By Adisa Adeleye

IN Nigeria, the idea of ‘divine intervention‘ is no news to many people who believe that God is a Nigerian because of His many mercies during period of crisis or troubles.

This belief is so rooted in the minds of the Nation that many leaders, including General Gowon had become ‘rare warriors‘, many churches and temples have sprung up in many parts of the country to acknowledge both God‘s greatness and the mercies to the people.

The idea of ‘divine intervention‘ was glaringly noticed in the Darman miracle of 1989 in Saudi Arabia when the Flying Eagles rose from 4-0 down to overcome the powerful Russia in the race for semi final of the Junior World Cup.  About 12 minutes to the full time, the Russian Coach withdrew the lethal striker and this gave the Nigerians the opportunity to score 4 goals to cancel what looked like an un–assailable Russian lead.

Before those who left the arena could return to watch what look like a miracle, the Nigeria‘s Flying Eagle had up staged Russian to reach the semi  final .  The Darman miracle had been a tonic on Nigeria as a nation in overcoming crisis upon crisis where no solution had appeared.

However, the famous ‘divine intervention‘ could not help the Nigeria‘s Green Eagles against Guinea National Team to qualify for the ‘Africa Cup‘ Competition next year.  The question is, is God angry with Nigeria, or is the God of Guinea greater than the God of Nigeria?  The answer looks like, God helped those who helped themselves by preparing well.

There is no doubt that Nigeria had been very lucky since the amalgamation of Southern and Northern ‘Provinces‘ in 1914.   Inspite of many temptations to break up as a nation, and despite the horrors of the 1967/70 civil war, the country has remained a superficially united country, though fumbling and stumbling along the road.

While all other political systems carefully contrived in the 18th and 19th centuries had collapsed we are still a nation to reckon with, with that lovely ambition to be one of the 20 richest nations of the world in 2020.  The Austro-Hungarian Empire collapsed, leaving Austria, Germany and Hungary as independent nation.

Yugoslavia could not survive the exit of Marshal Tito and has broken into several independent states of Sarbia, Croatia and Bosnia, etc.  Mighty Soviet (USSR) has now reverted to its former Russian enclave with its satellite state now independent nations.  Czechoslovakia is no longer one nation but two nations recognized by the United Nations.

Even the mighty British Empire, on which ‘the sun never set‘ has now become British Commonwealth of independent nations.  Nigeria, as a member of the Commonwealth was a former British Colonial Territory. In the first half of the 19th Century, Lord Pettick Lawrence once said, ‘we are witnessing the end of an Empire, the rebirth of nations, and the uprisings of coloured and subject people.

We must adapt ourselves to the new atlas of the world which comes into operation in the second half of this century‘.  How prophetic this had been.  Nigeria formerly of three regions has been capped into 36 less equal and less endowed states.

There are agitations of more states to be created, even in the midst of poverty.  The historical allusions had shown that while ‘God‘ had been in the midst of the political calculations, the past political leaders had worked tirelessly to reach the present situation.  It is a question of work and pray.

It is share folly to be thinking of 1914 and not working towards that golden year, it may be possible that 1914 could see Nigeria as one entity or Nigeria as a United State of Nigeria.  Those who believe that Nigeria should remain as one country to celebrate 100 years of unification inspite of the fissiparous tendencies may be mistaken because a united state of Nigeria, united, peaceful and prosperous may be a better proposition.

This means that if there are no common causes to behave as one country, there are other means of living together in harmony and prosperity. In the crave for ‘divine intervention‘ in our affairs, it will be necessary to look for and work for various ways to achieve political unity and economic stability.  We have to re-examine our political and economic policies in the light of today‘s realities.

On the problems of security, the inadequacy of the unitary Police Force has been adequately pointed out.  Under true Federalism, each State should be able to maintain and control its Police Force to ensure maximum manpower for the whole country in order to curb effectively terrorist organizations.  It has been suggested by many that the 36 states should be restructured into SIX ZONES for economic viability.  Each zone would also maintain its electricity supply and control the mining of minerals excluding oil.

Oil exploration and production because of its historic past, should be a joint operation between the Federal Government, Oil Producing States and other States in an agreed shareholding percentage.  What is being suggested here is that the Federal Government needs not hold and control all the heights of the economy and reduce states to mere satellite.

It is surprising that the Federal Government as presently constituted has not been looking into ways of solving the country‘s protracted political and economic problems that could undermine the political stability and economic prosperity of the country.  It looks as if it is the same old business being done in the same old usual way.

The centralization of activities which should reduce the burden of the Federal Government is yet to be considered because the Federal Government is a fall out from the old military government sees itself as the lord of all its surveys and holds all powers to determine the future of the country and the people itself.

For example, in the area of electricity supply, no new methods has been tried including the opening of Enugu Coal mines and the extensive use of the Solar System to tackle what has now become a problem of the country and the government.  It looks as if the present government is bereft of new ideas, but relying on ‘divine intervention‘ for the solution of our power problem.

What of handling Egbin Power Station to the Government of South West State for running an effective maintenance under a suitable arrangement?  Similar arrangements could be made with neighboring states in respect of Power Plants within their geographical areas.

Also, maintenance of Federal roads in the States could be worked out between the responsible State and the Federal Government so that there will be no distinction between Federal and State roads in any State.  Fresh ideas and common sense would be needed to solve Nigeria‘s many problems rather than the reliance always on ‘divine intervention‘.  What is painful is that it looks either the leaders are blind to the fact or dumb to the cries of wisdom.

It is a pity that the Federal Government has started again on convincing song on the removal of subsidy on Petroleum Products.  It has been said many times, that the Government has no business with the downstream sector of the oil industry where the Private initiative is active.

The often talk about landing cost of a litre of motor spirit is a question of unfavorable exchange rate imposed by the CBN on the country.  Also, the present price structure of a litre of a motor spirit contains about 30 percent of government tax and also some percentage of amounts allocated to support the NNPC.  If this is not correct, it is necessary for the public to be told of the present price structure of our petroleum products.  While not hand over or lease the country‘s refineries to major international oil marketers in the country?

Some believe that we are behaving like a nation without conscience or common sense or both.  Sms only 07059197616