By Onesimus Enesi
The British Capital London had a taste of terror attacks by suicide bombers on July 6 and again on July 21, 2005 both days being Thursday, which left death, injuries and destruction on their trails.
The initial thought of security agents was the theory that some Osama Bin Laden’s disciples must have gained entry into the United Kingdom with false passports to perpetrate the mayhem. But this turned out to be wrong.
It was eventually discovered that the suicide bombers were citizens of the United Kingdom but of Arab descent, born and bred in Britain and not some immigrants who just banged on London for their nefarious activities.
The British policy on citizenship is that wherever your parent came from on planet earth, so long as they are resident in Britain and if during that period you were born there, then you are an automatic British citizen and will be treated like every English, Scot or Welsh man. It is this policy that made thousands of Arabs, Asians and Africans citizens of the United Kingdom.
In the light of the recent suicide bomb attacks by terrorists of Arab decent of British extraction, isn’t there the need to review the citizen by-residence concept as a necessity? What is the value or need for making a citizen of one whose ancestors are of a different nation and to whom alone the applicant owes eternal allegiance?
The London suicide bombers have proved that citizenship-by-residence or orientation is a fictitious creation that does not endure. It has proved that most human beings cannot or do not forget their ancestry easily nor do they play with it. How else do you disprove this if Britons of Arab descent could destroy “their own country” in retaliation for what they perceived the United Kingdom had done to Iraq?
In what practical way does the crisis in Iraq affects the British-born Arab suicide bombers, if not their feelings for their fellow Arab brethren? Is this not a confirmation that blood is ticker than water (fictitious citizenship)?
So far, there is no instance of an Arab-American; I mean American, born, bred and resident in an Arabian country who because of their outrage against the United States Foreign Policy, took to terrorism against the American State. Or are there no American who, by residence, orientation or neutralization, have become Arab citizen? Why have they not turned into suicide bombers in the U.S. or against U.S. targets in Arabia?
Again, on November 5, 2009 an American Army Officer/Psychiatrist shot dead 13 soldier/colleagues at Fort Hood, Texas U.S.A. Major Nidal Malik Hassan was an American by orientation and residence, of Arab descent and was said to have had contacts or connection with Yemen’s radical Muslim cleric, Anwar al-Awlaki.
Here at home in Nigeria, the debate on the qualification of a Nigerian citizen is intermittently held when some sectional interests, are being pushed as national interest, or when such interests are resisted. Immigrants and nomads have assumed MOBILE CITIZENSHIP and acquired indigenous rights on the basis of their ethnic nationality and religious persuasion. When such assumed rights clashed with the interest of the real indigenes, what results is the incessant ethno-religious riots for which certain parts of the country have become so infamous.
Nigeria has, probably, as many Fulani as there are in Cameroon; just as our country has the largest numbers of Hausa, who are the dominant tribe in the neighboring republic of Niger. It is not disputable that most Fulani’s are nomads just as most Hausas are itinerant traders and farmers. The effect of our country’s proximity with Cameroon and Niger is that millions of immigrants from those countries have entered and keep entering Nigeria without relevant papers and have been granted automatic citizenship status by their host tribesmen whose numerical strength is thus enhanced.
It is arguable if Nigeria’s borders with the two countries are not deliberately made porous to allow for free entry for its obvious demographic advantage to the Hausa Fulani’s states. One disagreeable effect of this practice is that the immigrant and his host have persistently sought to make the native Nigerian into mobile citizens, just after themselves. Resistances on the part of the indigene is, most always, viciously visited with fatwa. Another embarrassing effect of their practice is exactly opposite that of mobile citizenship which is non-citizenship as in the case of the Bakassi people.
While Nigeria has ceded Bakassi to the Cameroon, the Fulani’s of Cameroon enjoy mobile or dual citizenship of both countries. History teaches that no citizen could give loyalty to two countries at the same time or on equal basis. As a result, their permanent loyalty or allegiance is to their ethnic nation. And here is where Nigeria is short-changed. And those who are actually cheated are other ethnic nationalities of Nigeria, except the Hausa Fulani.
What these mean is that citizenship-by orientation or by residence has become a device to swindle other nationalities of their natural and legal rights, even as it now poses enormous dangers to the peace and stability of modern nations. If fictitious citizens now threaten an old nation-state like Britain, how much more the dangers faced by Nigeria posed by people of dubious citizenship and loyalty?
If citizenship by birth or residence has been proved to be fictitious and a danger to stability, same cannot be said of CITIZENSHIP BY DESCENT. If your parents are Urhogbo, for example you cannot, by any stretch of the imagination, become Hausa Fulani, just because you were born and resident in Kano or Dutse! Never!
