Colonialism and Nigeria’s problems I attended one of the many transformation seminars across Nigeria and listened intently to an erudite professor as he reeled out the many problems currently plaguing Nigeria. He sounded confident as he was sure that Nigeria’s problems aren’t caused by Nigerians; because they are as a result of the forceful, wicked and manipulative rule of the colonial masters during the colonial era. And since the colonial masters are responsible for our problems, they ’must’ also be held responsible for the provision of strategic solutions to these problems. As much as I liked the fervour and speaking skills of the professor, I did not agree with many of his assertions, especially the allegation that the colonial masters are the cause of our current problems in Nigeria. Today, it is not uncommon to find that, like the professor, many Nigerians think that the colonial masters are the major cause of our poverty because of the 1914 amalgamation of the northern and southern protectorate. This pattern of erroneous thinking is what I consider one of the greatest impediments to our much needed economic and political development; it has also kept us from taking responsibility for our own actions.I hear this argument from various facets of the Nigerian society, from academicians to political activists to lawyers and journalists. In secondary school, my government teacher supports this line of argument, he once insisted I write an essay titled “The British exploited us; they came for our goods, not for our good.”Much as I like to admit that the amalgamation of the northern and southern protectorate is fractionally responsible for our spirit of intolerance for each other’s ethnic tendencies, I also believe that Nigeria’s modern problem and drastic poverty rate is not entirely the fault of the colonial masters.I beg us to see it from these perspectives: Are the colonial masters responsible for the outright carelessness and wanton greed and brazen corruption demonstrated by our political class today? Are they wholly responsible for our today’s lack of basic infrastructures? Are they also to be blamed for the excessive exploitation of our most abundant natural resources? By all means no! I stand by the fact that the greatest forces holding us back are our own crooked and incompetent politicians, not leaders, whose idea of investment is to spend heavily on themselves and some frivolous projects; and the citizens whose mental architecture has been heavily clogged with the entitlement mentality. It is this blame game that has kept us from taking broad-based actions to salvage Nigeria from the hands of politicians whose presence in the corridors of power are inimical, and a huge threat, to the advancement of Nigeria. It is also this blame game that is making us stand aloof, hence complacently allow the trio of corruption, tribalism and greed to replace the unity and faith, peace and progress of our coat of arms. History has shown that no country is going to create sustained wealth if the leaders continue to exploit the economy to enrich themselves and their cronies, or if the heads of major authorities are blatantly corrupt. Great developments depend on great leaders and a sane political and economic environment. Good and responsible leadership, with a touch of global and best policies, are the ingredients that can unlock our potentials to great discoveries.Our economy is not looking healthy; nonetheless, I believe that although it’s gradually fading, that Nigeria can be prosperous. Any country can make that transition from poverty to immense riches; I know this because various countries have done it in times past, and most of the technologies needed to make this transformation are already in existence and almost free. Most of our policies are not yet on the right path but a few are at least pushing through the undergrowth, looking for that path of prosperity. When and where exactly that path will lead is entirely up to us. Only us can choose what kind of economy we want to have and what kind of society we want to live in. But whatever the details of the society are, most Nigerians foresee it’s an industrialised and enhancing one. I have not met any Nigerian who does not want Nigeria to be like the European or American countries. Everyone wants that because we often compare Nigeria with the more advanced America. This is good but we must understand that industrialisation takes time and conscious efforts, it’s not magic, it begins with little and strategic changes which compounds into big and beautiful changes. And, nations do not become industrialised by talking alone, neither do they become so by praying or being plainly irresponsible. If Nigeria is really serious about developing like the modern and industrialised world, we have to do three things. First, we have to stop the blame game and become responsible for our own failures and take our destinies in our own hands. Secondly, we have to responsibly endure the pains of discipline that the modern countries endured before they became modern. Thirdly, we have to start now, we have to fold our sleeves and think, work, save and invest.But then, how willing are we?
Posted on: Mon, 02 Sep 2013 01:34:30 +0000
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