The Nigeria of My Dream

The founding fathers (Zik, Awo and Ahmadu Bello) fought colonization with so much nationalistic zeal to make us a free nation, they were so determined and prepared to pay the supreme price to actualise their cause and eventually on October 1, 1960 their dream gave birth to our dearest nation – Nigeria. I need not go back into the details of how we have stumbled in our journey since independent because even those that were born 15 years after my generation can say so much about the nation eyesore.

My thought for Nigeria is to become a nation with Parliamentary system of government which will make all the six geo-political zones autonomous and provide them the opportunity to develop their respective region without depending or waiting for the Federal allocation which today is generating so many hullabaloos. The Ibadan we have today was built with the wealth of the western region in the early ages of Nigeria, then we were opportune to have the first television station in Africa (NTA Ibadan), Cocoa house was built from what the region was able to put together and so many other capital project not forgetting the Oodua investment – Ogbon nbe eyan wa! If Nigeria could retraced her steps and go back  to Parliamentary system of government, it will decentralized power and paved way for state police which would help in term of strengthening the nation security, though some have argued against the idea but I have a strong conviction that it will yield more good results than bad.

I like to see a Nigeria where public office holders have no immunity, a nation where accountability and responsibility would be the watch word of every stakeholder, with pure audit process and standardized procedures for project execution and delivery. A nation where flamboyant style of commissioning of projects would be eradicated by law, a project that worth $1 million but that was awarded for $5 million would be commission with additional overhead expenses of about $7 million (costs of hotels, feeding, transportation, entertainment and good boy allowance) for all the invited political god fathers.

I want a Nigeria where the office of the first lady would be abolished from the presidency down to the council level, things have degenerated to the extent that even councillor’s wife are now on the state payroll. The number of federal ministries has to be reduced, in western world we have seen a member of the parliament doubling up as the Prime Minster and some as Ministers managing government ministries. There is nothing absolutely wrong if serving senators or members of the House of Representatives can be appointed as a ministers to managed our ministries instead of wasting millions of naira to lobby senators for their appointments coupled with the salaries that would be paid to the minister and his team (wife(s), drivers, domestic staff, personal assistants and other allowances) besides what they would take home illegally – Egunje!

Our refineries and power sector (electricity generation, transmission, distribution and retailing) needs serious attention, this is one area that is killing our economy. It is like a car without gas (petrol or gasoline) it’s obvious the engine won’t run neither can it move. As much as the Nigeria power sector remains what it is as at today the probability of the nation moving forward is ZERO. We need to be functioning to talk about productivity, our growth rate is tie to our gross domestic product and since majority of our youth especially those who are meant to be actively working (age 25 – 38) are unemployed, our chances of challenging nations like South Africa and Ghana is a BIG problem not to talk of Asia or western world.

The ministry of orientation and information need a new template, a project on how to sensitize the populace without offending any group must be put in place. The foreign affairs ministry should build tiers with the international community; it is a shame that besides the ECOWAS states there is no county in the world a Nigerian can go as visa free even Kenya and Mozambique you will have to get a visa at the port of entry.

Another issue that has brought about lost of lives and waste of resources is the issue of second term, several politicians and some key personalities have lost their lives in the cause of politicians seeking for second term, the National Assembly should provide Nigerians with a constitution that would allow a six years single term in office from the President down to local ward levels. This act would curb the excess money spent during campaign for second term and the desperation to remain in office which usually leads to killing and mayhem and several millions paid to lawyers and “judges” for challenging the election results in the court of law (apologies the lawyers).

The need to Convene a Sovereign National Conference is long overdue, not a kangaroo gathering like the last National Confab where limitations have been set for participants in terms of what to say and what not to say.  Nigerians need to come together and discuss how they intend to be governed based on their culture, religion, beliefs and natural endowments. Finally I want to see a rebranded Nigeria with revaluation of Naira amongst the world currency.

I pray my dreams come true. God bless Nigeria.

Olabode a Project Analyst writes from Canada.