Citizenship by descent or by procreation is immutable, regardless of wherever you were born or resident. The act of procreation or descent knows no boundary in the sense that you are who you are if you must be identified by the offspring of who you are. Your loyalty or allegiance and kin-feelings, must of necessity, go to your ancestry and not to the people or the territory in which you are domicile. The Arabian-Britons have demonstrated this in the recent London suicide bombing just as the Hausa Fulani have proved in the incessant Kano riots.
Given the example of Kano Hausa Fulani rioters and the London Arabian-British suicide bombers, the question or factor of religion must be considered dissipationately, if justice must be seen to have been done to the vexatious practice of dual or mobile-citizenship. Most, if not all nomadic or itinerant ethnic groups are monotheist, who believes in one religion and are almost always intolerant of other religious views and practices. Therefore, the free admission of mobile or dual citizens propels antagonism of indigenous people in the same way as the host community is visted with contempt by the devilry of their guests.
In a multi-national and multi-religious nation-state such as Nigeria, especially where some major ethnic groups have cornered political and economic power, there is a limit to the exercise of mobile citizenship and dual indigeneity. The struggle by the oppressed natives to free themselves from their oppressors sets a limit to freeload nationalities feasting on other peoples’ territory and resources.
Two core issues defined the attitude and actions of suicide bombers and local hoodlums; ethnic nationality and religion. Yet these issues were glossed over by the so-called political reform conference, which ended in fiasco.
The orgy of violence visited on the people of Plateau State and indeed other minority ethnic groups by the Hausa Fulani Muslim terrorists since 1999 may be situated on the rickety geo-political structures and the decadent system of government put in place by successive military dictatorship. Any unit of government which has no coercive force under its control is not qualified to be a federating unit. Any federating unit which has no constitution of its own making is fundamentally deficient as a tier of government. And none of the 36 states has either a police force or a constitution and so they remain vassalage of the all powerful centre, and whoever controls the centre makes a slave of the so-called states.
Citizenship of such a polity or nation-state is one that cannot elicit patriotism nor deserve it since it holds no promise of security, justice or prosperity for the citizen. In fact citizenship in Nigeria is meaningless as there is no advantage in it for the indigenous people. Any immigrant is a citizen and has the added advantage of enjoying dual citizenship, provided he/she is Hausa Fulani from Niger, Tchad, Cameroon or Senegal. So what is in it for the native Nigerian?.
To deny that states in Nigeria are mere appendages of the artificial center is to remain a fool. To believe or assume that Nigeria can make progress with this structure and system is to be myopic. To expect that an angel would come and run the structure/system efficiently with equity and justice is to wait till Jesus come. It takes rare wisdom to admit failure. It needs rare courage to accept challenges. And the only sensible way forward is the PRONACO highway-via its Peoples National Conference proposed Constitution.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
CHALLENGES OF INTER-ETHNIC MARRIAGE IN A MULTI-NATIONAL SOCIETY
CHALLENGES OF INTER-ETHNIC MARRIAGE IN A MULTI-NATIONAL SOCIETY
By Vic Egberipou
In itself marriage is full of challenges which come at various stages and to almost every union. This can easily be explained owing to the fact that the two individuals had their different beliefs, traits, characters, orientation and interests. Most people naturally have a distinct picture of what their marriage or home would be. There is this expectation of perfect life, perfect home. Notwithstanding, family elders are always quick to warn that no marriage can be rosy all the time and advised to be patient when they encounter difficulties because they (difficulties) don’t last forever.
Conflicts come from time to time which are usually resolved by the two individuals but in some cases with the intervention of a third party which could be another member of the family, friend and sometimes a spiritual guardian. Scenarios like these are witnessed both in intra-ethnic and inter-ethnic marriages battling with certain fundamental issues that bring about the differences usually resulting in conflicts.
For the purpose of this piece, the focus shall be on inter-ethnic marriage especially in a multi-national society like Nigeria. From the very stage of courtship, often friends and family members begin to object to such union with “cogent” reasons, based on experiences they must have read, witnessed or heard about. Oftentimes such reasons tend to be scary as they accompany their claims with endless though important questions bothering on the family of your partner.
(a) These questions range from the ethnic group he/she comes from, emphasis is placed on area of weakness of people from that ethnic group. For the non-literate parents they are concerned with the medium for communication between the two families, especially the son or daughter in-law to be, most painfully, the would-be grandchildren. Sometimes they are visibly angry that questions bothering on family history, for example sicknesses, death, character, occupation, size of family, successes and failures cannot be fully or satisfactorily investigated. So, from the on set the parents see these as posing a very big challenge and issues that call for concern. Nevertheless, the intending couple tries painfully and sometimes unsatisfactorily to explain some of these concerns to them.
