Excerpts from a 28 page publication written by[b] Prof W. Akintunde Isaacs-Sodeye[/b] in 1992.

Chapter 2

THE DIAGNOSIS

Genesis of the disease - A flashback.

A. 1965. It was the year 1965, I had been a Senior House Officer in the Outpatients' Emergency Unit at Lagos Teaching Hospital. It was very busy and there were many cases to see. Taxi-cabs came and went. Some drivers stayed to wait for their clients. Just outside the windows, there was a constant hum of chatter. This was a "window" to the world of Lagos. These drivers saw everything, knew everything. "Their government cannot last much longer, the poor cannot get justice, nothing seems to work" that was the trend in the gossip. They were dissecting the situation of living in Lagos and Nigeria.

There were great parties every week-end in Lagos. If one desired to be approved of by elite society, one had to "spray" -.money at parties often. How effective you were as a prominent member of the government or society was determined by how much money you disbursed at parties to artistes, dancers, relatives etc. How much it cost when you got married or buried your father or mother might make or break you in your career. Who you were was spelt out, not by the level of your take-home pay but by how much you spent in public. Truly, conspicious expenditure has always been the best determinant of earning capacity. As a result since we all shopped in the same market, prices rose steadily. People were induced to cut corners.

The rat race was not confined to the individual level - whole clans (population groups) entered into competition. Indeed, the early history of the Nigerian disease was mainly a story of ethnic political rivalries, because no sense of national consciousness existed, it was every man for himself. Thus, in the first half of our thirty year - plague, inter-ethnic competition made it difficult for Nigeria to pull forward.


B. 1975: The traumatic war was ended. There were brave attempts at integrating the country using this new post - war situation. For example, Federal (Unity) Schools were set up in various parts of country. Post-secondary school graduates had to do a 1 - year national service . in a part of the country foreign to them. A quota system," meant to preserve Federal Character" was introduced- with respect appointments. In themselves, most people regarded these measures as innocuous at the time and possibly beneficial. However, some far-sighted people protested against Federal Character/quota at the time and I was one of them. The primary fear we had was in the paucity of controls and safeguards. Important national and educational projects requiring technocratic knowledge would, we felt, be jeopardised by indiscriminate geographic allocations. Besides, the head-counts were influenced. As such, there was no reliable basis for distribution of quotas equitably. Oil was flowing, but the petro-naira derived did not flow to everybody. The boom that resulted was thus mismanaged grossly and laid no foundations for continued prosperity.

Perhaps the main factor affecting the state of the nation was the widespread political ignorance caused, largely by illiteracy in the country. Most of the millions of ordinary people in rural areas did not know, in any detailed way, how they were being governed. Most certainly, no machinery existed by which they could significantly influence decisions affecting their lives.


C. 1980 A new civilian era was ushered in. There was great rejoicing all round. Nigeria had a new 19 state structure. BBC World Service commented on the decision to make the Presidential candidate, who won the elections in twelve states, the leader of the nation. Was twelve now two-thirds of nineteen? The constitution had stipulated that the successful candidate had to win elections in at least two-thirds of the states. . Otherwise, an electoral college would be constituted to resolve the issue. The decision of the military head of state at that time was itself dishonest. The new government to whom he handed power broke all bounds to set new records in inefficiency and dishonesty. Corruption riddled every segment of society. The more colourful the. robes you put on, the more successful society judged you to be. The Nigerian community did not demand from their representatives any great standing either in terms of intellectual achievement or of integrity. The populace was so gullible that they were bought in the open market. The election rigging was .on a colossal scale. The resources were dwindling, but the squander mania persisted. The period was remarkable for profound. moral depravity, instead of jostling for excellence, a new competition was established in the corridors of power. It was to determine who was the cleverest "pen" thief. Although there were some good people handling some of the ministerial portfolios, the quota system brought in many mediocres.


