NIGERIA: The World Has Left You Behind

(To Err Is Human (Errare Humanum Est)

Nigeria before the independence in 1960 was the envy of black nations. The managers of Nigeria pre 1960 (the British), though with dubious intention, instilled professionalism in the public service which spilled over to the private sector.  A nation without dedicated public service is destined to failure. Public service is the engine of development. With established system of good practice, all arms of the government maintain dedication, accountability and professionalism. The rule of law prevails. Post Nigeria independence, and up till 1970, the public service and the private sector workers lived up to their expectations and the expectation of black nations in general. Between 1966 and 1970 there was vacuum which was filled by those opportunists, who were without merit occupied the seats vacated by trained and dedicated public servants.  My intention here is not to apportion blame to any particular peoples of Nigeria however this was the origin of corruption into Nigerian public and private sectors.

Nigerian development depends on dedicated public sector and the rule of law. As I mentioned earlier, public and private sector embezzlement by unscrupulous employees or should I say appointees ushered in corruption which now has grown bigger than Nigeria itself. Every military coup in Nigeria since 1966 was as a result of correcting the imbalance of Nigerian system and stopping corruption. I am not, and at this age, will not be a soldier however, the story of Nigeria must be told with utmost good faith. The soldiers came into Nigerian politics since 1966 to save the nation from corrupt practices. However, each of the military government came in, saw the unguarded wealth of the nation, sat on it and helped themselves to it. The rule of law was thrown out of the window. The military is meant to defend the people and to fight wars. They were not meant to manage the economy of a nation. It is the public service that is trained to withstand the temptation and to manage the vast wealth of the nation. This was carried out perfectly in Nigeria until 1966, when the coveted seats of dedicated civil servants were occupied without merit by unscrupulous peoples of Nigeria, who then ushered in corruption. From 1970 till today has instilled the spirit of sectionalism, nepotism, my-turn-syndrome and the political civil servants.

Political Civil Servants, who are they? These are the unmerited appointed, unprofessional people, related or introduced to those in power, who take up public service seats to represent their appointers. These groups of civil service have powers as they are protected by those who appoint them.  All these public service appointees have no experience, no knowledge and no skill to carry out civil service duties. Remember that the civil service duty is to manage the affairs of the people assigned to him. The obvious outcome of public service is service to the people. They are the engines of development who distribute the public utilities meritoriously. This is utilitarianism. This is the utilitarian delivery of public services to the people. The outcome is nothing but happiness of the people and not the attraction of selfishness. Then who cares? Corruption has found its way into the Nigerian public services and has spilled over to the private sector, and now has grown bigger and stronger than Nigeria. The result or the outcome is now hopelessness. All is complaining, all is powerless, all is scared that Nigeria is broken beyond repairs. This was one of the reasons for ‘operation feed the nation, war against indiscipline, MAMSER, Vision2010’ etc.

What is MAMSER? It is Mass Mobilisation for Self Reliance, Social Justice, and Economic Recovery. The pet policy of General Badamosi Babangida.  Do you still need explanation for the reasons behind this policy? Another is WAI, remember it? This means War Against Indiscipline. The pet policy of our present president, General Muhammadu Buhari. Do you want me to explain WAI for you? Then, entered Vision2010. The is the best policy drawn under the sun by General Abacha for Nigerians. I will advise you to find a copy of this policy and read it. This policy is akin to Meiji Restoration of 1868 by Japan. Meiji Restoration 1868 was the policy that place Japan on the path of greatness. Find it and read it, you will surely gain knowledge from it. Vision2010 is the best thing that could have happened to Nigeria. It was drawn by eminent personalities of the old brigade and headed by our own Honourable Ernest Shonekan. The recovery of Nigeria’s economy must find its way back to Vision2010. Can you now see how Nigeria has been going round and round in search of the best way out but at every turn it is hampered by corruption, and Nigerians find it very difficult to dismantle corruption which is established by them. Corruption is the man made evil of Nigeria for the sake of sectionalism, nepotism, my-turn-syndrome, and others. This is the elephant in the room, corruption. Every Nigerian hates corruption, however every Nigerian is corrupt. Where can we start from?

The present Nigerians are the fifth (5^th) generation of corruption. In it, we have the remnant of 1966, the offspring of 1970s and 1980s, the 419ners of the 1990s and their offspring. The confused politicians of 1999 to 2016, and the political appointees and appointers who are the god fathers of corruption and have maintained a strangle hold on Nigeria. For this reason, five (5) generations of Nigeria is lost, never seen or experienced good practice and may not see it in their live time, yet all is fighting to restore good practice. Poor Nigerians, may God help you! Let us start by educating one another. The only key to our coming out of this cyclical corruption is nothing but education. However, lack of education has destroyed Nigeria. The purpose of education is not to give someone a designed paper as qualification however it is the training of the mind and the brain to think. When one is educated, no one will tell him what is right and what is wrong. It is one’s responsibility to discern the truth. This is why everyone seeks education. If anyone is educated and still waits for someone to tell him what is good and bad, that person is an illiterate. Nigerians, let us not deceive ourselves, the problem facing Nigeria now is gigantic and overwhelming. Some people say that President Buhari is confused, why wouldn’t he? Anyone sitting on that seat now will definitely be confused. The problem of Nigeria is not for one man to solve. It is a collective responsibility. To err is human (Errare Humanum Est) and in the case of Nigeria this time, it is a collective mistake. Apportioning blame will not help anyone. Nigerians, let us roll our sleeves and get cracking, the damage is already done. Our posterities will not forgive us. The first step is to re-educate the Nigerian populace, and without it we are wasting our time.

Oguchi Martins Egbujor

UK Based Lecturer on Business Management, and Health & Social Care