(b) Cultural differences: This brings a lot of strain in an inter-ethnic union. Naturally, the different ethnicities bring a lot of challenges and are worth it if the partners discuss and if possible study, by way of researching and reading books about the culture of the ethnic group the partner comes from.
It is indeed a lot of work but in the long run you are better informed, you would not be biased and could be in better position to educate the rest members of the family and friends who may have earlier expressed concerns.
By interaction, the intending couple learns what is expected of a son in-law. It could be by way of simple gestures, pleasantries, gifts and so on. On the part of the lady, tasks as simple as serving food to the in-laws which may require particular style, she may need to gesticulate. The husband too might be very down to earth or home-boy type who would always prefer local delicacies and soups from his area (village) these the woman must learn from the on set. Modern ladies do not find this interesting as sometimes, they find it not convenient to do but on the long run it affects the relationship not just between her and her husband, but even the relatives.
(c) Communication: Still on the question of cultural differences, the indigenous language is most times put aside for a rather neutral national language or worse still, a foreign language or the official language (English) in many homes in Nigeria. Although it is important to mention here that it is not peculiar to multi-ethnic homes yet it is understandable why it is so.
Younger women these days have to contend with especially sisters and mothers in-law over their style of dressing, she may find quite comfortable but to the in-laws, it may not reflect the symbol of “married woman” it could be interpreted to mean non submission or being uncultured if she does not cover her head all the time especially outside the house. It could be the issue of short dresses, trousers or make-ups. To the wife, she might not see it in this light. Yet this could be brought about by not just the culture but the religious doctrines and traditional beliefs of the ethnic group her husband comes from or even her own though the men usually do not encounter problems with their dressing or appearance.
In this case though, each person’s attitude towards the other’s cultural differences is what makes the difference; for the purpose of knowing more or well enough of the family or ethnic group you are to be joined with, do not hasten into the marriage.
(d) Mutual Respect: This to me is a very unique aspect which I appreciate in inter-ethnic marriage. As much as we know of the secret fears parents of both partners might entertain at some point, there seem to be higher degree of respect for each others family especially coming from two different ethnic groups. People from same ethnic group seem to take too many things for granted and it is discovered that in most cases after a while, the families begin to treat each other with some air of contempt, taking things for granted. I believe that would not be unconnected with the fact that they know each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Sometime economic, political or social stature of the two families could be accountable for this. These difference and attitudes bring about challenges and yet in some cases make the relationship stronger on the long run.
(e) Gender Roles: Some ethnic groups have it that women should work very hard, if not harder than the men to be able to cater for the needs of the family. There are others too who do not believe in women taking up white colar jobs not withstanding the level of western education she may have acquired. Yet another ethnic group believes that a woman sits at home to take care of the home, while making babies and “watch” them grow. In some areas it is believed that once a woman marries she takes one or two of her siblings with her and it becomes the responsibility of she and her husband to train them and even those left behind in the village. Consequently the man in this situation does not find it interesting but he is forced to comply, because that is what the tradition demands from the wife’s side. It may be alien to the man’s cultural practices and thus affects the smooth running of the home due to economic strain and lack of privacy in some cases.
(f) Sex: It is something out of place for the topic “sex” to be mentioned or even discussed among some races. It is considered a taboo. This goes a long way affecting a lot of things with one of the parties realizing it on time. For example, the man may come from an ethnic group where it is believed that a woman has no say when it comes to the number of children they should have. For this reason, the issue of child spacing or family planning becomes a serious burden on the woman who may not win the sympathy of her husband since it is not her’s to decide, but of the god’s or God. In such a union, the woman must cooperate all the time. This tells on her physically, psychologically and even the finances of the family might be affected which happens to be the case most of the time as the standard is brought below average. The woman is usually highly upset and may begin to question the religious or cultural beliefs that has brought her under such ‘bondage’.
(g) Child upbringing / parenting: Certain ethnic groups believe that children upbringing is a principal responsibility of the woman. Unpopular as this assertion may sound; it does to a large extent exists in the minds of those who believe it should be so. That is why you hear condemnation being passed on a woman whose child or children are found to be wayward or involved in some form of vices. Conflicts results in some of the cases and if the child is made to face the law, serious challenge is posed on the couple and sometimes lead to separation.