D. 1990 [/b]The military had been ruling continuosly for the last seven years. There was a fresh change of faces at the top in 1985, induced also with the gun. The major excuses were to improve on the human rights posture and to try new gimmicks on the economic system. However, the economic trick has not worked. [b]The rich are considerably richer and the poor are considerably poorer [/b]than the status ante. The country is still under-developed and heavily in debt. [b]Unemployment is rife and people are committing suicide for hunger or picking food from trash-bins. Nothing seems to work in the country-no reliable electricity, water, communication .(postage, telephone), transportation: and the professional services (medical, legal, engineering and law enforcement) have gone to pot.

Life is very insecure-armed robbers are on the increase. Most competent professionals are finding their way out of the country in search of greener pastures (brain-drain). Religious intolerance is at its peak, particularly in high places. There is violent repression of all dissentient opinion. No real difference has been shown to exist between the politics of first and second republics and the nascent systems being hatched out. The gullibility of the masses is still exploited. No adequate protection has been established against the moneybags except in some villages. Empty bigmanship floating meaningless promises with no obvious' plan for achievement is still the order of the day.


GENERAL EXAMINATION

A surgery is normally preceded by a thorough general examination. If a system is running down, the training of new hands, using a viable policy might be expected to correct the system. However, when ever the training system itself is compromised their future is in jeopardy as well as the present. This is the situation in which' Nigeria finds itself.

Students are selected out of the ignorance and superstition-laden milieu into a system where they can be conditioned and changed for the better. But the crisis of Nigeria is precipitated at every level by the lack of good examples. Many role models for villainy of every sort can be found in the top echelons of society. But even in the school system, clean- living, target-oriented, morally upright models are difficult to come by now. Principals of government secondary schools (and even headmasters of some primary schools) without other visible legitimate means of income live at levels far in excess of their salaries. For example, where the yearly income is N16,000 - N20,000 but the style of living and responsibilities shouldered comfortably exceed N40,000 per annum one is justified to ask where the extra money comes from. Sexual abuse of students by teachers is rampant. Leakage of examination papers for financial consideration is now a common place experience. Absenteeism and other forms of nonperformance are common. The institutions of higher learning are no better and might be worse. The admissions system has to finally go through the university registries. It all looks thorough, but many who do not have the basic requirements creep in. On the contrary, many highly qualified .people are excluded unless they give bribes or use their personal connections. Demand for sex (even from the under aged girls) often constitute the only way for girls to avoid failure and dismissal. Examination leakages occur. I have seen, and authenticated a case of an unmarked paper which earned "fail" as revenge against the students father. After investigation, the paper earned the grade C. For the members of staff, there are gang-ups and cliques. If one is not well in with the powers that be, quite often merit does not earn promotion.

It is really quite incredible that Nigeria is still standing. The day to day administration is riddled with corruption at. all levels. Hardly anybody believes in the concept of giving service. The junior public servants are discourteous and unwilling to work. They come late, have many outings and close before time. In spite of the ongoing civil service reforms, the slackness is all pervasive. This is because there is often no good example at the top. Kick-backs, kick-forwards and other gratifications (10-20 % loading) are basic to virtually all operations. Nothing works without the greasing of palms. Files get "lost", deliberately to frustrate the case being treated. How to get into a job after secondary schools, graduation, or NYSC (National Youth Service Corp) is an impossible bottle neck. Often personal contact or bribing (of one year salary) is the answer.

The training system does not train to exclude unrighteousness and the administration does not safeguard the set-up from degeneration. But perhaps religion will help. There again, the system has run severely down hill. The tradoreligionist pretends to have solutions to problems they cannot even understand or analyse. The mallams and spiritist churches see untrue "visions" to deceive the simple-minded. The Christian priests have gone commercial.

Indeed, the smugglers, pen-robbers, and other villains of society have been encouraged by the accolade they get in "church" when they donate stolen money. [/b]Someone has said in 1984 that the corrupt politicians should have brought their pastors to be disciplined publicly before going to the Maximum Security Prison, Kirikiri. [b]All ministers of religion have failed the society. Not only have they not given good advice, but they have aided and abetted wrong doing. Telling the truth is a rare practice in all corners of Nigerian society. Many even kidnap and kill to make money, since money is the real god of Nigerian society. Great pundits in religion are found kidnapping girls under age and forcing them into marriages the parents do not approve of. There seems to be nothing anyone could do about these situations.

