WITHIN the last decade, some strange words seem to have sneaked surreptitiously into the dictionary of social science or political philosophy.

THE recent happenings in the country have led to the resuscitation or rebirth of the old gimmicks by politicians or people under political or economic pressure to ascribe their woes to either ethnicity or some hidden agenda.

Top Executives of the Nigerian oil and gas industry have pledged their readiness to support the effective take off of the International Cancer Center, Abuja, ICCA, a nongovernmental initiative of the First Lady, Hajia Turai Yar’Adua.

MANY Nigerians, at different days and times, in speeches and writings, have pondered over the state of the Nation. During the dark days of the colonial era, the nationalists were often branded as agitators, and the hardheaded ones became the awaited guests of His/Her Majesty’s prison yards. Thus, political imprisonment became a mark of honour in those bitter days of British imperialism.

IN the 1930s many developed nations of the Western World faced what was described as the worst economic crisis. Prices of commodities fell, abysmally and the New York Stock Exchange collapsed. That was followed by a severe loss of confidence in the economy, leading to failure of businesses.

WITHOUT having the opportunity of reading the full details of the proposed Bill, my comments would be limited to the address of the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Dr. Rilwanu Lukman – an experienced oil technocrat. Having served in oil affairs in different administrations, one might be tempted to believe that the oil ‘oracle’ knows what he is talking about on the proposed Bill, which has now become very controversial. From the Minister’s masterly address, inference could be easily drawn on the mindset of the Federal Government.

NIGERIA’S birthday is the year 1914 after the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Provinces by the British imperial administrator, Lord Luggard. The intention was to facilitate easy rule of the country by Britain. In fact, the easy administration of the two countries was through native authorities led by the Emirs in the North, Obas in the West and in the absence of Emirs or Obas in the East, by “Warrant Chiefs”.

NIGERIA’S birthday is the year 1914 after the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Provinces by the British imperial administrator, Lord Luggard. The intention was to facilitate easy rule of the country by Britain. In fact, the easy administration of the two countries was through native authorities led by the Emirs in the North, Obas in the West and in the absence of Emirs or Obas in the East, by “Warrant Chiefs”.

However, SAP’s shock treatment appeared more drastic than the patient could well tolerate – massive doses of devaluation which disgraced the Naira; tough credit squeeze which reduced profitable investment and income policy that affected effective domestic demand.

To many Nigerians (if there are some left worthy of that appellation), it is now time to talk, discuss and debate and reach tolerable conclusions on specific issues like, the Niger Delta, Power supply, Electoral reforms, Federal fiscal system, Police decentralization, and federalism based on six or more geographical zones.

Some do argue with justification and a good sense of history that the structure of the country’s edifice is so deficient that even angels from heaven would find it impossible to manage. Of all the world’s political contrivances in the 20th century, only Nigeria still stands since 1914 as a united country by divine grace. Other countries, even in Europe, have broken into several states.

Like the ‘Briafran’ tragedy, the clear warning was treated with unpardonable levity until it was too late to avert a full-scale civil war. Now, if the militants have seen the wisdom of laying down their arms to give room for dialogue, then the voice of reason has triumphed.

Also, while road contractors are busy mobilizing for construction of new roads, daily or weekly paid workers (like the old PWD) should be engaged to mend old Federal and State roads (with the co-operation of State governments.) The dichotomy between federal, state and local government roads should be discarded under a suitable and agreed arrangement to ensure that all hands are on deck for effective road maintenance all the year round.

As Professor P. Ekeh once noted in “Government and Development in Nigeria” that, ‘whatever other gifts the Fulani aristocracy possess (and there are few other groups that are so well endowed in Nigeria indeed elsewhere in Africa), economic production has not been one of its strong points’.