This all has to do with sometimes the involvement of the grandparents, where they interfere and stop parents from giving commensurate punishment to a child that errs. Sometimes the kinsmen or grandparents claim that a child is their forefather reincarnated, who should be treated with respect, or that a male child should not be involved in doing house chores, or that he is the only child or only male child. Taking decisions on the children in some ethnic groups are not done without the involvement of their approvals as the case may be. This really does not go down well with one of the couple who might not see the need but the partner insists that, that is how it is done.
(h) Polygamy: Women generally dread polygamous marriage apart from those who are bound to accept it as a religious obligation.
Circumstances varying from inability of the woman to bear male children sometimes bring about pressure from the in-laws or even the husband to take another wife who would bear them male children/grandchildren as they consider it a serious setback where male children are not born to the family. On medical advice too, it might be that a woman cannot and should not attempt to have more than two children, which may not augur well with the man who would say that where he comes from (ethnic background), it is a taboo to bear only two children. As such, he goes for a second wife.
(i) Money: This has a very important role to play in the lives of the individual as well as family and the couple. The presence of it makes life a lot easier but the lack of it poses so much threat to a marriage and this could challenge the authority of the man as the head of the house; thus challenging the marriage. Certain ethnic groups in Nigeria believe that a man must be made or financially reasonably stable, with much emphasis before he can be given a wife. If at some point their finances are threatened, the parents of the girl would almost suggest their daughter quits. Families constantly wobble and sometimes threaten to collapse, obviously many do daily. Modern ideologies are not helping to build homes and they pile up against our cultural values which on the long run affect marriages negatively.
In order not to over flog this issue, it is worthy of note that this is an exhaustive topic and equally relative to environmental orientation, religious beliefs, maturity, understanding and so on of the individuals. We will all agree that inter-ethnic marriages have their challenges but one can still say that it works very well. Where all necessary questions are asked and answered with sincerity of purpose by both parties; bothering on family background, each other’s pasts, family tradition, cultural values, religious beliefs. Then whatever comes up along the line would easily and maturely be managed with little or no frictions. Wow, if only there was a coping manual!
On the whole, political questions bothering on opposing ideologies or parties and denominational doctrines on religion and cultural practices which tend to emphasis or exacerbate the existing ethnic differences should be avoided in the home or be played down if unavoidable.
Above all, mutual respect and understanding of the two individuals in the union must be of high premium as they tend to take off the daily strains in marriage from their relationship. Praying together on challenging issues is of paramount importance as prayers nurtures hope and faith both of which deepens love between the couple. Parties to an inter-ethnic marriage should dwell more on the common attributes of humanity to build enduring relationship for a lasting union.
By Vic Egberipou
In itself marriage is full of challenges which come at various stages and to almost every union. This can easily be explained owing to the fact that the two individuals had their different beliefs, traits, characters, orientation and interests. Most people naturally have a distinct picture of what their marriage or home would be. There is this expectation of perfect life, perfect home. Notwithstanding, family elders are always quick to warn that no marriage can be rosy all the time and advised to be patient when they encounter difficulties because they (difficulties) don’t last forever.
Conflicts come from time to time which are usually resolved by the two individuals but in some cases with the intervention of a third party which could be another member of the family, friend and sometimes a spiritual guardian. Scenarios like these are witnessed both in intra-ethnic and inter-ethnic marriages battling with certain fundamental issues that bring about the differences usually resulting in conflicts.
For the purpose of this piece, the focus shall be on inter-ethnic marriage especially in a multi-national society like Nigeria. From the very stage of courtship, often friends and family members begin to object to such union with “cogent” reasons, based on experiences they must have read, witnessed or heard about. Oftentimes such reasons tend to be scary as they accompany their claims with endless though important questions bothering on the family of your partner.
(a) These questions range from the ethnic group he/she comes from, emphasis is placed on area of weakness of people from that ethnic group. For the non-literate parents they are concerned with the medium for communication between the two families, especially the son or daughter in-law to be, most painfully, the would-be grandchildren. Sometimes they are visibly angry that questions bothering on family history, for example sicknesses, death, character, occupation, size of family, successes and failures cannot be fully or satisfactorily investigated. So, from the on set the parents see these as posing a very big challenge and issues that call for concern. Nevertheless, the intending couple tries painfully and sometimes unsatisfactorily to explain some of these concerns to them.
(b) Cultural differences: This brings a lot of strain in an inter-ethnic union. Naturally, the different ethnicities bring a lot of challenges and are worth it if the partners discuss and if possible study, by way of researching and reading books about the culture of the ethnic group the partner comes from.
It is indeed a lot of work but in the long run you are better informed, you would not be biased and could be in better position to educate the rest members of the family and friends who may have earlier expressed concerns.