Yet perhaps, if the system is going wrong, the mechanism for correction will help and the poor will get justice in court. In fact, the wrongs are probably worst here. Firstly, there are too many people who are simply above the law.

Secondly, the law enforcement agents are tools for terrorising the masses of the people.

They almost never defend or protect. To hire a lawyer is expensive (little or no free legal aid); often the client is told a lie about his case. The bench is not incorrupt. A few years ago, a Chief Magistrate friend from Lagos came on a, visit- He told the story of a civil case which he had to adjourn many times because the bailiff had not served the summons. He was forced to remark "You know what to do, don't you? You are a Nigerian, are you not?" He was understood to mean that bribing the bailiff was the way out of his difficulties.

There are simple Gases where the accused person is remanded in prison custody for over a year awaiting trial, and they have not been shown to be guilty. Justice delayed is justice denied.

In a well-run democracy, the people eventually correct the wrongs. [/b]They do this by presenting their grievances to their representatives who in turn put up a fight in the requisite assembly of politicians. However, during the ten years' trial of democracy in Nigeria (1960- 66 and 1979 - 83) true representation of the 'peoples' needs has never been established. [b]Instead, the politician makes empty promises which he largely forgets immediately after election. Statesmanship has been very bad. This is largely because the people are ignorant of their rights and no system has been established to bring the irresponsible politician to book.

In the circumstances, things literally fall apart. Nothing seems to work in the country. Although trunk (major) highways are fairly usable, rushing about on the roads in search of the nairas (daily bread) is a hazardous procedure. Bad maintenance or no maintenance results in pot-holes littering the roads. One might resort to letter-writing or the telephone. If the letter arrives at all, it might take anything from weeks to months. E

Electricity (government produced) is so irregularly supplied that most businessmen with resources have generating plants of their own. Potable water is available, but what a risk! The number of companies bottling "clean" water is a pointer to how clean the processed water is. Even ordinary folks have to filter or boil their water for safety. There is no quality check on any of the goods in the shops. I bought a nice-looking white cake of toilet soap recently. It looked so nice. I was especially looking forward to taking my bath with it. "Ouch!" I shouted as I rubbed the soap on my buttocks it was almost pure soda.

The cars and buses available for public use are badly maintained. The journeys are often interrupted by breakdown of the vehicles. The drivers have no road manners and there is little indication that they have ever read the Highway Code. The few water ways are under-utilized.

The world of business is different, however. Expense accounts, business promotion dinners are standard procedures anywhere and most businessmen are prepared to bend the rules occasionally. Everything has its price anywhere in the world. Nevertheless, there are extremes to which businessmen elsewhere would not be prepared to go. In Nigeria, smuggling (bringing goods into the country without paying duty) is so commonly practiced that few now regard it as unpatriotic or unrighteous. Goods are sold without guarantee and shoddy makeshifts are substituted for genuine products (e.g. car parts). Profiteering is well tolerated, as long as the demand is high. Nothing moves without gratifications (kickback etc). It used to be only 10% but now it is usually more than 20%. Needless to say, the excess is for the consumer to pay.

The view from outside

It helps objectivity to take a detached look at Nigeria from the outside. However, a non-Nigerian viewing events here from a distance might be prejudiced because of many considerations. When a Nigerian examines his self image whilst travelling abroad for more than a few weeks, he might be shocked. He finds that he is far more comfortable than he was at home. He finds that potentially, we are quite capable of doing as well as other third-world countries because of our wealth in human and other resources, but we are not. Goods have quality value e.g. in Singapore and also relatively in Kenya and other African countries. The utilities function efficiently. Transportation is reliable in many-third world countries abroad. If corruption exists, it is tucked away from public view. In such circumstances, the Nigerian away from home wonders what justification there is in going back home, where nothing seems to work. The temptation to join the brain drain sometimes becomes overwhelming. Indeed, because outside Nigeria, Nigerians perform so well (except with respect to drug trafficking) he might persuade himself he has ceased to be a Nigerian. He might even acquire a complex. He might never wish to return home from USA, the UK, West Germany, Saudi Arabia etc.


