Nigerians to patronize those apps instead of Uber,Lyft and Bolt which goes to supporting their own countries’ stock market.

Honestly many of this is so deep seated it will take something akin to an extremely aggressive national mandate like Mao’s cultural revolution to reset people’s brains. The Chinese would gather in crowds flogging and attacking people that didn’t promote and support Chinese culture. And look at them now.

Nice one bro, but I don't think the govt needs to specifically ''teach its own population manufacturing and construction skill sets''.

Our problem is not lack of manufacturing ability. It is about people discouraged from entering into manufacturing because of being crowded out by foreign imports, and Nigerians' preference for foreign made goods.

Look, manufacturers in Onitsha and Aba have to label their clothes, shoes, bags and accessories, 'made in China', 'made in India', made in Italy', 'made in Japan', just to get NIGERIANS to buy them.

How does that encourage local manufacturing productivity?

It encourages importation.

As a people, we are psychologically messed up.