It is common knowledge that most nations that are doing well economically today are not single resource and oil-producing economies. Rather, they are mostly non-oil sector producers who manipulate their budgets to the advantage of the sector. It is interesting to note also that even those with oil-based resources like Nigeria, have successfully utilised earnings and windfalls from these sources to broaden the base of the sector itself by expanding into gas exploration and other petrochemical and develop other viable/sustainable areas to effect diversification of their economies.
I would like to re-assert that Nigeria is potentially and undoubtedly a very rich country and we really have no business with poverty. Nigeria is endowed with vast human and material resources. But in spite of all its resources, the Nigerian economy remains one of the most striking examples of a mono-product economy in the world, depending on oil as its major source of foreign exchange earnings.
We need only men with very clear visions and ideas that will bring about a rapid change to create the necessary improvement and development in the standard of living of our people
In the past, agriculture formed the backbone of the Nigerian economy. Apart from providing employment opportunities for the people, it was the major source of income and foreign exchange before the discovery of crude oil. But today, the agricultural products for which Nigeria was once noted as the greatest world supplier, have disappeared from the list of our foreign exchange earners while the solid minerals sector remains largely untapped or fall victim to illegal mining.
It was while we were swimming (with back-float style) in an extremely hard time that a class of people came together, selling the mantra of change to those of us who were tired of the Peoples Democratic Party’s misrule and we too unwittingly embraced it as a new wife. The All Progressives Congress promised us an overnight change—saying that the soon coming arrow-head was the messiah we were all waiting for. They put blazers on his back so that the emerging generation of Nigerians could buy into him and they equally put “agbada” on his back, so that the aged ones could buy into him, too.
There was evidence of gross electoral misdeeds and malpractices, including over-voting, vote-buying, ghost voting and gross shirking of responsibility by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials in order to give an undue advantage to, especially government in power. During the period of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo era, there was a lot of political malpractices and anomaly which include, rigging of election, removal of incumbent governor by one-third majority of House instead of two-third majority according to the constitution.Those who fell victims included former Oyo state governor, Chief Rasheed Ladoja and immediate past Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose. Also, there was a lot of political killings around the country.Chief Bola Ige, Alfred Rewane and many others were killed. For those who do not know, the PDP and APC are two sides of a coin. A half a dozen and six are one and the same! When it comes to sharing of money, there would be no difference between those in the PDP and APC, but when they want to play Nigerians as a leather-ball, they would start flying the kite of opposition and ruling parties. You cannot afford to be fooled by the current crop of politicians.
There are certain things that are not acceptable in a democracy or democratic setting, and I must tell you, our constitution is basically faulty. How do you have a President under the presidential system of government that controls the whole military of the country, including the revenue and determines what to give to everybody. It is an anomaly .It is now only those at the corridors of power that are living in affluence while the poor masses are roaming about the streets searching for unavailable jobs.
The future of Nigeria is certainly not in the hands of both the PDP and APC. As the 2019 elections are fast approaching, all they would do is to pump up the heads of Nigerians like a hot-air balloon—with empty-promises that would never see the light of day. For the umpteenth time, the PDP and APC are two sides of a coin. They are all fighting to access and retain power for self-interests.
Honestly, we have gotten to a stage in this country where we need only men with very clear vision and ideas that will bring about a rapid change to create the necessary improvement and development in the standard of living of our people.
Secondly, we need a party that has a clear mission, idea and understanding of what it takes to rule this country and bail us from the present quagmire. Because as at today, 80 percent of Nigerians wallow in abject poverty with hunger and frustration becoming the order of the day. Both the PDP and APC have failed Nigeria and they ought not to be in office a day longer than today.
Orunbon, a public affairs analyst, writes from Epe, Lagos State. He can be reached via; orunbonibrahimademola@gmail.com
