Nigerian Leaders: Dodging Problems

By

D. I. Sajoh

dsajoh@yahoo.co.uk

 

 

 

Humans solve their problems naturally by analyzing, observing, surveying, experimenting and other genuine means of studying the problems with the aim and objective of understanding the problem and providing a solution based on that understanding.

 

In Nigeria today, the way our leaders are solving (or seems to be solving) problems, looks like (and that is it) they observe and analyze everything but the problem. The reason could be intentional, in order to widen the gap between the rich and the poor or to increase their (the poor) sufferings. In both cases, the leaders hope that the will have more control over the masses. They believe a poor and hungry man (forgetting he is also angry) needs only a few naira notes and some food just enough to keep him alive, to become their “slave”. The second reason could be ignorance, because most of them are in that position without ever dreaming to be there. Therefore, they have no plan, no aim and hence no objective whatsoever to achieve. Therefore when there is problem they resort to trial and error and when they think there is not, they try to create an impression that they are performing their duty by providing solutions to invented or modified problems.

 

In line with the federal government “unusual” reforms (not business as usual according to Obasanjo), they want to increase the years being spent in primary school from six to nine years. The question is, is this the solution? Ask a 10 year old child what is the problem with our educational system as well as solutions, he will outline almost all. If spending more years in primary school is the answer, why is it that a pupil in private school performs better than his mate from public primary school or even better than those in public secondary school? If renovation is the answer for how long government have been renovating schools and still there is no improvement?

 

Being part of this society they knew and still know what is to be done to improve the situation. The only reason they are not doing is because their children are not attending those schools. Otherwise making people spend more years in school (or spend their entire life time) without providing the necessary facilities will in no way improve the standard of education (if that is what they intended doing at all). Likewise having a first degree before studying medicine is not the panacea against graduating quack doctors, without checking the corruption that is gradually eating up the educational sector, providing standard study facilities and ensuring that those that teaches and lecture are real academicians not those who do not bother with whatever happens to the sector. As important factor a conducive environment is, in study, (which is not present) it will be useless without the materials and manpower to help the students obtain the desired knowledge.

 

When tackling unemployment, instead of providing job opportunities, the government decides, by side stepping and thereby avoiding the main problem, to undertake mass retrenchment. The ghost workers are lucky, little or no effort has been made to flush them out. Apart from the usual talk to remind us that their existence is well known.

Pray you are not in a ministry where a mistake has been committed by your superior which reveals his incompetence. In some mistakes some one must be sacked. Watch out that hammer might fall on you, even if it was your boss that should be blame for that error.

 

In providing houses to its citizens especially workers, the government decides to sell the houses occupied by those workers, following the “unusual” due process. While other occupiers were given the chance to purchase their houses at a forbidden price and within an impossible time frame considering their situation, others were denied that right.

 

In this our country, basic amenities are provided to those that can afford it by virtue of their wealth and denied to the poor that cannot afford such by all means. That is why Obasanjo that can afford to buy kerosene is being provided with gas and electric cooker which makes him, as the head of state, not to know even its price (after all it is just the masses that are using it). He knows the price of petrol because of the “importance” he attached to it. Also members of the National Assembly that can afford to buy generators are constantly being supplied with power and were spiting fire because of little fluctuation in some part of their quarters. Forgetting millions of Nigerians that spends days without light. At the end of the month they still have to pay PHCN (Power Headache Continue in Nigeria) the monthly bill. Same goes to all other social amenities you can think of.

 

Our major problem is that our leaders know too much and also have solutions to all sort of problems, real or virtual, existing or nonexistent, and original or fake problem. They believe they know more than you do even in your area of specialization. Watch Obasanjo on his media chart and you will see how he “unusually” dominate the programme, performing both his role and that of the anchor. If the poor complain about food and water, they will tell him he does not know his problem. They will try to make him believe that, himself and not bad governance on there side is to be blame.

 

Our leaders should learn to stop dodging problems, which are challenges that are vital to development. They should face it and study it systematically, in order to solve it squarely. Challenges in life, might not necessarily be in form of work. Accepting the reality truth is also a challenge. For example loosing the most important person in your life. Same goes to vacating the mantle of leadership after testing its sweetness. Almost all the people that died would have like their life to be extended so that they can accomplish one thing or the other. If you cannot finish what you promised to do, within a specified time, then it is just a pointer to our weaknesses as humans. Allow somebody else to try. I believe you were not the one that brings the world to its present position, which will justify your fear of someone destroying it.

 

Whatever happens, humans remain mortals and hence death is inevitable. A time will come when leaving the stage is not a matter of choice. May God continue to protect our country.

 

D. I. Sajoh

Federal university of Technology, Yola

Dept. of Math and computer science

dsajoh@yahoo.co.uk