Can Nigeria really get better
Last night I had a long conversation with Obinna on whether Nigeria can get better (see figure 1). I challenged him to come up with a plan which can be effectively in improving the situation in Nigeria. In the process of just searching to find general info about recent activities in Nigeria, I can acorss a comment by Brig. - Gen. Mohammed Marwa, a former Military Administrator of Lagos State (best known for introducing “Operation Sweep”):
Any person who retires from military service and becomes the president, takes along with him, the leadership qualities which were part of the training in the military, the discipline and the patriotism
He was effectively suggesting that “aspiring Presidents Must Have Military Background. Dr Femi Ajayi has been kind enough to respond to such a claim here.
I am not going to dwell too much on Marwa’s comments because the initial reason for writing this post was know if Nigeria can be a better place but each time I read that old boys association (former Military men) will be running for president election - The thought begs the question “Can any change implemented by the regime be effective?”. In fact, is any change implemented supposed to be effective.
The suggestion that the president must have military background implies that some people want method of looting to stay in the place. At the moment, the military professional are perhaps one of the best paid in the country which could explain why Obsanjo has continued to enjoy an uninterrupted so-called democratic rule.
One of the basic solutions, is to ensure that policemen and teachers are paid well. It will keep the police reduce begging for bribe off the street. It create a system where law and order are completely upheld in the majority of the Nigeria.
For teachers, It will reduce the strikes and ensure we have proper academic sessions. The result is that other professions will of course want a pay rise. There will be a shift in the labour market and this will effectively create a supply for police officers and teachers - hopefully satisfying the initial shortage which has occurred as a result of several people leaving these professions.
Also do read this interesting article on A practical solution to nigerian foreign debts along with democracy is failing in Nigeria again.
Tags: Nigeria
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Comments (5)
Your comments have a seductive logic but please dont forget that Nigeria defies logic. I doubt that paying these guys particular the police well would create a situation where “law and order is upheld”. Afterall, the Inspector General of Police had to resign this week cos over a billion Naira was found in one of his accounts and he has been accused of money laundering - you cannot tell me that as an IG he was not paid well ?
The challenge and I guess one of the solutions would be for entrepreneurs to create authentic businesses that not only provide quality employment but that generate sufficient wealth to challenge the poverty in that place .
I love interesting debates. Now Nigeria is a topic of continuous contemplation. Do you know what that means??? That no matter how long you think, you can never find a satisfactory solution. Why? Because poverty is the root cause. Why do politicians loot? Why do the police seek bribes? Why do Lecturers award grades based on bribery? Why, Why Why?
The answer to all these questions is the same. Until the moral fabric that runs through Nigerian society changes so that the new Local Government Chairman actually awards contracts, and they are performed. Until businessmen making profit from importing oil actually invest in improving their country’s petrochemical industry. Until people do their job not because they are bribed to do so, but because they are obliged to do so. In many societies, the man of integrity is dead. In Nigeria, only one woman is left.
See thats what baffles me- the article about nigeria’s solution to debt (i think its called) is written by a Nigerian in Canada. So is it that Nigerians in Nigeria think Nigeria is an ok place? With all this, it seems its the Nigerians that live away thats trying to make Nigeria a better place. And all this talk leads me to ask wheres the action? And why would there be any, when its not going to better these ‘nigerians’ away from home!
So we’re in Britain and America or some place else and we decide to compare Nigeria to these other well developed places. Thats not goin to fly!
So with all this talk of poverty, whos cmplainin besides the rich?
My greatest wish is that humpty dumpty should not fall off a cliff. My greatest wish is that Nigeria should remain stable. When I read about what’s hapening in other african countries, I realize that looting is not our worst problem.
In my area in Ogun State, for example, one morning for some sily reason reason ‘hausas’ started fighting ‘yorubas’ and a yoruba child got killed (actually, cut in half with a matchet) and the ‘yorubas’ started a riot against the ‘hausas’
If the people who have the power can just keep the country together while we grow up, that’ll be something. Honestly.
[…] Politics is becoming tiresome in Nigeria. Like the same old story. Good people get removed (forced to resign) or get killed. The definition of good people is relative. I refer to people attempting to make a difference in Nigeria. Not too bothered if you chop money along the way but at least make a difference. I’m confused and beginning to doubt if Nigeria has any hope. […]
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