Failed Behemoth… or Giant of Africa?

I hasten to tell the deluded high chief to wake up as the train of socio-economic, cultural and political development had long departed the station. Sometimes I wonder why Nigeria has been so cursed with the kind of ruling elite it presently has. To me, Chief Uzodimma’s perception of the status of Nigeria in the […]

I hasten to tell the deluded high chief to wake up as the train of socio-economic, cultural and political development had long departed the station. Sometimes I wonder why Nigeria has been so cursed with the kind of ruling elite it presently has.

To me, Chief Uzodimma’s perception of the status of Nigeria in the comity of African nations is the very height of delusion and hallucination. It is a classic case of “Hearing colours and seeing sounds”. To the chief, Nigeria has supposedly successfully prevented the continent from descending into irreversible conflict. Nigeria has further made an unparalled sacrifice for peace and stability on the African continent and this alone stands it out as giant of Africa.

I sincerely hope someone would let the chief realise that whilst Nigeria is busy quenching other nations’ fires, it has failed woefully to solve its own internal conflicts, stem its economic mis-management, and infrastructure decadence. Nigeria’s landscape is currently plagued with high-level corruption, ethnic-minority clashes, soaring unemployment, industrial strikes, Niger Delta cum resource control problems, etc, and most recently, the high spate of kidnap cases springing up all around the country.

I would want Uzodimma to realise that, Nigeria can only earn the status, “Giant of Africa, respect, support and love of other African nations (nay, all nations of the world), not through the whipping up of sentiments or false claims based on past deeds and glory. Such great titles would only come rather through dints of hard work, high integrity, resourcefulness, and the transparent democratization of the country by the present ruling class – of which he is one.  Granted, Nigeria had been a “Big Brother” on the African continent. In addition, the blood of its soldiers and Aid Corp members had been spilled to help secure peace and democracy in war-torn, and apartheid-ridden countries of Liberia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, etc., but must it rest on its oars, thump its chest, and continue to dwell on past glories, whilst expecting the world to curtsy for it?

It is worth reminding Uzodimma that several African countries Nigeria had helped to sustain their democracies, have gone ahead to hold elections that have ushered in democratically elected representatives. These are without the hullabaloo that has dogged Nigeria’s electoral process. Here, countries such as Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ghana, and South Africa have successfully overcome vast socio-economic, cultural and political turbulence in their quest to nation building. I am sure Uzodimma would rightly remember the Nigeria singsong of “Ghana must go” of the eighties.

On the other hand, Nigeria’s last attempt at holding an election for the present crop of leaders, which commenced on 21st of April 2007, is still on. To date, political parties and opponents have inundated the courts and election tribunals with multi-faceted charges and counter-charges. The courts have been busy over-turning dubious victories, hinged on vote manipulations – over two years into the respective tenures.

Benchmarked against present standards and best practices, known indices, and core ingredients of socio-economic and political development, Nigeria has no right to call itself the Giant of Africa. Such arrogance and self-conferment of titles is really the cause of our backwardness, stunted growth and sliding growth indices. How do we expect to learn, develop and climb up the ladder of economic prosperity if our leaders have already assessed and adjudged the country to be the Giant of Africa?

The world is watching and would not act based on the kind of sentiments and unverifiable claims to titles espoused by Uzodimma and his likes. The rejection of such sentiments is glaring in the fact that Obama’s first visit to sub-Saharan Africa is Ghana.

The discerning amongst Nigerians should realise that it is not population, territorial size, mineral resources, or claims to past days of glory that counts. Rather, it is good governance and purposeful leadership, arising from free and fair elections, zero-tolerance to corruption and continuous strengthening of democracy.

Oluwi, Victor Abayomi, Dublin, Ireland