I am not a politician and I don’t aspire to be one.To a large extent,I’m contented with life as a professional in my capacity.But the newly celebrated maxim in our political millieu,’stomach infrastrcture’ which gained popularity following the victory of Ayo Fayose in last month’s Ekiti State governorship election has been given too much attention worth downgrading our image as a nation.
It is appalling that in this 21st Century where hardwork should be the watchword and not political gains,Nigeria is retrogressing to the dark days when men celebrated being given fish to eat,as against being taught fishing.This,no doubt does not negate the fact that dividends of democracy should be well given in return to the electorates.
To me,dividends of democracy is not about the stomach but welfare and provision of basic amenities such as good roads,electricity,water as well as employment generation, security of lives and property.These are well spelt out in every nation as the responsibilities of government.Hence,there is provision for them in the fiscal budget.Also,they engender development and improve standard of living.
The clamour for stomach is not the same as agitation for improved welfare of citizens.It is borne out of short-sightedness of some Nigeria who believe life is all about today and forget what happens tomorrow. This new nomenclature reminded me of the biblical Esau who sold his birth right to his younger brother,Jacob for the love of porridge.He later sought it with tears but it was too late.
The stomach infrastructure advocates are of the opinion that whatever is accrued to infrastructural development in a fiscal year should be shared into two while half of it goes into stomach infrastructure. They believe that government cannot be investing heavily on infrastructure when the stomach is empty.And that both development and stomach upgrade could be done side by side while the aggressive infrastructural development should be abandoned.They also opined that short-term projects and empowerment are better than long-term or capital projects.
These insinuations have dangerous signposts for the future of our nation.Apart from its ridiculous and unsound nature,it is bad enough to make whoever has a dream for a greater Nigeria to step back for those who are ready to feed us to stupour.Many electorates are even threatening that they will not vote for any candidate who would not attend to their stomach.What does this portend for our nation?
Little wonder many roads are in bad conditions after 15 years of continuous democracy.The problems of power,unemployment and security,among others still stare us in the face.
Meanwhile,this advocacy would further promote corruption and give bad leadership a field day because whatever is spent on the stomach cannot be accounted for compare to what goes into real infrastructure.It would encourage the bad eggs in our leadership class to see themselves as celebrities who could throw money around until they sell the nation into slavery.
If indeed Nigeria is tilting towards the revamping of the stomach,we are in for a worst image and reputation in the international community.In other words,if we had stayed this long as a Third world country in spite of clamour for development,we should be getting ready to shift to a worst place with stomach which is our new priority.
Richard Threlfall,United Kingdom head of frastructure,KPMG,in his work on the Importance of infrastrcture investment published in BBC News Business on 29th October,2010,’’experts estimates that about $40tn is needed to globally build or upgrade roads,railways,power plants and other infrastructure in other to keep up with demand.According to the Treasury,in the UK alone infrastructure spending may need to run at £40bn to £50bn each year up to 2030.’’
We are in a world where everything is moving fast;a world of though competition where even the first,if care is not taken, could be the last.The likes of Japan,China,Malaysia,India,among others which are keen on catching up with Europe made infrastructural development a priority and gradually becoming a force to be reckoned with.
Infrastructure is not about elephant projects but it is aimed at attracting investors,creating wealth, reducing unemployment and creating an enabling environment for business to thrive.If our leaders had been committed to it since independence,we should not be talking about foreign aids and grants today or inviting some expartriates to teach us how to do business.
Nigeria in this stomach infrastructural campaign era needs to learn from the Chinesse bamboo.This bamboo does not grow above four feet in its first four years but perseverance and constant care are necessary all along.In the fifth year which is its magical year,the bamboo grows over 80 feet tall within six weeks.
The leadership class should see political office as a temporary one.The need to do what posterity will celebrate them for should be their passion.Going into deceit in the name of ‘’that is what they want’’ will not help our national life.On the other hand,leaders who are already doing the right things in terms of re-defining the landscape of their respective states and localities should not desist from doing so.
Also,leadership is about being behind the wheels of a ship which conveys people.Hence,our leaders should not see the ivory tower as an excuse to be far from the people.The likes of Chief Obafemi Awolowo,Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe and Alhaji Tafawa Balewa who turned around the history of Nigeria were into massive infrastructural and human development.
The media should also help matter by setting agenda on issues that will put the nation at par with the first world countries instead of having hands in celebrating backward-driven maxims and their advocates.
Our people who are the final arbiter of political office aspirants should not allow those with sugar-coated mouth to sell concepts worth forcing us into slavery and further age-long decay to them.If we are voting for conscience,it is good we vote right.
Let me end with this Chinesse proverb that says, ‘’if you pay now,you will play later. If you play now,you will pay later.’’
Femi Onasanya
