There many Nigerian professionals abroad, who have ideas, gained from our profession and from the experience garnered over years, in our country of sojourn, on how to fix one or more wrongs in Nigeria’s infrastructural decay and socio-political malady, given the chance. But because of the implanted, institutionalized and systemic corruption in Nigeria, those recycling themselves, either in Khaki or flowing gowns have prevented this from happening.
It is this blocked opportunities, which the present political arrangement, not only encouraged but incubates every time there is a change of power that the call for 'SEPARATION FOR COOPERATION' will address.
By the way, I am not advocating that Nigeria should break up. On the contrary, I hold on to the belief of 'one' Nigeria with a special kind of arrangement, which we might call United State of Nigeria.
I have lots of friends who are both Moslems and Christians from the north and in my father's house, we have practitioners of both religions. As a matter of facts, I lived with an uncle in Lagos, with whom I followed to fast during Ramadan month.
However, I see the country called Nigeria has being retrogressing, in all forms, since independence against the 'developing nation' tag that we are called, the world over.
If the only way we have developed in the last fifty years is the number of living beings we have brought to the world, with no attendance for food and social amenities to match, and we are still to do anything positive about it, then, I make bold to repeat myself, let us BREAK UP INTO MANAGEABLE AND HOMOGENOUS COMPONENTS.
This proposition, I believe will be in the interest of all concerned.
MANAGING RESOURCES
Concerning the issue on how resources are managed and distributed, I will advocate that the states wherever natural resources are found, be allowed to decide on how to explore and market it, leaving behind in the kitty of united Nigeria, an agreed percentage or as advocated in professor Suji's posting.
The so-called oil money has never trickled down to the ordinary man anyway, apart from General Gowon's misguided Udoji award of 1973. The vast majority of money realized from oil have been stolen by a few, who are opportune to have been in government or are allies of those in power, hence a retired general could boast to have made billions from oil well, and we are not told the criteria for its award.
All the component nationalities, be they six or fifteen, should go back to the drawing board, declaring state of emergency in every areas they are once known to be buoyant, but now abandoned, using latest available technologies.
The discovery of oil in Nigeria, to me is a curse for ordinary man but maybe a blessing for few khaki boys and their civilian friends.
If Nigeria will grow, oil money should be invested appropriately, using the accrued interest to develop specific, measurable and time attached infrastructure, spread evenly in all the 36 states, including the federal capital, Abuja..
MADMAN SLOGAN
I believe the different reactions that attended the controversial statement credited to Muammar Gaddafi of Libya, are because of his suggestion for a division of Nigeria based on religion.
David Mark, who called Gaddafi a madman, was not the first to say so. Gaddafi got the nickname from former American President Ronald Reagan, who named him Madman of Africa. David Mark has reason for his reaction apart from being Senate President, he is a Christian, from Benue State (one of the Christian states from the north) whose country, according to Gaddafi will now be a Moslem country.
David Mark happens to have spoken first and reacted because of his position in the country. What do you think Yakubu Gowon would have said if he had the same number of media attention? How about Theo Danjuma, Jerry Gana and a host of others from Benue, Plateau, Kaduna and many more from the north?
Growing up, I was taught, 'in every situation, the first reaction is always the best.' There are many sins of David Mark, to which he will, one day account for before mortal man or in the presence of God but on this occasion, I will spare David.
This is no time to be abusive, Moslems, Christians, Hausa, Fulani, Yoruba, Ibo, Ijaw, Tiv, Kanuri, Efik and others, it is a time to be truthful to ourselves.
The marriage we have endured for 96 years, managed by the colonial master for 46 years, is simply not working. Absolute decree leading to divorce is not an option though, but a separation and breather from each other so that we all earn our respects from each other and grow thereby. We have been going round in cycle for 50 years; it is time for something more profitable.
Amos Akin Adejinmi wrote from London, United Kingdom.
Comments