Expecting development amidst corruption and impunity is like building castles in the air. Once upon a time we celebrated NEPA, NITEL, Water Board, Railway Corporation, etc, but corruption killed them all. We privatised, now we enjoy nothing but inconsistent services and exploitation. Once upon a time we had four working refineries, but corruption and myopia killed them all. Now a proposition lingers to privatise them; so we continue to import refined fuel, enjoy fuel scarcity and unbeatable oil theft.
Once upon a time we could brag about the great groundnut and cocoa pyramids, our rich oil palm produce and fertile land. We boasted of our capacity to feed at least the whole West Africa with our agricultural produce, but corruption and myopia gave that a backseat. Once upon a time we dreamt of constant power supply, hoped to learn from western renewable technology since we are more blessed with the geological features to tap the gains, but myopia and corruption swore the dreams would never come to reality; now all we have are more blackouts, rising electricity bill, more generator sets and fumes to inhale.
Once upon a time we bragged about our prestigious learning institutions, but corruption, lack of passion, mentorship, tenacity and innovation beclouded the glory. Today all we have are beautiful school gates with no spirit of learning, knowledge, integrity or pride. Once upon a time we had a dream that states would be able to look inward and seek self-sustaining revenue streams to cater to their citizens, independent of federal monthly oil wealth sharing, but no – corruption, greed, laziness and myopia swore that that would not come to reality.
While necessity remains the mother of invention, it must be resounded that a stitch in time saves nine. The most successful plans, ideas and preparations are crafted when the possibility of the WORST CASE SCENARIO is accepted. Nigeria and Nigerians have made it a tradition and have consistently assumed that the worst can never occur. Our leaders and especially technocrats have designed techniques of dodging the truth, so much so that even when current trends and daily decisions would most likely lead to the worse outcome/scenario, the make-believe becomes overwhelming. What if the worst outcome cannot be averted by mere words of hope, luck, wishes, prayers or political promises?
What if Nigeria, as predicted, loses its ties of unity in 2015, would states and regions be able to come up with self-sustaining ideas to cater for their citizens using state and regional resources? If yes, what are the ideas and why not implement them now? What if our daughters in Boko Haram captivity are not rescued and are rather molested, brainwashed and used as terrorists? What if our oil wells dry up? What if the international community no longer has need for our crude oil? (Remember that the United States of America, one of the top buyers of our crude, has not imported from Nigeria since July this year.) What if the oil revenue disappears?
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What if Nigerian students abroad become endangered species, unsafe and unwelcome in the various foreign universities? What if our continued impunity and I-don’t-care attitude continues to empower wrong leaders? What if the so-called educated citizens continue to remain unconcerned and do not vote? What if voters continue to sell their votes to corrupt politicians whose sole purpose is to get into office, loot the treasury and do nothing to improve education and health care delivery or provide good roads, industries and power supply? What if the rate of poverty increases so much so that the rich become endangered, hunted down by the poor? I can hear many shouting God forbid, but what if God refuses to forbid these possible scenarios?
We must all start the psychological process of accepting the possibility of these worst outcomes and set agendas for our politicians to mitigate them. For without such acceptance, we would not see the urgency to activate proper planning and commitment to change drivers. We must seek the best actionable solution today, by making the right choices, constantly learning from our past mistakes. We must abort all forms of sentiments, reward hard work and elect the best hands regardless of differences. We must embrace proactive and innovative leadership, vote for transparency and accountability, not unsustainable stomach infrastructure and empty politicians who have neither message nor ideas. We must spread the message of saving Nigeria in all tongues, forms and media. We must emulate good examples from other nations of the world, removing the traditional myopic lens and seeking best alternatives. It is high time citizens, communities, traditional leaders and religious heads woke up to their responsibilities and engaged politicians on their plans to better the state. We must respect ourselves enough to walk away from anything and anyone that no longer serves us, grows us, or makes us happy.
Donald Ik Ofoegbu SOJI APAMPA