By interaction, the intending couple learns what is expected of a son in-law. It could be by way of simple gestures, pleasantries, gifts and so on. On the part of the lady, tasks as simple as serving food to the in-laws which may require particular style, she may need to gesticulate. The husband too might be very down to earth or home-boy type who would always prefer local delicacies and soups from his area (village) these the woman must learn from the on set. Modern ladies do not find this interesting as sometimes, they find it not convenient to do but on the long run it affects the relationship not just between her and her husband, but even the relatives.
(c) Communication: Still on the question of cultural differences, the indigenous language is most times put aside for a rather neutral national language or worse still, a foreign language or the official language (English) in many homes in Nigeria. Although it is important to mention here that it is not peculiar to multi-ethnic homes yet it is understandable why it is so.
Younger women these days have to contend with especially sisters and mothers in-law over their style of dressing, she may find quite comfortable but to the in-laws, it may not reflect the symbol of “married woman” it could be interpreted to mean non submission or being uncultured if she does not cover her head all the time especially outside the house. It could be the issue of short dresses, trousers or make-ups. To the wife, she might not see it in this light. Yet this could be brought about by not just the culture but the religious doctrines and traditional beliefs of the ethnic group her husband comes from or even her own though the men usually do not encounter problems with their dressing or appearance.
In this case though, each person’s attitude towards the other’s cultural differences is what makes the difference; for the purpose of knowing more or well enough of the family or ethnic group you are to be joined with, do not hasten into the marriage.
(d) Mutual Respect: This to me is a very unique aspect which I appreciate in inter-ethnic marriage. As much as we know of the secret fears parents of both partners might entertain at some point, there seem to be higher degree of respect for each others family especially coming from two different ethnic groups. People from same ethnic group seem to take too many things for granted and it is discovered that in most cases after a while, the families begin to treat each other with some air of contempt, taking things for granted. I believe that would not be unconnected with the fact that they know each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Sometime economic, political or social stature of the two families could be accountable for this. These difference and attitudes bring about challenges and yet in some cases make the relationship stronger on the long run.
(e) Gender Roles: Some ethnic groups have it that women should work very hard, if not harder than the men to be able to cater for the needs of the family. There are others too who do not believe in women taking up white colar jobs not withstanding the level of western education she may have acquired. Yet another ethnic group believes that a woman sits at home to take care of the home, while making babies and “watch” them grow. In some areas it is believed that once a woman marries she takes one or two of her siblings with her and it becomes the responsibility of she and her husband to train them and even those left behind in the village. Consequently the man in this situation does not find it interesting but he is forced to comply, because that is what the tradition demands from the wife’s side. It may be alien to the man’s cultural practices and thus affects the smooth running of the home due to economic strain and lack of privacy in some cases.
(f) Sex: It is something out of place for the topic “sex” to be mentioned or even discussed among some races. It is considered a taboo. This goes a long way affecting a lot of things with one of the parties realizing it on time. For example, the man may come from an ethnic group where it is believed that a woman has no say when it comes to the number of children they should have. For this reason, the issue of child spacing or family planning becomes a serious burden on the woman who may not win the sympathy of her husband since it is not her’s to decide, but of the god’s or God. In such a union, the woman must cooperate all the time. This tells on her physically, psychologically and even the finances of the family might be affected which happens to be the case most of the time as the standard is brought below average. The woman is usually highly upset and may begin to question the religious or cultural beliefs that has brought her under such ‘bondage’.
(g) Child upbringing / parenting: Certain ethnic groups believe that children upbringing is a principal responsibility of the woman. Unpopular as this assertion may sound; it does to a large extent exists in the minds of those who believe it should be so. That is why you hear condemnation being passed on a woman whose child or children are found to be wayward or involved in some form of vices. Conflicts results in some of the cases and if the child is made to face the law, serious challenge is posed on the couple and sometimes lead to separation.
This all has to do with sometimes the involvement of the grandparents, where they interfere and stop parents from giving commensurate punishment to a child that errs. Sometimes the kinsmen or grandparents claim that a child is their forefather reincarnated, who should be treated with respect, or that a male child should not be involved in doing house chores, or that he is the only child or only male child. Taking decisions on the children in some ethnic groups are not done without the involvement of their approvals as the case may be. This really does not go down well with one of the couple who might not see the need but the partner insists that, that is how it is done.
(h) Polygamy: Women generally dread polygamous marriage apart from those who are bound to accept it as a religious obligation.
Circumstances varying from inability of the woman to bear male children sometimes bring about pressure from the in-laws or even the husband to take another wife who would bear them male children/grandchildren as they consider it a serious setback where male children are not born to the family. On medical advice too, it might be that a woman cannot and should not attempt to have more than two children, which may not augur well with the man who would say that where he comes from (ethnic background), it is a taboo to bear only two children. As such, he goes for a second wife.
