Nigeria: The reality of True Existentialism by Ugo Madu

This is a sober articulation of the happenings in our dear country Nigeria, that have physically and spiritually placed us behind our contemporaries on the World map regarding conscious and contentious issues of growth and development with prominence in their national discourse respectively without any conscious effort or political will to measure up by us. A reason for the milestones achieved by these countries, needless to mention them.
The existence of Nigeria as a country pre dates the 1960's which places it above 50 years of age which ordinarily should be accompanied by the amount of wisdom and understanding commensurate with the age, rather, curious is that there is no sign of an iota of this said wisdom in her disposition to  issues that are critical to the growth and development of the country and its citizens alike.
We have relegated the concept of productive and service driven leadership to the background while, exalting the idea of nepotism, clannishness, bribery, corruption and impunity to the top as a matter of status celebration. Over time, the successive leaderships have failed to build the foundation needed to sustain secondary activities over time as a country and there is no magic wand that anyone can provide as a panacea for sustainable development. We have not been blessed with the right leadership predicated upon clear vision, direction, focus, determination, political will and nationalistic in approach, instead, we have encountered myopic, primitive, selfish, sentimental set of power seekers with foundational illiteracy at the helm of affairs with little or no value to add to the already existing equation- no one gives what he or she does not have anyways. It is disheartening as well as instructive, that after 50 years of independence, Nigeria has not built the critical infrastructure or worked on the existing few to harness the available human, natural and material resources- Crude oil, solid minerals, vast arable land, amongst other natural endowments optimally to the point of self sufficiency in manufacturing, agriculture, construction, engineering, science, health, information & communication  technology. In all of these aforementioned sectors, we are totally dependent on imported goods and services from other nations that are less endowed by nature.  It is common knowledge that on one hand, we export crude oil in a terrible corrupt manner and on the other hand, we import refined products at prices subject to vagaries in the international market, hence, the pillage of the available resources through the official SCAM called SUBSIDY REGIME that has continued to empower only a few to the detriment of the masses who are co-owners of the resources.
As much as we acknowledge this contraption called Nigeria, it does appear as if there is a curse placed on it. If it is so, by who and for what reason?
A cursory look at the 70's, shows a few basic infrastructure built by the past leaders as a foundation for industrial revolution have been left to rot away without any reasons deducible and no disciplinary actions taken against any person(s) responsible directly or indirectly till date.
The Ajaokuta Steel Complex, Itakpe Iron Ore Facility, ALSCON, National Theatre, International Trade Fair Complex, etc. are some of our national infrastructure that have become liabilities instead of assets to the country. Worse still, is the ugly fact that successive governments have continued to appropriate humongous amounts of Naira to the maintenance of these facilities for their cronies without any economic value or gain, what could be more witchcraft or wizardry to the nation than this?
Without sounding like a broken and senseless record piece, the issues of power supply, good road networks, portable and safe drinking water, functional healthcare facilities, adequate security for lives and property, effective data base for policy decisions and implementations have eluded us before our very "korokoro" eyes at the federal, state and local government levels. The yearly budgets of the states and federal governments capture all of these provisions which are appropriated financially as presented and approved, only to appear as either abandoned or substandard projects with no accountability. The monies meant for all these are misappropriated by a few privileged individuals who are either in power or their loyalists and cronies, they end up using the proceeds of these corrupt practices to continually subjugate the rights of the masses. We hail, acknowledge, respect, award titles and degrees of all kinds to these unscrupulous individuals which serve as an encouragement to them to continue in their corrupt ways as our measurement of success is based on the acquisition of wealth and other material possessions instead of holding them accountable for actions or inactions viz-a-viz their public or political offices. We seem to have lost every sense of moral consciousness and integrity as a people. This ugly trend is not placated by the agencies of government set up to enforce a code of conduct (ethics) in the business of governance across board. It is quite instructive that our institutions are people based and not system based, so the effectiveness or otherwise of the institution is based on the disposition of the head at any given time.
