One year after

Sir: It’s been a year of steering the ship of state by President Muhammadu Buhari. The emergence of the administration was birthed on the premise of “change.” This was one word that drove the populace to frenzy no matter what side of the divide they stood during the run off to the presidential elections of 2015.

It may be pertinent to ask whether Nigerians are now experiencing “change” in its real or elusive essence. An attempt to answer this poser may be an exercise in futility, if certain indices or parameters are not taken into consideration.

Prior to the present dispensation, it seems Nigeria and Nigerians had been living a “lie” so to say. Our legendary and perpetual consumption and consumerism fuelled by cheap petro dollars that wasn’t supported by any productive base created an illusion in the minds of so many that Nigeria had a “real economy” or was prosperous in real terms. It was this illusion fueled by pervasive corruption that cascaded into a “micro economy” and made many who were not discerning to live lives they could hardly sustain once the corruption bubble bursts and order is introduced coupled with strict compliance with established public service rules and financial regulations.

The history of nations that were on the same level of development with Nigeria in the 50s and 60s but are now exemplars of modernity and development, shows that they adopted this order and strict compliance with established public service rules and financial regulations early enough in addition to dealing with corruption frontally. This we have failed to do over the years, at the altar of nepotism, prebendalism, tribalism and religious intolerance.

Thus it is not so surprising that many Nigerians are finding it difficult to adjust to the current realities by seeing the glass cup as half empty rather than half full. And in order to keep up with the former rudderless status quo they have been used to, many have resorted to playing the same old and worn out “games” and “stratagems” of ethnicity, religion, incendiary statements, organised violence, borrowing to keep up with flashy lifestyle in the absence of access to public funds and so on. But it’s often said, it may be pointless crying over spilt milk, but to rather embrace the reality of the current era by re-ordering priorities and to also remember that while there may be enough for every one’s need there might not be enough for every one’s greed.

There is an urgent need to start doing things right or in the right way if Nigeria is to succeed as a Nation State. That seems to be the frame work which the present administration is trying to lay within the last 365 days, and one which needs to be supported by all and sundry, albeit with the temporary pains that accompanies a move to make a tectonic shift from a familiar but dangerous path to a path that isn’t familiar but promises to lead to a favourable destination in the longer term. There still seems to be a lot to do and of course there have been mistakes and hiccups along the line, but to give the current dispensation a chance to stop the drift and lay the foundation for the economic and social prosperity of the Nigerian state and her people is an imperative for her citizens.

Babs Iwalewa,
Tweets via @babsiwalewa