Book Preview
Oseloka Obaze*
Friday
9 September 2011
Nigeria: Half a
Century of Progress and Challenges
Edited By
Constance Chiogor Ikokwu
(ISBN-978-978-912-901-0): True Expression Press; Nigeria;
2011, 206pp,
Price $25.00
Available at:
http://www.halfacentury.com
or
enquiries@trueexpression.com
True
to its title,
Nigeria: Half a Century of Progress and
Challenges is an exhilarating excursion into the mixed and paradoxical
realm of Nigerian nationhood that many still find very confounding.
In this
well-intended and well-edited book, the editor, Constance Chiogor Ikokwu,
selects as her medium, the insight, gab, emotions and consternation of fifteen
eminent, yet eclectic Nigerians, whose views and criticism of their nation, she
melds into a singular volume that offers an all-inclusive insight, deep
revelations and justifiable condemnations about the ills that continue to dog
the Nigeria nation. The volume does what Nigerians do best; criticism of the
self and the leadership; but it also offers insightful solutions to the myriad
of problems faced by this once promising country that some now define as a mere
“geographical expression” and others, as an experiment that retains great
potentialities.
In this
thirteen-chapter volume, a vast array of issues is tackled in the context of
nation-building, all in a bid to decipher why Nigeria has not self-actualized.
Inexorably, the contributors grapple forthrightly and admirably with the
successes achieved so far and the seemingly intractable problems and challenges.
Frequently debated and topical Nigerian issues, such as Religious Tolerance,
Tackling Tribalism /Ethnicity and Stemming Corruption, The Human capital
Challenge, the Niger Delta and Development Problems, Rethinking Governance,
Dealing with the Missing Link, are considered.
The
parameters and tone for the discourse in this volume is ably set by the editor,
Ms. Ikokwu, who invites Nigerians to join the fray and “sustain the
conversation.” But perhaps one phrase that captures the essence of her motive,
medium and the outcome, is that which states that “ideas are powerful.”
In reaching out to a select but diverse group of people who she calls the
“Champions of Modern Nigeria” to contribute to this volume, Ikokwu wittingly
lured some to render accounts of their stewardship, others to offer unvarnished
views of what Nigerians already knew to have gone wrong with their country, and
some, to set out visionary and demonstrable parameters for solving existing
problems.
In all, the
contributors independently provide differing or converging evaluations and
analyses that point to national fault lines and pitfalls, which if left
uncorrected, would prove most damaging to Nigeria.
The views of the contributors are largely in tandem with those of the
editor, who in more ways than one, underlined Nigeria’s penchant for setting
incongruous priorities, and embarking on projects that are hardly implemented.
This point is well encapsulated by Emir of Kazaure: “we know our problems
and what is required to solve them … for once in a long time Nigerians are, in a
highly intellectual rather than rhetorical manner, putting together a treatise
on how to forge our country ahead.”
Each of the
succeeding chapters in this volume shed some light on the core issues germane to
good governance in Nigeria and most, pointed out to prevailing pitfalls and
challenges. Broadly, each author
presents some original insight, mostly personal knowledge-based; while drawing
on other sources and historical facts to buttress their views. Such an approach,
while entirely not in strict compliance to accepted academic analysis format
(several chapters are edited recounts of interviews) still succeeded in offering
a diametric perspective on diverse and sometimes contentious issues.
The lead
chapter by Dr. Chiedu Osakwe dissects Nation Building challenges, dredging up as
it were, crucial questions about discontinuities in policymaking and their
implementation. The overall picture is not good; “even well-designed policies
tend to be ineffective as ‘stand-alone or in isolation’. The mix of companion
policies must be right”(p.7). In the same vein, he notes that “reform must
become a permanent feature of economic policy making” and “one generation of
reforms must be succeeded by another”(p.21). In the end, he does not favour a
home-grown model of nation building, as much as he defers to “a pragmatic
western model”. He cites several exemplars Nigeria could mimic.
Whereas Rev.
Fr. Mathew Hassan Kukah ducked the trap of discussing religious tolerance in
Chapter 2 and instead opted to tackle the exploitation of religion for personal
or sectional interests, hence his title, “The Janus Face of Religion”, he still
provides a counter balance to Dr. Lateef Adegbite’s incisive arguments in
Chapter 3 on religious tolerance. Both authors clearly speak to the
misapplication of religion and the damage it has wrought on Nigeria. Kukah
clarifies a point that is generally mistaken by most; the distinction between a
secular and non-secular state and the implication of both for democratic rule.
