The excellent performance of the FALCONETS in the recent FIFA World Cup was a source of pure unadulterated joy to many of us. I stayed up late into the night and watched all their matches, for apart from being good entertainment, those teenagers exhibited such flair and dexterity in a game previously monopolised by men. The wonder girl Aishat from Ikorodu mesmerised the opposition.
The Federal Government, but particularly, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu – the Minister of Health; the Lagos State Governor Raji Fashola and his team deserve tons of encomium for the speed with which the wicked Ebola virus disease was contained and kept off limits and at bay. Those two recent performances made me walk tall as a Nigerian. We cannot of course let our guards down as our borders are extremely porous and there are still many Tom Sawyers lurking around seeking whom to devour.
As the big brother in Africa, it is my considered view that it is now time for Nigeria to export our expertise in EBOLA DISEASE MANAGEMENT to those sister African countries that are still hurting. Their grief must be shared with all who can help and we must not leave this to the United States or Europe.
The examples given demonstrate convincingly that WE CAN WIN IF WE TRY HARD ENOUGH. Nigerian students, especially at the post-graduate level have demonstrated repeatedly their ability to hold their own against the best in the world.
The great mathematician and physicist adjudged by Time Magazine as the greatest genius of the last century was once eulogised by his peers for his brilliance. His response was that it is not a matter of brilliance. The difference between him and his peers was that he stayed at PROBLEMS much longer than his colleagues.
Every birthday is a milestone whether celebrated or not. There is a class of people who forget their birthdays but this is a minority. Each birthday is therefore unique. Age 54 which Nigeria has just celebrated is nothing special. The more important milestones are 50, 60, 70, 75, 80 and for those genetically richly endowed 90 and above.
At 54 however, middle age spread accompanied by `pot belly’ and metabolic slowing down processes are beginning to manifest, depletion in our chemical make-up presents. Visits to the drug store looking for substances like melatonin become more frequent. In some men there is visibly what the late Ajie Ukpabi Asika called `strains of office’. This is a fusion caused by deposit of excess fat in the neck region. The head and the neck more or less fuss giving one massive bulge – `Strains of office’ or `Executive neck. Men inflicted with this condition have a minimum neck size of 20. These individuals also predispose to heart attack and have an early ticket to the morgue. Complete zipping of their month coupled with regular exercise can reverse this journey.
Age 54 is also time to redefine our goal as a nation and reassess our road map to that destination.
Please pause for a brief interjection. There is this unfortunate but misguided phobia in some of the President’s men. These see any criticism of government or governance as an attack on the President. Reflexively, they mobilise with all cylinders firing in defence.
For avoidance of doubt, let it be clear to all who care to listen that government as defined by the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) is the sum total of the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary working in synergy.
For further clarification let us also be aware that there is a fine dividing line between the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the person, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. You can call this line a thin permeable membrane if you will. Enough for the detour.
There are a few questions which a country at 54 must address. Have we achieved all we are capable of? If not, why not and can we do better going forward? Have our levels of efficiency or inefficiency in routine administrative matters affected or slowed us down in our march to ELDORADO?
Why is it that in October 2014 (three months to the end of the financial year) only 30 per cent of the capital projects in the 2014 Appropriation Act have been implemented? Why must it take the whole life of the current 7th National Assembly to pass an important bill like the Petroleum Industry Bill? Why must anybody, including all government departments award contracts without capturing the necessary payments funds in banks?
My fellow compatriots can we really be talking TRANSFORMATION if these basic and fundamental issues are not addressed and rectified?
The NIGERIAN PROJECT IS OUR COLLECIVE MARCH but the direction to a large extent is determined by the HELMSMAN.
Each month the Federal Bureau of Statistics and the Ministry of Finance roll out a lot of figures – most of which try to convince us that our economy is getting better. The reality on the street, and that is what matters most as any straw poll will show is totally different. The average Nigerian says life was better 10 years ago than today. The money in peoples pocket has diminished purchasing power and there is insecurity in the land. Night life don quench – to put it in Fela’s language.
Our newspapers and media houses have a sacred responsibility to write and reflect the true state of the nation. For purposes of emphasis, let us take one more look at the time we waste in processing documents for this is crucial. A director literally sat on a file to be processed for C of O for a period of twelve months. That director has no business being in the civil service and the Permanent Secretary who continues to shield him is inflicting terrible damage to Nigeria. Both of them are enemies of this country. The explanation when queried is that it is the Nigerian system or factor. That of course is rubbish as there is only one acceptable system and that is EFFICIENCY SYSTEM.
I understand that Chief Obafemi Awolowo as Premier of Western Region made sure no file stayed on his desk for more than 24 hours. He also did not take any office work home. Paul Ogwuma, as Managing Director of Union Bank adopted Chief Awolowo’s style but went one step further and could see as many as twenty customers in an hour leaving all of them satisfied. The current Head of Federal Civil Service straight from Petroleum may like to explore this route.
Not too long ago, I was in a discussion with a foreigner who said he was frustrated out of investing in Nigeria because of delays and bureaucratic bottlenecks. Another doctor friend of mine who retired from the Federal Public Service has been processing his retirement benefits for two years and is still counting.
The reality is that all these need not be so. A paradigm shift is our work ethics is an urgent desideratum if we want to join the league of developed nations. This TRANSFORMATION can happen in a few short years as SINGAPORE has shown.
To achieve this, eminent dermatologist and author Professor Anezi Okoro is convinced some loose screws upstairs need tightening. I, on the other hand am convinced it is a matter of passionate committed reorientation from top to bottom. It is impossible to escape the positive trickle-down effect. Murtala Muhammed for the few short months he ruled did it.
At 54, one commodity that Nigeria has a surfeit is sycophancy. We seem to be lacking in courage on the other hand. As we move forward to building a virile and prosperous nation that will be a source of pride to us all, MY PRAYER IS THAT GOD WILL GRANT NIGERIA AND NIGERIANS COURAGE TO KNOW WHEN TO STAND UP AND SPEAK AND ALSO COURAGE TO KNOW WHEN TO SIT DOWN AND LISTEN.
