Nigeria, my Nigeria: Perspectives from 1990-2010 (I)

It is therefore with enthusiasm and pride that I accepted the invitation to review this book with the belief that such documentations are necessary in filling the yawning gap that exists in contemporary literature in a country where education unfortunately, like all other serious sectors is facing untold crisis. I believe that Nigeria, My Nigeria: […]

It is therefore with enthusiasm and pride that I accepted the invitation to review this book with the belief that such documentations are necessary in filling the yawning gap that exists in contemporary literature in a country where education unfortunately, like all other serious sectors is facing untold crisis.

I believe that Nigeria, My Nigeria: Perspectives from 1990-2010 will provide the young ones especially and those who continue to ponder on why things are not working positively in Nigeria some idea into why the backwardness, why the stagnation. Before I make some insertions into my understanding of the spirit in this book, it will be relevant to first and foremost take a brief survey of its contents.

About the Book

It is written in 11 parts apart from the preliminary pages on dedication, list of Acronyms, acknowledgement, foreword, profile of the author and  preface as well as chronicles and index at the end of the book. The book is published by Joe Tolau & Associates

The work is basically a summation of views expressed in newspaper articles written by the author over a period of twenty years in his struggle to find a place within the Nigerian nation. The articles put together clearly set the pace in understanding the character and personality and the factors that have shaped the being of the author. Definitely the fire in Jide Ojo has a foundation in his strong belief in participatory approach to governance in a federal structure like Nigeria. This is easily captured in the form, context and content of the articles written and captured in this book.

Each of the 11 parts in the book treats different but at times similar issues. The articles are categorized according to their theme and or subject matter. The following attempts a brief exegesis of the book on part by part basis.

Part 1 treats governance issues and contains articles on views of the author on wide ranging topics mostly revolving around advocacy. Critical views on how to achieve acceptable census were expressed in this part of the book among many other issues of interest as perceived by the author.

One area that the author has paid much attention to is the nation’s prison system which has bred more criminality than serving as either reformatory or penitentiary for erring members of the society.

In another breadth and while commenting on the crisis in Plateau State in 2004 in the Guardian of May 31st, Jide Ojo opined that the unconstitutional declaration of state of emergency in the state was to sacrifice the state governor and other democratic structures in order to appease the Hausa/Fulani oligarchy who threatened to make Northern Nigeria ungovernable. That Governor Joshua Dariye took sides with his own people against the Muslim settlers in Wase, Yelwa and Langtang.

As untrue as this claim was, the author was able to ventilate some measure of anger over what he perceived was an obvious national issue that needed more serious and mature political brinkmanship in dealing with. There are several other articles in this part that clearly expressed the views of the author on sensitive local, state and national issues and attempted to suggest the way out.

Part 2 contains opinion of the author on the legislature and the judiciary. Many articles here revolve around the efficacy, problems and prospects of the other two critical arms of government ie the legislature and the judiciary.

Some of the interventions here question the claim to equality before the law and the supremacy of the law as cardinal principles of democracy. Several questions were raised here. Do the citizens really have access to justice?

The parliament on the other hand was severally challenged to live up to its constitutional responsibility by ensuring that it maintains its dignity as an arm of government. The debate on constitutional amendment and third term ambition of former president Obasanjo was a focus of the author and clearly and severally called on the National Assembly to reject the amendment bill that sought for tenure extension. Thank God, the parliament did hid to this advise and it is now an issue in history.

Part 2 also pays attention to the question of integrity of the legislature and the judiciary. It is clear that certainly, all comments in this part as are found in others expressed the frustration of the author and the need to resolve basic simple issues in order to build a free and egalitarian society.

Part 3 deals with politics and elections. The manner in which Nigerian politicians have adulterated the meaning of politics from service to an economic enterprise is responsible for the cut throat completion. The winner takes all syndrome encouraged by the pattern of politics at play is also responsible for the low political morality in the society.

Elections are poorly conducted. The views of the people are no longer expressed through the electoral process. Money bags, Godfathers and other vices have since taken over and thus made elections a worthless exercise. This has resulted in apathy and total withdrawal of the people. The manner the state electoral commissions conducted the local government polls across the country left much to be desired. The issue of carpet crossing as an expression of immorality in politics was also a focus of attention to the author.

Part 4 consist of articles dealing with electoral reform. Commentaries bordering on analysis of the electoral bills, framework for conducting credible elections are advocated here. Memos to the ERC, the National Assembly were intended to fine tune the process of electoral reform so that the nation achieve a credible poll within the shortest possible time. Some of these issues were aptly captured in a piece published in the Nigerian Tribune on February 18 2010 captioned ‘Imperative of Constitutional Reform’.

Part 5 focuses on the economy. Issues raised here border more on budget and its analysis, the banking sector and financial management area. Critical issues of fiscal policy in relation to prudent management of Nigeria’s economy for the betterment of its citizens are aroused.  What is equally striking about this part is the critical view on the nature of budgeting in the country and the failure of the same governments who construct these budgets to base financial actions by the provisions of same budgets.

The author views the erratic growth pattern in the economy and the failure of government to accomplish critical projects as fallout of the inability to implement budgets by governments. This view is not unrelated to the question asked in one of the articles as to ‘the 2010 Budget of Stimulus or Deceit?’