“What we need is the enforcement of the constitutional provisions concerning
secularity (not Secularism) of the modern State.…Secularism seeks to defeat
religion” (p.35), a point Adegbeti subscribes to, in noting that “secularism
offends the belief of Muslims and is completely rejected by them” (p.44).
Fathomably, both authors agree that Nigerians have allowed their religion to
trump their patriotism and nationality, hence, Kukah’s very loaded question:
“Am I a Nigerian who happens to be a Christian/Muslim or a
Christian/Muslim who is accidentally a Nigerian?”(p36). As both a counterpoint
and validation, Dr. Adegbite notes that while the 1999 Nigerian constitution
prohibits making a particular religion a state religion it does not exclude
religion in state affairs. The kernel of their respective treatises is that the
current mix of religion and politics in Nigeria remains a tinderbox.
Former EFCC
boss, Malam Nuhu Ribadu writes on “Stemming Corruption” in Chapter 4, and while
adopting a declaratory approach to attest to what was done during his tenure to
stem corruption, never really answers the question as to why under him the EFCC
fumbled on most high-profile cases. He bashes those critics, the
“not-well-informed” detractors, who espouse the view that successes have not
been recorded in the anti-corruption crusade and especially, those who engage in
“elite conspiracy” and resort to “that discredited tactics of hacking down the
messenger” (p56). He concludes by asserting that Nigeria has suffered a severe
reverse in combating all forms of criminality: “sadly, today, evidence suggests
a return to the pre-2003 era”(p.58). He is right; as an elite, he understands
the how and why.
Whilst it
might seem like stating the obvious, perhaps because it has been repeated so
often, in Chapter 5, “Securing a Diversified Economic Future for Nigeria”,
Nigeria’s former and present Finance Minister,
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala asserts that the greatest challenge facing
Nigeria is how to diversify its economy through emphasis on other non-oil
sectors of the economy and
“solidify the foundation of good management, clean government and rock solid
financial sector and then build on this” (p.77).
The entire chapter, introspective and well-rendered from an insider’s
perspective, points to the evident and perennial disconnect between mercurial
oil income and desirable planning, as well as the downside to the dependency on
oil, which Nigerian policymakers neither control the rise or fall of its prices.
She notes that “sizable deficit meant fiscal policy was procyclical, actually
amplifying price volatility (p.62).
Without speaking directly to the leadership’s fiscal indiscipline and lack of
frugality, she hinted on Nigeria being a “heavily-indebted oil rich country” as
indicative of that disposition. Why
not, when the national debt rose both exponentially and geometrically, from
“less than a billion dollars in 1970 to $19 billion in 1985” and reached $33
billion by in 2003? As is commonly known, she notes that over $300 billion
Nigeria earned between $1970 and 2001, yielded no visible commensurate dividend.
Neither did revenue earned between 2001 and 2011.
In the
succeeding chapters various contributors grappled with the progress and
challenges by Nigeria in various facets: Mr. Ledum Mittee on “The Niger Delta
and Development Issues” (Chapter 6); Mr. Jason Ikokwu , on “Tackling,
Tribalism/Ethnicity” (Chapter 7); Dr. Martin Uhomoihbi on “Nigerian Foreign
Policy: Current Features, Enduring Challenges and
Prospective Solutions”; (Chapter 8); Prof Anya O. Anya, on “Nigeria: The
Human Capital Challenge” (Chapter 9); Malam Nasir El-Rufai on “Emerging Leaders
in the Society” (Chapter 10); Donald Duke on “The Role of the Youth in
Development” (Chapter 11); Obiageli
Ezekwesili, on “Rethinking
Governance in Nigeria” (Chapter 12);
and Brigadier Buba Marwa, on
“How to Achieve Effective Security” (Chapter 13).
One common
thread in all the narratives was about lost opportunities and the need to
salvage the nation before it is too late.
Another recurring corollary is the call to recognize the Nigerian youth
as an asset and the custodians of Nigeria’s legacy, and thus provide them with
gainful employment, stem the brain drain, enhance their role national
development and stem youth crime by integrating the youth into a new security
initiative and infrastructure. Corruption and its malignantly insidious impact
were variously dealt with, but as Chief Emeka Anyaoku averred, corruption
prevails, “because of the inability of politicians to lead with probity”(p.204).
