THE prerequisites for the greatness of  a modern-day country include the presence of visionary leaders, abundance of productive human capital, infrastructure, technology, constant research, a stable environment (political and socio-cultural), the capability of defending the territorial integrity of state and the ability to inspire pride in citizens.

I am inundated with random stories  that resources from southern Nigeria were used by northern military potentates in time past to develop the north. And this accounts for why the south today is grappling with dire economic challenges. Which north? The one I was raised in? Where are the manufacturing companies employing thousands in the North? And even though the insurgency no doubt has stalled economic prosperity of the people of the north-east, there wasn’t an economic demarche by the government of that region before the insurgency.

When people elsewhere  are busy making plans to launch satellites into space, to venture to the moon, we glory in jawboning people negatively.

Our educational foundations which is to prepare our youths for camaraderie without borders are now  mean-spirited, hate-filled centres, where youngsters are groomed to look at others as our ‘enemy.’

The governors of the North have not managed the many companies owned by the Northern Nigeria Development Corporation. Nearly all the companies they once managed are all gone . How sad to think of the loss of revenue to the government which offered the chance to provide people with a means of sustainable living.

Seventy percent of Nigeria’s economy is located in the south whereas the north controls barely thirty percent. The investments of the northern political elite is mainly situated in the south. No need for second-telling but the human development index in the north over the years is horrendous. The north is landlocked and depends on southern ports for importation.

So tell me, how is the north better than the south. Today’s Northern leaders are not bothered about developing  the region. Most of the legacies of Sir Ahmadu Bello are now in ruins with no abatement from rhetoricians in the north who are more interested in self-development than regional good.

And like the elite in other regions in Nigeria, the northern elite venture out to seek medical help outside our borders. The hospitals in the north aren’t  well-equipped for all manner of ailments.

Many who were not raised with silver spoon in their mouths upon becoming political office-holders also embark on this expensive junkets (medical holiday) away from Nigeria, at the nation’s expense even at a time of dwinddling national fortune such as now.

Remembering yesterday, northern students revered lecturers but not anymore like their southern counter parts. The forte of the student union leaders today is to teach “these lecturers a lesson.” Their unionism is defined by the paroxysm of shouting matches. Respect for the elderly lecturers today is negotiated.

Those days many a Nigerian opted to stay in Nigeria when they had opportunity to venture out like “Andrew” but not any longer. Northerners and Southerners all suffer from cultural cringes and must travel out when the need arises to participate in training overseas, even for courses that can be handled in-country. When they return, they must go after the jugular of north versus south seeking regionalistic relevance. Forgetting that even though Japan attacked Pearl Harbour both the US and Japan now are allies. The past is behind them.

The black man was once called a “negro” in America. Then the ‘negro’ asked to be called a ‘black man.’ Today they are called ‘African-Americans.’  Mexicans prefer to be called ‘Hispanics’ and ‘Latinos’. Indian Americans say they are ‘native Americans.’ But in Nigeria I am called a “stranger” in another state and although I was born in that state the status quo remains so long as I am not a native of that state. This happens everywhere in Nigeria.

I wish everyone knew that George Bush, the 41st president of the United States lay claim to more than one home state: the states of Missouri where his mother is  from, Massachusetts where he is born, Ohio where his father is from and Texas where he lives.

Will there ever come a day when we will transit to something positive?

The problem of Nigeria cuts across all regions. A selfish cabal over time mismanaged the natural resources of the country. The south south for instance collects money from four different sources. The federal government, NDDC, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and state internal generated revenue. In spite of this, the state of affairs in that region is nothing to write about.

When I travel to Bayelsa and see northerners fishing in the open waters, and selling same to the local people, I  shake my head. Whatever happened to the capacity of the locals?

The harsh reality is that visioners are few in the polity and this has contributed to our retrogession as a people. The north is worse-off and a trip there would reinforce the fact that the resources from the south hasn’t developed the north as behemoths would want people to believe. Some even point to Abuja as a northern enclave despite its centrality to all parts of the country.

Mr.  Simon Abah, a teacher, wrote from Port Harcourt,  Rivers State.