Chapter 3.

THE SOLUTION

The disease plaguing Nigeria is complex. The country itself is large in terms of land mass and population. (But there are larger and more complex situations in the world). In addition, it is a chronic disease - of long standing. Its onset is insidious. Before anyone fully realised it was there, it had become a killing disease. Various types of palliation have been attempted e.g. three constitutions (not counting the decrees), two national elections and five changes of government through a putsch. But as someone puts it cleverly, whether the new leaders are in Khaki or agbada, they are Nigerians underneath the attire. In other words, without a radical change of heart of the individual Nigerian, anything else is a palliation.

Lord Carstairs (neuropsychiatrist) wrote on a similar analysis for Great Britain (past, present and future) in the early sixties. In his study, there was a lot of frankness, warning about necessity for radical change. They had a brain drain also at the time. Finally, South Africa (one of the most difficult world problems since 1945) is changing fast because of truth-telling and constructive introspection in high places.

In line with the above considerations, reconstruction work must be combined with open, heart-searching self-analysis. Since the mal-distribution of financial resources is one of the most grievous problems, it will be addressed first.

All the stresses of the last 30 years have not effectively bent us; we therefore need to be molten (or broken and then molten). Then, and only then can we flow into each other to be moulded into the alloy called "True Nigerian". The rich man has to give for the poor to take. Vice-versa, some poor people may have to learn to be richer. These individuals who have had it all easy may have to tighten their belts, while the over-worked many need to learn to relax.

Chapter 4.

WELFARISM

Civilised society has norms which qualifies it for acceptance in the world of decent human beings. The developed countries of the world have ghettos/slums, the worst of which-would still have minimal standards they must maintain. No man is an island unto himself. Thus, even the billionaires in our society are compelled to share some of the harrowing situations of underdevelopment ) with other Nigerians. The roads, the polluted atmosphere, the many unlit thoroughfares are some of the hazards all citizens share. A rich friend recently caught a severe bout of typhoid fever. Even though he could afford the best treatment here, he went to the UK - preferred to avoid the ghastly inconveniences. Ultimately it is far more beneficial all round if good facilities are available to everybody. That is why our rich people cannot enjoy holidays here and have to go often to a developed country where even the lowliest has a decent life.

Good health is one factor that is taken for granted in decent society. From its inception, every child is cared for till old age. In mixed economies like Great Britain, good antenatal care of the mother caters for the unborn child from its formation. Supplements like milk, vitamins are available to the nursing mother and the child weaned from the breast. Preventive medicare (immunisation and health education) is supplied by government. Health care for everyone is virtually free all through life. Because enterprise is still rewarded, rich people exist who might desire a better service than government supplies. Private health care is available for this class of people. In Nigeria, because good health is an expensive commodity, only few can afford it, the poor have an uphill struggle getting preventive medicine or curative. The death rate, particularly among the poor or very young is tremendously high for an oil rich state with so many billionaires. The public health offices and hospitals are so ill equipped and health attracts only a small percentage of the GNP. '

Good Schooling is reserved for privileged society. [/b]The rich send their children to early-care education centres. All the gadgetry for modern teaching is available. The "public" schools are devoid of even chairs to sit on in many places. Books are a treasure.[b] At every stage (primary, secondary and tertiary) it is a hard thing for a poor man to send even one child through school. Many have to choose which child can school now. In developed countries, one way or another, school is possible. Either it is heavily subsidised by government or the individual earns so much, he can look after his children's schooling. We cannot continue to allow the few rich to live selfishly.

Unemployment is very high in Nigeria. The situation is so bad that it is only the rich man's son/daughter with influential contacts who can hope to get a job within months of leaving university or polytechnic. Where father and mother are retrenched and graduate children are unemployed, some 'children have to stay off essential schooling. There can only be misery galore. There is life more abundant for the few rich at the top but only utter misery for the masses below. Indeed, all the elements that led to the French Revolution of 1792 are present in Nigeria now. In these circumstances, a "dole" system where money is given to the unemployed is mandatory. Society must care for its disadvantaged people. This is not Socialism. This is common sense. Where many feed from trash - bins and others quietly commit suicide, government is asking for big trouble if they allow the situation to continue.

