Opinion : Nigeria, standing still, but still standing - By Fola Ojo

Fola Ojo

The Immune system is a defence mechanism and an Iron Dome configuration that God has put in place as part of human physiology. This system of many biological structures and processes protects against germs and disease entities. For example, when cancerous cells threaten the body, the System sends out killer T-cells against the invading strangers whose assignment is to snuff life out of a man.

Every territorial assemblage of humans defined as a country has its own “cancer cells” to battle with the help of its defensive T-cells. Throughout history, the Nigerian nation has faced her portion of innumerable trials and troubles. These hordes of challenges to date are multiplying, mutating, and metastasising beyond the healing power of radiation or chemotherapy offered by our leadership. Instead of letting up, our troubles linger on.

At the advent of any new administration, people’s hopes rise with the belief that relief will soon come. But, unfortunately, in government after government, the citizenry has been disappointed. The disappointments have in the past given birth to picketing that led to skirmishes with some people demanding they want out of a union that exists without unity of purpose. It is amazing, however, to note that internal uprisings, ethnic tensions and wars that have brought down other nations to their knees have not been able to subdue Nigeria. Nigeria no doubt is dying; but it’s not dead. It may be weakening and wobbling; thank God it’s still breathing. It may be standing still, but it is still standing. But what is that phenomenon that keeps Nigeria holding on?

Not too long ago, soothsayers had predicted that in 2015, Armageddon had been scheduled to run its course in Nigeria. We waited to see hell let loose, we tarried to behold heaven shut down; and the prophets of doom stood from afar declaring that we would see war break out. But whatever that fortifying phenomenon was, the predicted bloodbath did not see the light of day.

However, Nigeria’s best friends have been her household enemies. Men and women privileged to be in positions of authority have consciously or unconsciously tried to kill Nigeria with their unbridled and reckless indiscretions. You will think that by now the amount of money that has been stolen by our predator-leaders in the last 20 years and beyond should have folded up the country. But Nigeria is still holding together.

To get a clearer picture of the plundering odysseys that should have ripped Nigeria into smithereens, read up on the report by the Auditor-General of the Federation, Samuel Ukura, which was submitted to the National Assembly on Monday. The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation in 2014 failed to remit to the federation account about N3.2tn revenue from the sale of domestic crude oil. $235.6m earned from gas was diverted to undisclosed escrow accounts, and the whereabouts of $316.2m in NGL Funding Account was unknown because no document was made available to confirm either the receipt or utilisation of the cash.

The manner with which the NNPC was run over these many decades ought to have clogged up the arteries and veins of this country and send her into a sleep of death. The cost of running the NNPC is much more than running the Federal Government. From presidents to governors to ministers and menacing politicians from all tribes and tongues, Nigeria has experienced persistent, perverted and pernicious pillaging practices. But the country is still holding on.

The marginally corrupt among us, I refer to those who claim not to be brazen looters, those who “ONLY” offer and accept bribes; who “ONLY” inflate contract costs, and still believe they are better citizens than others have taken their swipes at Nigeria.   On the flip side, the blatantly corrupt, the audacious in-your-face gluttons and unapologetic unmasked thieves whose first nature is plundering have also struck at the country. But Nigeria is still standing. Air planes crash, cars crash; economy is also crashing, and our leaders are not yet signing up for a crash course to change the course of why things crash in the system. By some magical means, Nigeria is still holding on.

Nigeria’s domestic debt is about N10tn to N8.51tn, and external debts of both the federal and state governments are about ($9.46bn). Twenty five per cent of our annual earning will be spent on servicing the huge debt while power electricity has raised the cost of doing business by 16 per cent. According to a recent World Bank study, we need about US$ 14.2bn per year to bridge the infrastructure gap. Current spending is only $5.9bn. Infrastructures are dysfunctional, but Nigeria is still standing.

We are losing business to neighbouring countries due to poor business environment caused by bad business laws and lack of infrastructure. Many companies have divested as a result of high cost of production that result from infrastructural infractions, high exchange rate of the naira and congestion at the ports. We have lost the competitive edge even in the West Africa sub-region as businesses migrate to other countries with better business and legal regimes.

Some time ago, Dunlop Nigeria Plc., the only surviving tyre manufacturing company in Nigeria then, shut down its plants and booted its workers and relocate to Ghana. Michelin has also relocated to the Ashanti land; and Patterson Zochonis is also planning the same move. Rumours have it that Guinness is warming up to head towards Accra anytime now. Cadbury Nigeria Plc, Unilever and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture this year, sacked a sizeable number of their workers over reported high cost of production, decaying infrastructure as well as the ravaging global economic recession. Maybe, they too will soon ease out. With the dismal picture that Nigerians have had to live with, something is still keeping this county together. What it is, I know not.

Ask this question of any tongue-talking or tongue-tied Christian, he or she will tell you without blinking; “It’s God”. They will also tell you that churches planted every stone-throw has drawn God down closer to us. I hope we are right about that. Ask Muslims, many of them will say the same; “It’s Allah”. Traditionalists and worshippers of Mammy water and billions of ethnic gods will also give credit and adoration to their gods for keeping Nigeria together. If you asked some people from my hometown of Imesi-Ile, they may tell you Nigeria is standing because of libations poured regularly on “Esu Lila” (Big Devil) by its disciples. Whatever or whoever it is keeping Nigeria standing, I know not.

But how long can we hold on together as a nation when hunger, poverty and disease are biting the majority? How long can we hold on together when hopes are regularly dashed; and destinies often crushed? How long can we hold on together when injustices are prevalent, and fairness is nothing but a fairy-tale?

Whatever or whoever is keeping Nigeria together must be very patient. But one thing I know about PATIENCE is that anyone, including God, can run out of it when His people continue to act foolishly. 

Caveat: Opinion does not reflect that of VC Ezems Blog

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