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The Necessity for Socio-Economic Change in Nigeria By Jazuli A. Lawal (KANO STATE) Nigeria
as a nation with ethnic diversity and great natural endowment, has been
struggling to stand on its feet for so many years now.
It is unbelievable that, Nigeria will find itself in this kind of
socio-political crisis today. With
the current situation of political unrest, economic hardship, ethnic
confrontations, insecurity and Proliferations of poverty, one can
conclude that all hope is now lost when compared with our past
experience in the mid seventies. The
patient people of Nigeria will no doubt continue to advocate many
different solutions that could save our economy from total collapse. In
my own opinion, Nigerian diverse ethnic differences and our relegated
background can pose difficulty in predicting our situation in the near
future. In the same
vain, since before the Nigerian independence, the country has never been
one nation. Recalling
the past administrative structure of colonial hegemony inflicted on us
before 1953, this will serve as a clear testimony and form basis for my
argument. It is
equally beyond any reasonable doubt that Nigerian predicaments emanate
from take-over of power by military personnel in 1966 January and July
coups respectively. Research
has shown that, Nigerian military lacked leadership experience at the
time they took over power from civilians in 1966.
Knowing quite well that they needed to align with the remaining
civilians who where not killed in the coup as a syndication.
Ever since, Nigerian military have continued to consolidate
themselves into power at various level of political leadership of this
country. Unfortunately, this
class has continued to succeed themselves through inter-marriages and
acquiring political titles among themselves.
Sadly enough, most our traditional rulers are ex-military
personnel that comprised of all the major ethnic groups in Nigeria,
either from the North, West or Eastern parts of this country.
They also formed a clique of cultist that wages a total war
against any form of opposition. Besides,
the ruling class better call the military has continued to manipulate
the population of over one hundred million people by sapping out their
blood through unprecedented policies and economic reforms that serve the
interest of IMF and World banks that belong to the Western Powers.
Our leaders today consist of questionable characters that do
nothing than connive as agents of the west.
Where they continue to enjoy cover and protection in their quest
for power domination at the expense of the majority of Nigerians. It
is quite disheartening that, our so-called elders (the emirate) and
their counterparts the political office holders are now living a highly
comfortable life styles collaborating with the retired Military Officers
and denied the common man access to better life. They have
systematically destroyed our educational system so that our people
cannot read and write. Whereas
they loot our treasury to send their children abroad for studies and
ultimately satisfy their zealous desires to build mansions and take over
government properties illegally in the name of privatizations. They have
continued to subject every one to their slavery tendencies in the guise
of democracy. As such what
kind of approach to change that would liberate the majority of the
people of Nigeria from this form of slavery?
One of the answers could be through socio-economic revolution.
Unfortunately,
most people (masses) in Nigeria do not understand the concept of
revolution at all. According
to my mentor Malam Aminu Kano who defined revolution as "change in
mental outlook from perpetual mental domination by outmoded ways of
life, which makes man feel inferior to the forces of nature. And
when man wants to overcome these forces he becomes revolutionary.
That is when they are prepared they can even face tanks." Back
to this word democracy and its confused notion. It is a confused
notion because it may only be defined as a system of Government which
permits people in a country ultimately and periodically to elect their
own rulers, to determine what type of ruler they will have and also to
determine the pace and direction of progress of the country concerned.
This is important not only in determining the direction of progress or
the rulers of the country but also in affecting the succession of these
rulers without violence and in accordance with the rule of law. After
determining this system, democracy is not complete without the people
having adequate accommodations, food, education, good health, and
capacity to rule, leisure and work. Without these rudiments,
democracy becomes meaningless. Above all, the people in a
democratic society have their dignity protected. Our
path to the future must be bold, straight and clear.
We must be determined to build our own society based on our own
character and national identity. We
must be ever more and more determined to rid ourselves of the old
colonial structure which was imposed upon us, and to build a new social
order consistent with our own heritage, our own customs and beliefs. This
task requires the formulation of a sound national blue print for total
development in all spheres of life as well as long range planning for
economic and social development by the fullest mobilization of our human
and natural resources. In
the colonial era, poverty, disease, ignorance and hunger for the vast
majority of our people were cruel fate.
Today, our leaders have become unnecessary evils that can and
must be re-oriented. This is
the essence of the revolution of our time.
This is the historic setting for our problems of economic
development. I
want to start with economic development. The aim of our economic program
must primarily be the total elimination of hunger and poverty from our
midst until we come to a stage whereby nobody, no child in any nook or
corner of this country goes to bed without a meal.
The program must be interpreted to mean the expansion of our
society, must take into account the psychological peculiarities of our
people and must be precise and direct to the target.
I have always wondered whether we are doing enough to change the
outlook and mentality of our people, which tend to make us behave as if
we are rich and neglect the essentials.
We suffer from the psychological out-look that everything British
or foreign is good. We waste
our money on foreign goods. We
allow millions of our hard earned income to leave the country.
We neglect the essential and take delight in copying ridiculous
customs and habits that are un-Nigerian and un-African customs and
habits, which cost us millions. We have been misled and trained to
believe that only when we go shopping in Kings way do we look important.
Only when we ride huge and expensive cars do we feel fit to be
called minister. All these
have an adverse effect on our economy and effect on our standard of
life. Nigeria
is in ferment. Roaring winds
are raging in the minds of quit and simple people of Nigeria.
We must use all our wisdom to meet the challenge of this
revolutionary period. Latitude
of mind must go. Facts and
realities must be faced and the growing tendency to fascism must be
remedied not by the machinery of coercion but by positive and
constructive approach. Progressive forces must be channeled to constructive work of reshaping the destiny of Nigeria as a model to all Africa so that in the final stage of the struggle, Nigeria will not only occupy the new face of Africa but also enjoy forever its economic bonanza. |