(i) Money: This has a very important role to play in the lives of the individual as well as family and the couple. The presence of it makes life a lot easier but the lack of it poses so much threat to a marriage and this could challenge the authority of the man as the head of the house; thus challenging the marriage. Certain ethnic groups in Nigeria believe that a man must be made or financially reasonably stable, with much emphasis before he can be given a wife. If at some point their finances are threatened, the parents of the girl would almost suggest their daughter quits. Families constantly wobble and sometimes threaten to collapse, obviously many do daily. Modern ideologies are not helping to build homes and they pile up against our cultural values which on the long run affect marriages negatively.
In order not to over flog this issue, it is worthy of note that this is an exhaustive topic and equally relative to environmental orientation, religious beliefs, maturity, understanding and so on of the individuals. We will all agree that inter-ethnic marriages have their challenges but one can still say that it works very well. Where all necessary questions are asked and answered with sincerity of purpose by both parties; bothering on family background, each other’s pasts, family tradition, cultural values, religious beliefs. Then whatever comes up along the line would easily and maturely be managed with little or no frictions. Wow, if only there was a coping manual!
On the whole, political questions bothering on opposing ideologies or parties and denominational doctrines on religion and cultural practices which tend to emphasis or exacerbate the existing ethnic differences should be avoided in the home or be played down if unavoidable.
Above all, mutual respect and understanding of the two individuals in the union must be of high premium as they tend to take off the daily strains in marriage from their relationship. Praying together on challenging issues is of paramount importance as prayers nurtures hope and faith both of which deepens love between the couple. Parties to an inter-ethnic marriage should dwell more on the common attributes of humanity to build enduring relationship for a lasting union.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
NIGERIA: BLESSED BUT ACCURSED?
NIGERIA: BLESSED BUT ACCURSED?
In land mass, only Algeria, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo surpassed Nigeria in largeness. While Sudan and Algeria are mainly deserts, only the DRC may rival Nigeria in the richness of her soil in the African continent. Yet, the land is not cultivated enough to yield the much needed agricultural produce, to the effect that Nigeria is an importer of basic food items, thus she is threatened by food security.
This was a country which in the nineteen sixties exported palm kernel seeds to Malaysia. Today, Malaysia is the world’s leading exporter of palm oil while Nigeria imports it from there.
Petroleum was discovered in the 1950s and actual exploration or production started in 1958, two years before independence. Today, Nigeria is still exporting oil in its crude form while she imports refined oil for domestic use inspite of four refineries located in Lagos, Kaduna, Warri and Port Harcourt! Fifty solid years of being an oil producer!! Not only that, most Nigerians still have to queue for hours and most of the time, in order to buy the product. The cost is something else; unconfirmed reports has it that the pump price of petroleum products is one of the highest in Africa. Worse still, the territory from which the oil is extracted is so degraded that it has been rendered useless for agriculture and fisheries by oil pollution and spillage. These and other reasons gave rise to the uprising in the Niger-Delta which became more or less a civil war until very recently.
In terms of population, Nigeria is the biggest country in Africa and the tenth most populous country in the world. Herein lies the reason for being dubbed the ‘giant’ of Africa. But ironically, she has one of the highest illiteracy rate in the world. The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) in its 2009 report, stated that Nigeria treats her children as if she hates them to the extent that even war-torn countries such as Siera-Leon, Sudan, Liberia and Ethiopia provides better care for their children than Nigeria! A leading member of child-unfriendly countries!!.
Nigeria is blessed with rivers Niger and Benue but has one of the least developed inland waterways transportation system. With three hydro-electricity stations in Kainji, Jebba and Shiroro and other thermal stations, Nigeria with a population of 140 million is able to generate only 4000 mw of electric power compared to South Africa whose population of about 60 million is generating 40,000 mw of electricity! A recent study by a Washington-based research group for the European Union-Nigeria Dialogue on Energy asserted that, in terms of energy issues, “Nigeria could be said to be in a series of downward spirals. The problems facing the energy sector in Nigeria are systemic, meaning that solutions have to cover the whole system and not isolated parts of it. Systemic failure needs systemic solution”, the EU said.
Unconfirmed but reliable reports has it that about 35% of health care workers in the United States of America are Nigerians. Yet at home, doctors and health-care personnel are among the most poorly paid as they get even the most minute demands after long drawn strikes during which thousands of patients must have died. Hospitals especially public hospitals are so ill-equipped that they have degenerated from consulting clinics to stinking morgues. But public officials with the responsibility to make things work are always the first to fly abroad for the basic medical check-up, not to talk of treatment. Even the quality of service and human relations in the hospitals repels the most patient of the sick patients, and given the level of poverty in the land, do they have any choice? Maybe the only choice is to go home and die!.