Transportation is easy for the wealthy in Nigeria. The network of major highways through the country is the only inheritance from the oil boom era. The few who have possess many cars. The ordinary man in the street has next to nothing.

The utilities are luxuries in Nigeria. Should the ordinary man have to pay for water to drink? (public pumps are so few). More dams need to be built and water treatment plants installed. Before billionaires can have their luxuries ordinary people must have access to cheap electricity. If capitalist countries can afford to look after the plebeian's rights before allowing the opulent to indulge, so can we. It is a matter of appropriate distribution.

[/b][size=16pt]Food and food supplements have become hideously expensive.[/size] Government in Britain looks after its old and its very young. Food supplements are given free or heavily subsidised. The pregnant or nursing mother can have specially cheap food coupons. Ways are found to mass produce essential staple foodstuffs cheaply. In Nigeria, every effort that has been made has been stymied by the rich man who gets the contract and fails to give the food to the poor at reasonable prices. Government must break the dead-lock and remove the barriers to get food to the people,

[b]These are the concerns of the suffering majority of the people. A man must be able to secure shelter under a roof. Where money is not available, the poor is yet at the mercy of shylocks who fleece the poor by way of rentals on houses. Instead the greedy billionaire has 100 or more houses when a poor family will be choked up in one or two rooms for which they pay their whole salary.

Chapter 5.

ACCOUNTABILITY:

Nigeria must establish standards and keep them.

There are many types of standards to be set. There are desirable moral standards that are necessary for public servants, particularly the leaders of the people. There are standards relating to quality of performance at work. There are standards with respect to saleable products (e.g manufactured products). Standards need to be set for public facilities such as airlines, trains, buses, supply of electricity and water etc. Where there is no measurable standard, it is impossible to critically evaluate moral behaviour or the quality of products etc.


Performance

It is when standards are set and goals designed that the performance of individuals and government, (and others) can be evaluated. This is crucial when dealing with financial matters. The country has no great dearth of competent auditors (qualified accountants) Nevertheless, in spite of continuous monitoring procedures, people in high places abuse their positions. They make away with considerable revenue belonging to the generality of the people. Clearly the accountants themselves are Nigerians. Since the new 'god' almost everybody worships in Nigeria is money, could there not be collusion between the watcher/monitor and the persons being monitored. If there is, there can not be financial probity in the situation. The case of taxation, is a sore spot. Public servants on "paye" are forcibly taxed. Indirect taxes must be used more.

The crisis that has continually plagued Nigeria is the lack of people at the top who can be used as beacons to guide people to the right course. The vast majority of people do not know where they want to go or what they wish to do. Most people are looking for beneficial leadership. Even if the society is already morally bankrupt at the top, good leadership has been defined as the ability to lead people to do the good they least wanted to do. Once the quality of leadership is changed for the better, the definition of good standards all round should follow as a matter of course. For thirty years, we have been ruled by self-centered, materialistic people. African has known its Nyereres, but Nigeria has not been that well endowed. Both the leaders and the followers are to be blame. A major cause of bad leadership is bad followership. As Shakespear said through Cassuis; "the fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings."

A little anecdote will illustrate this. I was at Oxford at the time of the Hungarian revolution of 1957. There was at Magdalen with me a Hungarian refugee from Budapest. During a discussion on resistance movements round the world, I interjected to make a point. Lazlo (for that was his name) shut me up. I was getting hot under the collar, when he asked me to explain how so many slaves came from West Africa, if the men were capable of standing up to oppression. I could not hold my end of the argument any longer. Perhaps some moral strength must be cultivated in us to get standards, maintain them and account for them.


Chapter 6.

MERITOCRACY


Because the ordinary man in the street is so ignorant of his fundamental right, he is prepared to sell his birth-right for a "mess of potage." Votes are bought by people who promptly recoup their losses after election by awarding themselves contracts' afterwards or by gleaning a list of 10 % gratifications. Secondly, "jokers" can safely be put into office because it is well established that "monkey de work, baboon de- chop.

