Nigeria — The world watches
Nigeria, the self –acclaimed giant of Africa, is in the news again. Just recently, their youthful looking President, Jonathan Goodluck, signed a bill consigning a 14-year jail term for gays and lesbians who venture into marriage.
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Immediately, the United States and other Western interests have reacted negatively, insisting that such bills are aberrations to human rights (on free association).
On the other hand, most countries on the African continent will not see this as a big deal, having expressed dissent to this most unwholesome African culture and heritage.
No resistance from parties
This has been one of the rarest moments in recent times when there was no political resistance or hoopla over a public announcement coming from President Jonathan. The two ruling parties – PDP (which the President leads) and the APC (coalition of opposition parties”) have been mum over this. At least, this is some fresh breath of comfort to an ever increasing disenfranchised populace who are used to seeing representatives of both parties tearing themselves apart in both print and electronic media everyday. Even Jonathan himself alluded few weeks ago that he would scale down on public speeches because whatever he said would be used against him. Alas, where are the script writers?
2015 elections and conflict
In 2015, Nigeria is open for another round of elections across the board and there are huge stakes here for both this giant of Africa and the rest of the continent. Nigeria accounts for one out of eight Blacks in the world, and can comfortably boast a population of not less than 150 million people. With over 150 ethnic languages, the four major tribes – Yoruba, Hausa, Ibo and Ijaw are spread across 36 states, with the Hausa/Fulani being the dominant tribe in the whole of northern Nigeria, which is also predominantly Muslim.
The other major tribes are spread across southern Nigeria. In the past five years, the north has been embroiled in massive restfulness with the Boko Haram saga where thousands have been killed in what several see as a sacred religious agenda to massacre the Christian population. President Jonathan is a Christian and there are several who see his weak attempt at curtailing the Boko Haram incursions as influenced by the fear of a Christian president denigrating a Muslim force.
US document leakage
These are indeed strange and trying times for Nigeria. About 10 years ago, a US document predicting that Nigeria would be a failed state in 2015 leaked, and though quite a number of their elitist population have condemned the prediction, some others see a gradual descent into a political abyss as the handiwork of the political class who imbibed the rot of corruption from past military regimes. Nigeria of today typifies the saying that “when it rains, it falls.”
There is no shortage of breaking news. Is it the massive defection of five governors from the ruling PDP to the opposition? Is it the subsequent defection of legislators at the lower House? Is it the leaked letter from past President Obasanjo making wholesome allegations against Mr Jonathan? Is it the leaked letter of the Central Bank Governor, Sanusi, alleging loss of huge funds? Is it the proposed 70 per cent tax on imported cars? Recently, a senator was allegedly shot by a policeman in an anti-government rally in the oil city, Port Harcourt. What should pass for breaking news elsewhere is now common there.
Leader in Africa
Yet, Nigeria boasts some of the finest virtues in the world. The biggest oil producer in Africa (though fast losing position to Angola, initially, due to the Niger Delta restiveness but where an industrial scale of oil thefts have taken over). The country boasts the only African holder of the Nobel laureate in literature. The current finance minister once strode the World Bank as the managing director. Some medical feats in the Western world have Nigerians in their teams. Current African football champions, they are one of Africa’s hopes for winning the world cup this year. Their musical talents – Tuface, Dbanj, Burna Boy, Psquare, Don Jazzy, etc. — are reigning over the continent. Their Nollywood is one of the fastest- growing in the world. Several of Nigerian banks are rated among the biggest 1000 in the world.
Young leaders
In the political scene, there are emerging young successes. The Lagos State (biggest state) Governor Babatunde Fashola has transformed Lagos into a world class city. Though tainted by political feuds, the Rivers Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, is probably one of the best gifts of youthful hopes for Africa. His developments in all facets, especially education, healthcare, agriculture and sustainable development initiatives, are models for an African renaissance. These gentlemen ought to be models to show that Nigeria (and indeed Africa) can rule the world. Let’s not forget the youthful Minister of Agriculture, Akinwunmi, who recently won Forbes African Person of the Year 2013.
Election of women
There are yet no elected female leaders. Nigerians are still chauvinistic.
They should try the women. Maybe things would change. Mrs Okonjo Iweala, Mrs Diezanni Madueke (Petroleum Ministry), Dora Akunyuli, etc., represent some of the best Nigeria can offer. In my visit to Delta State, I witnessed an amazon called Ngozi Olejeme. Hearing her talk almost made me want to change my nationality.
Nigeria should realise the world is watching. Their African brothers eagerly await their success. A failure here would have irreversible consequences for the region and, indeed, the continent.
The first steps should be to restore national pride and confidence. People hear more of the negatives than the positives there. The richest black man in the world is a Nigerian. Dangote’s wealth is through industry - he has never held a political office. There are several world class entrepreneurs in that country but the world hears more of the 419 fraudsters.
The state police should be reformed to restore public confidence. The judiciary should inspire hope for the oppressed. These are achievable and a legacy that Jonathan should focus and bequeath his people, rather than a heated polity focused on his 2015 presidential ambition.