OPINION:Nigeria @ 60: One step forward three steps backward

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  The pessimistic group view the country’s 60th years anniversary as one steps forward and three steps backwards. To them,Nigeria is blessed with abundant human and natural resources. Sadly,the country is not at par with its contemporaries that attained the same independence. For instance,Nigeria got independence the same day with India. However,Indian per capita income has doubled that of Nigeria. India has promised to assist Nigeria with nuclear energy to boost its power generation. They have argued,since the first republic which the country witnessed the first generational leaders that were imbued with foresight and patriotism,Nigeria has since become shadow of its former self with nothing to celebrate. The present crop of leaders lack patriotism and are preoccupied by divisive politics and passion for wealth accumulation. They have continued to exploit the country’s fault lines not for nation building,but as a ladder to attain leadership position. It is not understatement to say,lack of good leadership has further compounded the country’s political and economic woes.

  Whatever may be the positive or negative perspectives of the country’s chequered history of independence,the 60th years golden jubilee should serve as a period of introspection or assessment. It is time to take a look at our constitution and government structures,identify the factors that become cog in the wheel of our development. At 60th years,there are discordant voice or grievances from the political zones. In the South-West,it is a call for “restructuring”,South-South demands for “resources control”,South-East pushes for “confederation”while the North agitates for Sharia. Although,these grievances have been with the country for long,there is the need for genuine not political conference on how to resolve them. At 60 years,Nigeria is grappling with security challenges. From Boko Haram insurgents,kidnappers,killer herdsmen and communal strife,terror has stared the country in every direction.

   The recent global ranking by World poverty clock,places the country as the poverty headquarter of the world is not encouraging. The government should initiate a home growth economy policies that will address the high rate of poverty in the country. There is strong correlation or nexus between poverty and deteriorating insecurity in the country.

Happy 60 years golden jubilee.

Ibrahim Mustapha writing s from Kaduna