The result of all this is that the country has not had the most talented people manning/heading strategic concerns in this country. Whereas other countries would scout round for the best individual irrespective of area of origin to do a good job, Nigeria had a different arrangement. This country simply has not had the benefit of the best "brain" in the handling of the development of this nation.

The rational alternative is this. Standards based on well-defined criteria, need to be established of all kinds of technocratic know-how an individual must possess to be entrusted with national jobs. For jobs which are not absolutely crucial to the determination of Nigeria's future e.g. sports, quota (on are galitarian and fair basis) can come in. But for economic planning, education, scientific and technical development , defence, external affairs, petroleum etc, the best qualified person in the country must be found for the job.

Nigeria needs somebody of the depth of perception of Kissinger to make deadlocked arguments go forward.
Nigeria needs a Martin Luther King or at Desmond Tutu to bring peace when hatred reigns. Nigeria needs a Mahatma Ghandi to supply moral strength where injustice is normal.
Nigeria needs a Julius Nyerere to remain unenriched while the majority in the country stays poor.
Nigeria needs a J.F. Kennedy or a Winston Churchhill to resist oppression even if it means going to the brink of ' total destruction,
Nigeria needs men whom prevailing circumstances cannot influence for the worse.

Chapter 7.

THE SURGERY NIGERIA NEEDS

The die is cast. We are delicately balanced on the edge of a precipice. The sword of Damocles hangs over the head of Nigeria. Various individuals have sought to establish all-time records for robbing Nigeria's treasuries. But enough is enough. Live and let live is a good philosophy. But where the vast majority of Nigerians are confronted with starvation while about one percent, lives in unimaginable luxury, something drastic needs to be done. A relatively short trip to Kenya takes one into another world. Time is kept, water is clean, electricity is constant, prices make sense, human beings tell each other the truth etc. Singapore found the right people just over 20 years ago and gave them the mandate to rule. Since then, she has known prosperity, full employment, peace among religious groups, clean areas, first class airlines and shipping ports etc. Are we going to sit down and confess that we cannot break the vicious spiral downwards? [b]Justice is delayed and denied to the poor, there is palpable wickedness in high places. There is no food for poor people, there are hordes of homeless, naked people in Nigeria co-existing with five or six ultra-modern cars per family in the super-rich tribe and class. [/b]Is this what it means to call Nigeria civilised place?

There is a plan of radical surgery. To prevent recurrences of past ills, pre¬requisites should be demanded of candidates for high offices. Firstly, all candidates jostling for high office must declare their assets (at home and abroad) and. these should be carefully investigated. Secondly, all aspirants to high position-should make affirmations decrying 10% and other gratifications. They should also decry bribery and corruption. Thirdly, each aspirant must agree that wealth in this country, must be redistributed as a matter of urgency. The aspirants must commit themselves to reducing their houses, cars, etc and allow a more equitable distribution by suitable taxation.

Once the surgery is successfully completed, the previously explained background strategy is used for post-operative care. Welfarism, Accountability and Meritocracy are rigorously monitored to consolidate and maintain the gains made. Find the deux ex machina (a Joseph) to run the operation and this can be the Charter of Liberty for the poor, ignorant majority of Nigerians


Prof Isaacs-Sodeye’s note at the end of his publication in 1992

Your Excellency, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, I crave your indulgence to make an appeal. In January 1990, I implored the Governor of Kano State to pass my humble message to you. It is this. You Sir, stand at the gates of time. You will not be there for ever. Would it not be a good thing if you left beneficial and permanent footsteps on the sands of time? Ceasar prayed “Da mihi locum standi et orbis terrarum movebo”. You have a unique opportunity Sir, to determine Nigeria's future. By moving Nigeria, you can move the world. You already have a locum standi. It only remains to see in which direction you will move the world-towards peace or towards chaos, towards mutual co-existence or disastrous religious war. Posterity is waiting to see whether it will applaud or eternally desecrate your memory.


The above are excerpts from a 28 page publication written by[b] Prof W. Akintunde Isaacs-Sodeye[/b] in 1992.

To access his full publication visit :-
http://www.healingloveofchrist.org/publications/surgerynigerianeeds.doc