Good leadership as the way forward for Nigeria

By BEN NANAGHAN

To say that Nigeria is a lucky country is an incontestable understatement. And I know that those invisible hands that have held Nigeria together since its creation will not slumber despite the vexatious strain Nigeria’s lack of patriotism has put on the union.

It is unfortunate that Nigeria was created on a lopsided political tripod with structures which were more confederational than federal.

The three regions that came out of the amalgamation were so powerful with even more powerful leaders that rendered the centre effeminate and incapable of moving the country forward. These strong regions unavoidably led to the fratricidal Nigerian civil war of 1967-1970.

Is anyone still doubting that Nigeria will surely survive the present regional war being waged by some ultra-conservatives in some parts of the country? How many nations have survived such wars as we have done?

My conclusion is that Nigeria is being held together by a divine string which no part of this country can single-handedly snap up.

We shall use some countries as models to demonstrate that Nigeria with the right leadership can move from its unenviable and despicable “developing nation” status to a fully developed state.

We shall use South Africa and Singapore as model states Nigeria should strive to emulate. Both countries have one factor in common – good leadership.

The only difference between Nigeria and South Africa is leadership. President Nelson Mandela is today the most revered human being in the   world. This is not only because he spent 27 years behind bars in Robben Island but also because he is the symbol of South African patriotism, nationalism and stoicism.

Mandela became president immediately after prison and refused a second term despite an overwhelming national request for him to continue.

Thambo Mbeki took over and resigned honourably in his second term. South Africa is the country to beat in Africa. With just 50 million people and over 50,000 megawatts of electricity.  South Africa has today become Nigeria’s second colonial master, completely taking over the Nigerian economy, a very good pay back for extricating her from the strangulating jaws of apartheid.

In Nigeria today,  you find South African businesses dominating our banking, fast foods, communications, television and trade generally. Nigerian traders also head to South Africa instead of London, Hong Kong, China, etc.

Even though South Africa did not go beyond the group stages in the last 2010 World Cup it hosted, it came out more honoured and celebrated even than Spain that won the tournament.

This is due to the organisation of the football mundial. It spent only $5bn to build five new stadia and refurbish five other existing ones.

Nigeria would have spent $5 trillion and with almost nothing to show for it as our top government officials would have gotten enough to build personal estates therefrom.

The difference is so clear between South Africa and Nigeria. While South African presidents are stepping down willingly, Nigerian presidents are only “stepping aside” and scheming for “third terms” with some of the former  presidents and vice presidents owning personal universities while in office. Nigeria has lost all sense of international value and decorum.
Singapore’s story is perhaps the eighth wonder of the world. From a small fishing village to one of the most developed economies not only in the Asia but also in the world, from a “Third World to a “First World” nation. And the force behind this incredible feat is the  leadership. Lee Kuan Yew was prime minister of Singapore from 1959 -1990 and he did not become a millionaire at the end of his 31 years tenure but made his country incredibly prosperous to warrant Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines and even Russia (believe it) to request loan facilities from her. Russian Prime Minister Nikolai Ryzkhov under President Mikhail Gorbachev visited Singapore in February 1990 and requested for a $50 million facility from her.

Of course if Nigeria manages her economy very well, even the “First World” countries will come to borrow from her and seek  her friendship because we are one of the most naturally endowed nations on earth.

But how can such a vibrant, selfless leadership emerge from a “zoning” crazy country like Nigeria. Singapore had her  unity problems too but,  in August 1970, she  announced a national integrative ideology called “Rekunegara”. This ideology was meant to make all Singaporean people advance together towards a just and progressive society through belief in God, loyalty to king and country, upholding the constitution and the rule of law and the promotion of moral discipline, tolerance and mutual respect.

Nigeria too can advance together towards a just and progressive society, through belief in god (not killing in god’s name), loyalty and upholding the constitution and the rule of law (not rule of the thumb) and the promotion of moral discipline, tolerance and mutual respect.

Zoning in Nigeria has encouraged mediocrity, injustice,  retrogression, lack of mutual respect for the minorities and the absence of the fear of God. In a recent newspaper interview,  a northern political leader criticised  the Nigerian minorities and advised them to accept their fate and support the north in its continued retrogressive dominance of Nigeria.  Or how can Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, the northern leader, explain the fact that the north has ruled Nigeria for 38 years out of its 50 years as a nation and still wants to rule for another eight years to bring the northern tenure to 46 years while southern Nigeria would have ruled for only 12 years.

This unbridled and negatively skewed injustice forebodes danger for Nigeria as the north is now poised for war with their “zoning or nothing” declaration. Is the north implying that Nigeria will not survive 2011?  If so, how will the north survive as a nation when all the northern groundnut pyramids are now history?

But surely history will judge the northern leaders and Nigeria will remain one united, indivisible and economically vibrant nation that will command world respect if we find the right leadership.

Northern Nigeria has accomplished administrators of the younger breed. The Nuhu Ribadus, the Attahiru Jegas, the Lamido Sanusis are there.
For now,  I believe President Goodluck Jonathan for 2011 is a good option and I am convinced he will carry Nigeria to the next level just as newly sworn-in President Benigno Aquino III has promised to deal with the corrupt cabal that has held the Philippines hostage since independence.

Surely Nigeria will survive if we turn to God and find the right leadership.

* Nanaghan lives in Lagos.