The negative impact of this continuous subjugation and impoverishment is the lack of commitment and consciousness on the side of the masses while the powers that be have their way all through. Nigerians have forgotten that politics is as important as the country itself and the sustenance of our collective interests as it affects the entire sectors of the economy and gives the needed direction to the nation. We have degenerated as nation politically to the very point that we pay little or no attention to who emerges as our representatives at any level of government, rather, we have resorted to selling our votes, "vote buying" a newly found love word in our political dictionary. This ugly and negative trend if not checked immediately and worked against with the energy that it deserves by all concerned, then, our help is farfetched. More heartbreaking, is the fact that this is an injury that we have deliberately inflicted on ourselves by ourselves thereby compromising our future and that of the unborn generations for peanuts. We should know that when we do this, we have exchanged our desire for development and social welfare for these peanuts. A review of the Ekiti State, Bauchi, Katsina  and Kogi states senatorial bye elections speak volume of a people that are either undecided about their future or deliberate sacrifice to continue to wallow in poverty and denial of social welfare by the government and leaders. There are no more moral grounds to ask for any form of service or governance from those elected after they have paid for the votes; this condemnable act negates the popular maxim "Your Vote is Your Power", your power, you have sold! The system owes you and I nothing any more.
Nigeria has one of the most outrageous cost of governance records in the world today. It is so, because the leaders know and work these figures into the cost of governance to be able to buy themselves into and remain in power at every election even if it means perpetuation in office against the will of the people- that is the social contract we have signed with them by our indiscretion.
Our so called leaders care less about the state of roads; they do more of air travels (private jets),the nature of hospitals as they have access to hospitals abroad, local manufacturing companies as they import virtually all their needs and wants for themselves and families, the state of power supply as they can afford to sustain their power needs through alternative power supply 24/7.
To be a bit more circumspect is the rationalization of obvious misplacement of priorities by the government on frivolities.
How in this time and age can a sensible government elected to provide social welfare and services for the betterment of the people embark on pilgrimages to Mecca and Jerusalem every year all in a bid to portray us a prayerful nation or what to the world? Not forgetting the mumu name " Giant of Africa" with nothing to show for it other than wallow in outright self delusion. Only a big name that kills a dog. Where are the likes of Rwanda, Botswana, Angola,South Africa, Ethopia and the rest of African nations that are making conscious efforts at improving the lots of their people on a daily basis with limited resources.
One of such absurdities in Nigeria is the issue of Pilgrimages which is given serious consideration by the government.
In this year 2018, the total amount to be spent on pilgrimage is an incredible sum of 250 billion naira only to sponsor pilgrims to pray for the development of Nigeria among others.
Permit me to reel out the practical influence and realities bothering on this figure for your own rational analysis and opinion:
Do you know that;
250 Billion Naira can build 250 model schools.
250 Billion Naira can build 100 modern Health Centers.
250 Billion Naira can build 250 brand new roads.
250 Billion Naira can build 1000 new housing estates.
250 Billion Naira can create 100,000 new jobs.
250 Billion Naira can immunize all the children in Nigeria under the age of immunization.

We choose not to spend that money on human capital development, on roads, on health, rather, we choose to use it to go and pray against accidents, against sicknesses, against illiteracy, etc.
Worthy of note here is that Pilgrimage is not bad and should be encouraged as a spiritual exercise, however, it should be made a private affair for faith without works is dead.
For a second, imagine how much we spend every year on pilgrimage only and its impact on the economy if we redirected all these resources appropriately.
Nigeria is doing good on our minds only when our individual pockets and bank accounts are laden with cash to our satisfaction and able to meet our needs, it should not necessarily transcend to the physical outlook of the country generally.
Let us remember that these are our Choices and we must and will live with them.

Of a truth is that we need a renewal of our moral values, national re-orientation from the top most to the least on the ladder if we desire a better country than what currently obtains. No other sort of miracle can do it for us as individuals.
We need to see, think, breathe and act as Nigerians  and treat Nigeria first as genuine patriots in all facets of life as exemplified by the Americans and other nations of the world that we seem to be replicating their individual and federal systems.


Ugo Madu
nkosisonga@gmail.com
Communications, Business Development and Public Affairs Analyst.