Solving our national problems

Problems are inevitable. They are necessary evils. A sage even said: “There is no life without the admixture of problems.” In the realm of indigenous faith, it is revealed that man and his society are inherently associated with problems.

Our leaders’ attitude to problems leaves much to be desired. An elder, in his wisdom, pointed out: “Problems are to be solved, and not to run away from.” A friend once informed me that the university which he attended in Britain would not believe that a problem is insoluble. It would be impolitic to mention its name to avoid invidiousness. If a problem remains intractable, man shall be walking on a bed of quicksand. To avoid an unwelcome situation, our leaders must endeavour to resolve national problems.

Nigerian leaders compound problems instead of solving them with promptitude and deserving dexterity. If an issue remains unresolved or partially solved, it becomes compounded. The Chairman of the EFCC, Malam Ibrahim Magu declared on May 25, 2017, that his agency would wipe out corruption in the country within the following 12 months. In my considered opinion, corruption cannot be wiped out completely within a short time, but can only be minimised. It remains a perennial problem that stunts national development. Governments decry crimes of all sorts, including kidnapping and corruption, but indirectly the vices are encouraged, when workers’ salaries are unpaid for several months. These shabbily-treated workers resort to illegality for survival. Thus, condemnations become vicious circle. If workers, including teachers’ salaries are unpaid for several months, corruption shall persist; everything stagnates. The malady begins from home when a child is tipped for running errand, to encourage him. I discourage it for my wards and children; it is a bad habit which worthy parents must disfavour.

One may agree that the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) is a pragmatic attempt to kill the snake, evidences prove that over the years, we merely scotch it, because big offenders escape, whilst small ones are caught in the nets.

More often than not, the judiciary is blamed for easing aside the big fish, only to punish the inconsequentials; a situation which indicates that the judiciary itself is corrupt. Recently, Nigerians were consoled by the declaration of Chief Justice Walter Onnogen: “Judiciary under threat. He called on Nigerians to petition any judicial officer involved in corruption or unprofessional conduct in any part of the country, to the National Judicial Council which he headed.” Such declaration from the Chief Justice of Nigeria indicates that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Hope is not lost.

Insecurity is a much dreaded bugbear. There is no day that reports of kidnapping are not published in the media. It appears that kidnapping is a “paying” industry to those who practise it. The perpetrators demand high ransom from their victims or relations. Failures to meet up spell doom. The Lagos State government is about the only place that passed a law to criminalise the practice. It is a stiff punishment to the offenders. This is, indeed, commendable.

The country is enmeshed in multi-pronged problems. Suffice it to mention, however, only three of them. The third of them is the unity of the nation which daily inundates the media. The country is a fragile Federal Republic. The current call by the Arewa that the indigenes from the South-East of the country must quit their northern base constitutes a red flag to the bull. And those who are demanding a Biafra as a separate South-Eastern State, seem to be ignorant of the consequences of the 1967 to 170 civil war. There is truth in the saying: “ignorance is bliss.” Most of them were unborn then. To quell the antagonism on both sides, this writer suggests that the Arewa youths must be approached to ask for their grievances. If there is no fire, there can be no flame. What is the fire and what is the flame? The Arewa must be able to narrate.

The Federal Government is not expected to be threatening fire and brimstone against the Arewa youths who are educated elites, as they are not ordinary youths per se. Force must never be applied to meet force. The elders from both sides must caution their youths to desist from heeding the evil machination of the politicians and not to revel with those who are out to fish in troubled waters. This writer is a product of colonial Nigeria when history, civics, religious knowledge and singing practice (music) were taught at schools to influence moral up-bringing which makes us to be what we are today. These subjects add values to life. This revelation is not out of arrogance, but to benefit our youths.

Before concluding this piece, some words of advice are reserved for our leaders – the Federal Information Minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, regardless of whose ox may be gored. The former is the first incompetent Information Minister since October 1, 1960.

Chief Theophilus Shobowale Benson was the author of the phrase: “Constructive and destructive criticisms.” Any one in that position is the image-maker of the government, just as Chief Benson did for Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa who he defended to the hilt. Chief Anthony Eronsele Enahoro was a peace-time and war-time Information Minister-under Chief Obafemi Awolowo in the old Western Region where he established the WNBS/WNTV in the late 1950s, and at the Centre under General Yakubu Gowon. He performed creditably. He nearly lost his life in Kampala, Uganda, to kidnappers, but for mistaken identity. Prince Anthony N. Momoh served under General Ibrahim Babangida. He was recognised as a “Letter Writer” that proved his mettle. His style was constant letter writings to his countrymen. One state governor has a field day demolishing the image of the President, because the government has a weak Federal Information Minister, vide The Guardian, June 29, 2017.

With respect, our present Information Minister abandoned too much responsibility to Mr. Femi Adesina in the handling of President Muhammadu Buhari’s overseas’ medical treatments. Nobody could say who was really the image-maker. The President’s medical treatment in Britain left Nigerians in the dark, because Lai Mohammed failed to perform as government image-maker. He bungled: ditto for the Arewa youths’ call on the Nidgbo. Prince Momoh would have written innumerable “Letters” to his countrymen, unlike Lai Mohammed’s bungling incompetence.

With all due respect, Governor Akinwumi Ambode chose a wrong time to celebrate his 54th birthday. He erred in the matter of conscience. The Guardian’s motto is: “Conscience nurtured by truth”. Firstly, it is not a landmark celebration, say 55th or 60th. Secondly, a governor does not celebrate when six students are in the captivity of kidnappers at Igbonla and their parents are distraught – not knowing whether their children will survive or perish. We are all parents who should empathise, and we were formerly students.

Thirdly, Governor Ambode should be more compassionate with President Muhammadu Buhari by tarrying till after his return from medical treatment. President Buhari is the father of the nation, whilst Governor Akinwunmi Ambode is the father of Lagos State. If he skipped the celebration, and deferred it till later, he would have strengthened the bond of national unity. We do not have to pass a legislation for national unity otherwise than this small matter of conscience. His birthday celebration is a publicity stunt for future elections. There are thousands of feeder-roads to construct in Lagos State, besides few dazzling over-head bridges to pull propaganda stunt.In line with the famous saying of Uthman dan Fodio (1754 to 1816), daily quoted by The Guardian: “Conscience is an open wound; only truth can heal it.” So let it be.
Oshisada, a veteran journalist, wrote from Ikorodu, Lagos.