The sum total of the various assessments pointed to leadership shortfall and
lack of an enabling environment, a sine
qua non for sustainable development.
Of all the
contributions, I found Mr. Ledum Mittee piece in Chapter 6, titled “The Niger
Delta and Development Issues” and Prof. Anya O. Anya’s piece on “Nigeria: The
Human Capital Challenge” the most engrossing and perhaps, the most balanced and
the most unsentimental. They both looked at our progress and challenges
dispassionately.
From
Mittee’s perspective, Niger Delta epitomizes as it were, Nigeria’s multifarious
problems and the oil curse, which he goes to prove with facts and cogent
arguments. He presents with clarity
how Nigeria’s discovery of oil in the late 50s and its over dependent on that
mono-commodity went on to complicate its development agenda, skewering its focus
and emphasis on other vital economic sectors.
He touches on the scourge of kidnapping and its linkage to oil wealth and
the “settling” of those involved in that enterprise.
Two other points by the author, both related to the problems in the Niger
Delta are troubling as they are poignant.
Of kidnapping, he remarked, “Like armed robbery, kidnapping may have come
to stay as evidence suggest that it is
gradually being used as a
frightening tool in the resolution of family, business and political
disagreements”(p.89). He also
asserts that “whatever hopes we had of aspiring towards being the top 20
economies in the world is but a blurred vision. Perhaps this explains the
tragedy of the ignominy which we have continued to treat concerns about the
decays in our educational sector”(p.86). The linkages between poor education,
kidnapping, unemployment and Nigeria’s laggardly development can be easily
deduced.
For his
part, Professor Anya notes that “Nigeria properly organized and motivated has
all it takes to be one of the leading economies and technological forces of the
modern world.” The emphasis here should be on being “properly organized”.
Clearly, the organizing principles that has been applied to Nigeria by
the past leadership has not enjoyed consensus. Moreover, as can be gleaned from
this volume, Nigeria’s critical sectors, education, health, security, power
generation, development and employment and productivity, are still all poorly
organized. Accordingly, despite the discernible halting progress, Nigeria is
still challenged in all spheres.
Chief Emeka
Anyaoku sums up very nicely the basic thrust of
Nigeria: Half a Century of Progress and Challenges with his epilogue,
“Dealing with the Mixing Link”. His
words in summary: “Nigeria has had its own fair share of mixed blessings… the
failure of governance and leadership at home was behind the numerous disruptions
that Nigeria’s democracy has experienced since independence… the concluding
challenge is how and when what most of the international community regards as
Africa’s sleeping giant will wake up.”
That question, one may observe, is well beyond the rhetorical (pp.203-205).
Nigeria:
Half a Century of Progress and Challenges
is a
stimulating read. It adds vim to the on-going leadership debate and looks
candidly at past glory and current crisis bedevilling Nigeria. The various
articles resonate with nostalgia, melancholy, moods, passion, and yet, with
unbridled hope for Nigeria. Those who seek to know Nigeria will gain a glimpse
into her troubled soul via this collection. The editor and writers have done
their bit to contribute to history and Nigeria’s progress and indeed, they have
collectively grappled with a key challenge; how to engage in the dying art of
honest dialogue and discourse of national issues without being partisan.
Whatever the shortcomings of this volume may be, the editor, Constance Chiogor
Ikokwu achieves her mission in a sure-footed way, by providing a fresh book with
fresh ideas.
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Mr. Oseloka Obaze is a co-founder of the Kwenu.com Book Review Forum, which is dedicated to the promotion of books with Igbo and Afrocentric themes. He is also a supporting Member of the African Writers Endowment (AWE). From 1999 to 2005, he served on the editorial board of INYEAKA, the journal of Songhai Charities, Inc., a New Jersey community-based charity founded and run by Nigerians based in New York Tri-state area in the United States, first as its founding Publisher and later as the Editor-At-Large. He is also on the editorial board of The Amaka Gazette, journal of the Christ the King College, Onitsha Alumni Association in America. His collection of poems, “Regarscent Past: A Collection of Poems” was second among the top three finalists in the poetry category in the African Writers Endowment Publishing Grant Program for 2004. He is working on a novel titled “Happy Eulogy”. He reviews books and arts strictly as a hobby.
© Copyright 9 September 2011.