Nigeria’s leaders woke up on the wrong side of their beds one morning and decided that all Banks must be equal within one year, regardless of their age, asset base, liquidity status, capital base and territorial spread. So it was that in 2004, many banks either got sold or absorbed by bigger ones or went completely under. The people were told it was the only panacea for robust banking and the cure-all economic problems. Barely five years later in 2009, the Banks came down crashing again, this time on account of unsecured loans, sharp insider deals and non-performing credits. Meanwhile, the people were told earlier in the year that the country’s economy was insulated from the world-wide economic meltdown and recession. How un-informed they turned out to be! Yet the people also proved so gullible as to believe that an economy as import dependent as Nigeria’s could be so protected from universal recession. But here we are!
Now, most of the directors of the guilty banks are from Southern Nigeria from where the then Central Bank Governor Prof. Charles Soludo came. But he left the job in June 2009 and one month later, another Governor – this time from the North took over the Central Bank only to discover the stench. Wielding the big stick, Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi is already being accused of pursuing an ethnic agenda – a charge he has labored so hard to deny, but which has refused to go away. Some pertinent questions are begging for answers, however.
Was the bank consolidation and reform exercise of 2004 carried out by an ethnic agenda? Was the result a reflection of the economic strength of the geo-political regions? Is the preponderance of Southern Chief Executives of Banks, Insurance and other financial institution a function of the human resources and the investment portfolio and acumen of the people of each region? Is it possible or an agenda of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi to equalize the ownership of the Banks or even sell them to Northerners via government’s acquisition of the Banks’ equity as being speculated by various concerned groups?
What guarantee do we have that when or if the Banks ownership and management change hands from Southerners to Northerners, that they will then be well managed for the good of depositors? What if the circle of mis-management continue inspite of the change in ownership structure and management? Who then shall we hold responsible – God or our stars? These questions are begging for realistic answers from whom it may concern.
Meanwhile, it does appear that the litany of failure enumerated above has its roots from Nigeria’s political economy, although most of Nigeria’s current leaders are apt to deny it. Political economy as used here goes beyond the theory or study of the role of public policy as an influence on the economic and social welfare of the country. So long as Nigeria shy away from her history as an amalgamation of disparate ethnic nationalities with divergent worldviews, so long shall she miss her manifest destiny. As long as these differences are not managed and put in their proper contexts for the benefit of all, so long shall they hunt the people and impede their progress. No amount of slogans of unity, or of rebranding can change the perception of the people. Assumptions of unity of purpose does not translate to unity just as uniformity does not necessarily bring about unity. Unity in a heterogeneous society such as Nigeria could come only out of voluntary choice based on mutual respect and acceptance of our differences – differences which is expressed through internal autonomy of the Federating Units and not by force or imposed by a hegemonic group. This is not to say that there are no other causes of failure. Of course, the reader is at liberty to postulate his/her own answers. The issue here is that no country or individual has ever succeeded in running away from her or his shadows. And the structure and system in Nigeria today appeared geared towards achieving that end-running away from her shadowed! Or what do you think?
In land mass, only Algeria, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo surpassed Nigeria in largeness. While Sudan and Algeria are mainly deserts, only the DRC may rival Nigeria in the richness of her soil in the African continent. Yet, the land is not cultivated enough to yield the much needed agricultural produce, to the effect that Nigeria is an importer of basic food items, thus she is threatened by food security.
This was a country which in the nineteen sixties exported palm kernel seeds to Malaysia. Today, Malaysia is the world’s leading exporter of palm oil while Nigeria imports it from there.
Petroleum was discovered in the 1950s and actual exploration or production started in 1958, two years before independence. Today, Nigeria is still exporting oil in its crude form while she imports refined oil for domestic use inspite of four refineries located in Lagos, Kaduna, Warri and Port Harcourt! Fifty solid years of being an oil producer!! Not only that, most Nigerians still have to queue for hours and most of the time, in order to buy the product. The cost is something else; unconfirmed reports has it that the pump price of petroleum products is one of the highest in Africa. Worse still, the territory from which the oil is extracted is so degraded that it has been rendered useless for agriculture and fisheries by oil pollution and spillage. These and other reasons gave rise to the uprising in the Niger-Delta which became more or less a civil war until very recently.
