Old Wine, New Bottles

By Denrele Animasaun

One man cannot hold another man down in the ditch without remaining down in the ditch with him.—Booker T. Washington

What do we do with Nigeria is not the question, but what Nigerians should do as citizens.  Placing the blame and ills on the how Nigeria is structured is evading and avoiding decades of the protracted misadministration and mismanagement of successive governments on merely national structure. I wish it were that simple but it is not. Seriously there have cracks in the fault line of the national fabric and all administrations have contributed to its failure so by simply blaming it on structure, it is disingenuous, evasive and purposely trying to extricate themselves from the monumental failures of Nigeria and it is not helpful.

What will help is for the perpetrators to stop adding firewood to the already hot fire. What could help also is enabling Nigerians to move on from the socio-economic doldrums. Every fraction in Nigeria seems to want a separation from Nigeria and it has become deriguer.  I wish it were that simple.This is insanity and we cannot continue to take the same old step to destruction and expecting everything to work to our individual whims and desires.

I believe the present socio-economic and political situation is a result of a poor foundation that goes back decades. Unless, we peel back the layers, and pin the faults in our historical and socio-political structure, we will repeat this same problems decades down the line. The greatest fear is that, there may not be a country to rebuild.

Let’s be clear, in a country, where our history is not taught in the curriculum, how on earth do we expect to have a national or unified identity? We no longer teach our history in schools and colleges. Please let that sink in for a moment.

It is scandalous that here we are, in 2017, the ordinary man on the street is hungry and tired, and for him all he wants is the basic amenities: shelter, food, running water, electricity, employment opportunities and efficient health services.  Sadly, this is not the case. We need common decency and humanity from home through to government that prioritise hard work, selflessness, honesty and love of country.

How did we get here? In the creation of Nigeria: In 1914, six Africans were brought into the governor’s advisory council. In 1922, a legislative council (ten Africans, four of them elected, and 36 Europeans) was empowered to legislate for the south and in 1947; the council’s authority was extended to the whole country.

It now had 28 African (four elected) and 17 European members. So in 1947 constitution, it set up regional houses of assembly in the East, West and North, with a House of Chiefs in the North. By 1951 the constitution gave the balance of power to Nigerians. In 1954, Nigeria became a federation; in 1957 Eastern and Western regions gained internal self-government and Northern Nigeria two years later.

Elections to the Federal House of Representatives in December 1959 brought in a new government. At its first meeting, the new House requested full sovereignty and Nigeria proceeded to independence on 1 October 1960.  We had more unity then than now: Nigeria’s independence government was led by the Northern People’s Congress in alliance with the National Council of Nigerian Citizens (a largely Igbo party), with Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa as Prime Minister. In 1963, the country became a republic and Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe its first (non-executive) President.

Fast forward, from four states to 12 states to 19, then 30 states and presently 36 states (1 October 1996). Do we really need all the additional states? Has it made things easier or worse? I think the latter. Who does this division serve and who has benefitted the people of the region? It has created division, waste of finite resources; it has created discord, more trouble and disunity. Of course, Nigeria went from one coup after another, 1966. And in May 1967; Lt-Col Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu declared Eastern Nigeria an independent state named the Republic of Biafra. This led to civil war. Hostilities lasted until Biafra was defeated in January 1970 and Ojukwu went into exile; the war cost some one million lives.

The fault is self-evidently clear; that Nigerians got us into this mess and Nigerians have got to get themselves out. When there is any semblance of normality, another coup and many Nigerians had no say in the matter. We are a nation traumatised but never had the chance to recover.  So many wonder why Nigerians are the way they are?

In 1983 a military coup, by Major-General Muhammadu Buhari initiated a severe austerity programme with campaigns against idleness and self-enrichment and, of course, it did not sit well with others and by 1985 bringing Major-General Ibrahim Babangida came to power. He repealed the most unpopular decrees and, in 1987, promised a return to civilian rule by 1992. In 1989 two parties were formed (only two parties were permitted) he reneged on 1997 free and fair election and here we are.

Now,IBB calls for restructuring and warns against   looming agitation for war: “At 76, I have seen it all. I have seen war. I have fought war. And I have survived war. There is nothing romantic about war in any form. War is bad, condemnable and must be avoided.”I agree but I am wary of an old soldier talking peace especially one who has consistently held on to the vestiges of power and authority for so long by eliminating and neutralising his rival. There is no problem dismissing his warning but one must be cautious as this old soldier has got form. Hindsight is a good thing and he admits that the system is broke: “The management of conflicts is the acid test of maturity, of mutual livelihood and of democratic governance.

“As a people, we need proper study and understanding of our history in order to correct the warped perceptions of our past, so as to minimise the dangers of badly skewed stories of our democratic experience in governance.” I wish he had said with honesty, the part he played in the failure of Nigeria to thrive but, that maybe asking too much for a man who is seeking absolution from his past transgressions.

“Restructuring has become a national appeal whose time has come. I will strongly advocate for devolution of powers that more responsibilities be given to the states, while the Federal Government is to oversee our foreign policy, defence and economy.”

IBB agreed that “restructuring and devolution of powers will certainly not provide all answers to our challenges. “The talk to have the country restructured means Nigerians are agreed on our unity in diversity.”

The APC National Chairman, John Oyegun responding to the call for restructuring said that the priority of the APC- led government was not the restructuring of the country, but how to address the economic challenges facing the country and how to put food on the table of the ordinary Nigerian and create jobs for the teeming youths. True but what has APC done in two years to change the narrative and help with programmes to put food or make access possible for people to earn enough to have the basics of living? Talk is cheap, expediency is key here.

He said: “When the APC manifesto was being put together, it was discussed extensively. We choose our words carefully in putting that manifesto together and we are committed to what we have said in that manifesto. “If you ask a Nigerian youth today, will he say his number one preference is restructuring? Or will he say his number one preference is a job, food on the table, economic prospect and restoration of hope in the future? Of course, this goes without saying, so what has the government done to address such urgent issues.

Nigerians cannot function on an empty stomach and a hungry person will seek immediate gratification.  Former US president, Franklin Roosevelt once said that: “The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have enough; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little.” that is the big question and APC National Assembly chair addressed this-”Will restructuring be the panacea that will solve that problem? That is the challenge we are confronted with as the APC. What is our priority at this stage? Is the nature of eye economy such that we can now embark on that very complicated issue? It is complicated, it is contentious and a lot of people talk about it without any commonality”

Nothing is complicated and with the right will and commitment, this government can and should keep their promise to the people and provide them with results and not sound bites. I don’t know about you, but no one can stomach another destabilisation in the already damaged national structure. However, there are some die hard Nigerians, who believe that if they do not get what they want or demand for, then they are happy that Nigeria is divided. Throwing out the proverbial baby with bath water has never been the answer and nor will it solve the present situation, according to Mark 3:25:”And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand”….

Nigeria needs builders and not demolition experts. We cannot re-write our past but we can and should be responsible for the future of Nigeria.  Our children demand it and none should want prosperity and peaceful coexistence than the Nigerian. We owe that much to ourselves.

“Our greatest strength as a human race is our ability to acknowledge our differences, our greatest weakness is our failure to embrace them.”-Judith Henderson.

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