Wishing away African and Nigerian problems will not make them go away

Wishing away African and Nigerian problems will not make them go away

We are in silly season again in Nigeria. The heart of Africa project has presumably run its course. It is no longer useful, time to replace it with another elephant project. And talking about the heart of Africa project, the infomercial was so badly executed, the feature with Obasanjo was colorless and drab. But again, even if it was successful in changing a few minds, it would not have changed the reality in Nigeria.

The good people, good country public relations project launched by the information minister is another wasteful venture in an on going saga of a dearth of ideas within Nigeria’s ruling elite. And I have always wondered why Nigeria needs an information minister, why would any serious government need a minister for propaganda? It would have been more appropriate for Mrs. Akunyili to use her other portfolio as the minister of communication to start making meaningful changes within the beleaguered ministry. Reposition it for 21st century challenges and create an enabling environment for entrepreneurs to inject FDIs into the sector, this will create well paying jobs and further healthy competition within the industry. If these acts are reciprocated amongst her peers (cabinet ministers) Nigeria would spend less money on wasteful ventures such as this rebrand Nigeria thing.

In order for Nigeria to be taken seriously as a key player in global affairs, we have to start playing by the rules. Right now, in good old Nigeria, billions of Naira was spent on a national identity card project, the cards were issued after a long delay but guess what? There is no national policy that requires its use in many formal settings i.e. Banking, Insurance, Education and government agencies! The result as you can imagine is another colossal waste and a drain on meager government resources. This brings me to a nagging question? Why do we always have to reinvent the wheel? What is true of the botched I.D card scheme is true of this new initiative. Why do we need a national identification programme? Why are the states not using their own departments of motor vehicle to collect resident’s personal information that can be easily accessible to the police, banks, insurance companies etc. why are we embarking on another jamboree instead of putting our house together first?

A Nigeria that works would sell itself. Some have suggested that we can not wait till we solve all our problems before telling our own good stories, the sad truth is that right now, we have not done the necessary homework to make that phrase applicable to our present situation.

We have a nation that has not answered some of the most fundamental questions that are pertinent to its existence as a nation. Which is; what kind of citizenship is available in Nigeria? By this I mean, why are we still struggling about the issue of indigenes and non indigenes? Why have we not done justice to the issue of the Niger delta? Why do we have a police system that feels it is a protector of whoever is in power not of the Nigerian people. And why do we have attorney generals that think they are in office to protect their political lords not the Nigerian people? There is a ton of questions that needs to be asked about the state of the Nigerian nation, at present most are not even considered. Those that wields political power in Nigeria profits from the chaos and confusion that we have at the moment. Let me give you an example, why would a high ranking Nigerian official that is involved in money laundering ever pray for Nigeria to have a standardized database such as the one I proposed about the states effectively using their own DMV? He is not going to be disposed to such an idea because with these kinds of information, illicit funds can be easily traced.

Before the minister goes on spending funds that are hardly available, she should have a rethink, Nigeria’s problem is home grown and we have to start applying ourselves to the work that is necessary to dig Nigeria out of this hole. This is not impossible, but as a first step I suggest we go back to the basics, as one of my friends suggested last week, lets redefine citizenship in Nigeria. Nigerian citizens should have a feeling that this is their country too! Right now most are disillusioned and hopeless. The task before the minister is to begin to change the minds and attitudes of her peers and her immediate boss, Nigeria’s president Umaru Musa Yar adua. She needs to tell him that in order to be taken seriously he can not be seen to be frolicking with the likes of James Ibori and other questionable characters. She should also made it known to Yar adua that the work that Nigeria needs done requires 24hrs 7 days a week 365 days a year attention not a 9-5, 5days a week work mentality that we are witnessing under this administration. Then she should start making the rounds to the state capitals, meeting with governors, the leaders of the state houses of assembly and local government heads to discuss and align the federal government goals for all the states of the federation, the states that are making significant progress in equal opportunity for all citizens (not indigenes), protecting lives and properties should be singled out for commendation, the ones that are lacking behind should be encouraged to emulate their peers. If Mrs. Akunyili would ask President Yar adua to drop the information part from her portfolio (that is what Segun Adeniyi, Special assistant on media should be doing) and give her the national orientation portfolio as an add on, this will be a better route to take rather than this jamboree repackaged in a new form. Nigerians and the international community have seen this before, unfortunately it has not brought in any new FDI or a change in attitude amongst Nigerians.

I hope from her high perch the minister would eat an humble pie and together with her peers they can begin the actual work that Nigeria needs done. The rebrand Nigeria project is certainly not one of those.

Abdulmumin Yinka Ajia