In terms of population, Nigeria is the biggest country in Africa and the tenth most populous country in the world. Herein lies the reason for being dubbed the ‘giant’ of Africa. But ironically, she has one of the highest illiteracy rate in the world. The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) in its 2009 report, stated that Nigeria treats her children as if she hates them to the extent that even war-torn countries such as Siera-Leon, Sudan, Liberia and Ethiopia provides better care for their children than Nigeria! A leading member of child-unfriendly countries!!.
Nigeria is blessed with rivers Niger and Benue but has one of the least developed inland waterways transportation system. With three hydro-electricity stations in Kainji, Jebba and Shiroro and other thermal stations, Nigeria with a population of 140 million is able to generate only 4000 mw of electric power compared to South Africa whose population of about 60 million is generating 40,000 mw of electricity! A recent study by a Washington-based research group for the European Union-Nigeria Dialogue on Energy asserted that, in terms of energy issues, “Nigeria could be said to be in a series of downward spirals. The problems facing the energy sector in Nigeria are systemic, meaning that solutions have to cover the whole system and not isolated parts of it. Systemic failure needs systemic solution”, the EU said.
Unconfirmed but reliable reports has it that about 35% of health care workers in the United States of America are Nigerians. Yet at home, doctors and health-care personnel are among the most poorly paid as they get even the most minute demands after long drawn strikes during which thousands of patients must have died. Hospitals especially public hospitals are so ill-equipped that they have degenerated from consulting clinics to stinking morgues. But public officials with the responsibility to make things work are always the first to fly abroad for the basic medical check-up, not to talk of treatment. Even the quality of service and human relations in the hospitals repels the most patient of the sick patients, and given the level of poverty in the land, do they have any choice? Maybe the only choice is to go home and die!.
Nigeria’s leaders woke up on the wrong side of their beds one morning and decided that all Banks must be equal within one year, regardless of their age, asset base, liquidity status, capital base and territorial spread. So it was that in 2004, many banks either got sold or absorbed by bigger ones or went completely under. The people were told it was the only panacea for robust banking and the cure-all economic problems. Barely five years later in 2009, the Banks came down crashing again, this time on account of unsecured loans, sharp insider deals and non-performing credits. Meanwhile, the people were told earlier in the year that the country’s economy was insulated from the world-wide economic meltdown and recession. How un-informed they turned out to be! Yet the people also proved so gullible as to believe that an economy as import dependent as Nigeria’s could be so protected from universal recession. But here we are!
Now, most of the directors of the guilty banks are from Southern Nigeria from where the then Central Bank Governor Prof. Charles Soludo came. But he left the job in June 2009 and one month later, another Governor – this time from the North took over the Central Bank only to discover the stench. Wielding the big stick, Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi is already being accused of pursuing an ethnic agenda – a charge he has labored so hard to deny, but which has refused to go away. Some pertinent questions are begging for answers, however.
Was the bank consolidation and reform exercise of 2004 carried out by an ethnic agenda? Was the result a reflection of the economic strength of the geo-political regions? Is the preponderance of Southern Chief Executives of Banks, Insurance and other financial institution a function of the human resources and the investment portfolio and acumen of the people of each region? Is it possible or an agenda of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi to equalize the ownership of the Banks or even sell them to Northerners via government’s acquisition of the Banks’ equity as being speculated by various concerned groups?
What guarantee do we have that when or if the Banks ownership and management change hands from Southerners to Northerners, that they will then be well managed for the good of depositors? What if the circle of mis-management continue inspite of the change in ownership structure and management? Who then shall we hold responsible – God or our stars? These questions are begging for realistic answers from whom it may concern.
Meanwhile, it does appear that the litany of failure enumerated above has its roots from Nigeria’s political economy, although most of Nigeria’s current leaders are apt to deny it. Political economy as used here goes beyond the theory or study of the role of public policy as an influence on the economic and social welfare of the country. So long as Nigeria shy away from her history as an amalgamation of disparate ethnic nationalities with divergent worldviews, so long shall she miss her manifest destiny. As long as these differences are not managed and put in their proper contexts for the benefit of all, so long shall they hunt the people and impede their progress. No amount of slogans of unity, or of rebranding can change the perception of the people. Assumptions of unity of purpose does not translate to unity just as uniformity does not necessarily bring about unity. Unity in a heterogeneous society such as Nigeria could come only out of voluntary choice based on mutual respect and acceptance of our differences – differences which is expressed through internal autonomy of the Federating Units and not by force or imposed by a hegemonic group. This is not to say that there are no other causes of failure. Of course, the reader is at liberty to postulate his/her own answers. The issue here is that no country or individual has ever succeeded in running away from her or his shadows. And the structure and system in Nigeria today appeared geared towards achieving that end-running away from her shadowed! Or what do you think?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
