Sixty-three years after Nigeria gained independence, the country has yet to fully realize the visions of the founding fathers.
Anthony Enahoro, one of the foremost nationalists who fought for the country’s freedom, moved the motion for Nigeria’s independence. The dream of the founding fathers was to secure a free nation devoid of any external influence, which would give its people a better life.
However, Nigeria has failed to achieve some of the goals of the founding fathers after 63 years.
Lack of good governance birthed by corrupt leaders has been one of the major problems bedeviling the nation since its independence in 1960.
In 2021, a global index, the Chandler Good Government Index (CGGI), ranked Nigeria as the third-worst country in the world.
Nigeria was ranked 102nd out of 104 countries captured by the CGGI, which classifies countries in terms of government capabilities and outcomes.
The index focuses on seven pillars: leadership and foresight; robust laws and policies; strong institutions; financial stewardship; attractive marketplace; global influence and reputation; and helping people rise.
Nigeria’s bad reputation, which has spread across the globe, may not be unconnected to some of the age-long crises ranging from poor leadership quality, insecurity, dilapidated education, among other issues that have hitherto crippled the country’s economy.
General Hardship
The hardship faced by millions of Nigerians skyrocketed on May 29 when President Bola Tinubu announced the removal of fuel subsidy.
The subsidy removal, which aggravated the country’s inflation rate, has imposed unfavorable living conditions on most Nigerians.
In the next three days, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) may shut down the economy in protest of the federal government’s inability to implement measures that would mitigate the negative impacts of the subsidy removal.
Prices of staple food items and other essential commodities in the market have tripled following the high cost of fuel.
Several citizens have lost their sources of income due to the unpleasant development as both intra and inter-state transportation fares have jumped beyond the affordability of common Nigerians.
Aside from the price of food items and transportation fare, the removal of fuel subsidies has apparently affected every other aspect of life, including house rent, school fees, drugs, and even hospital bills.
Security
The country’s security situation has continued to deteriorate over the years despite the efforts of past and present leaders.
Apart from the activities of the Boko Haram insurgents that are causing mayhem in the northeast, many parts of the country are still battling with the daredevil bandits who have converted kidnapping into a lucrative business in North West, North Central, and other regions.
A report emerged in August this year that at least 23 local government areas in three North-West states are currently under the control of bandits.
The report underscores the gravity of the current security situation and harks back to the time when terrorists ruled over 27 LGAs across the North-East.
Farmers and residents in 23 LGAs in Sokoto, Zamfara, and Kebbi states have abandoned their farms and communities, fleeing rising bandits’ criminality.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is not left out in the unfortunate security crisis as miscreants are on the rampage, committing several crimes, including kidnapping and robbery, usually by the ‘one chance’ vehicle drivers.
Leadership:
After 63 years, Nigeria is still known for producing corrupt leaders who have, over the years, allegedly mismanaged the country’s resources, leading to the nation’s poor growth.
According to an analyst and a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State, Adebayo Mathew, who spoke to our correspondent on Saturday, Nigeria is blessed with rich human and material resources begging to be harvested by purposeful, creative, and innovative leadership.
According to him, leadership that is based on the cultural values of the people and takes a bottom-top approach holds the key to unlocking the development quagmire Nigeria has found itself in.
Adebayo, however, lamented that “this is not the case” due to leadership failure, corruption, and bad governance.
“It saddens me to know that Nigeria, a rich country that is endowed by providence with human and material resources critical for national development and advancement, is struggling after 63 years.
“Nigeria had very great prospects at independence and was even expected to lead Africa out of the backwoods of underdevelopment and economic dependency; unfortunately, the country is still stuck in the league of very poor, corrupt, underdeveloped, infrastructurally decaying, crisis-riven, morally bankrupt, and leadership-deficient.
“Instead of becoming an exemplar of transformational leadership, modern bureaucracy, national development, national integration, and innovation, Nigeria seems to be known only for bad things.
“The truth is that Nigeria is a victim of poor leadership and systemic corruption, which has become pervasive and cancerous to the growth of the country.”
President General of the Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL), Goodluck Ibem, also told newsmen on Saturday that Nigeria is retrogressing rather than developing.
According to him, certain achievements the country made prior to 1960, especially in agriculture and other productions, have all fizzled away.
Ibem called on Nigerians, including leaders at various levels, to embrace homemade products, saying only through such moves would the country develop and grow economically.
He said, “It is very unfortunate that instead of us as a country to improve for the better after taking charge of our destiny via independence, we are rather going backward. Other African countries that got their independence just 20 years ago have overtaken Nigeria.
“We were manufacturing textile materials, but now we are importing all forms of textiles. We used to be a major exporter of cotton, but now we are no longer planting cotton. We were assembling our own cars in Nigeria, but now we depend solely on imported cars.
“We used to export palm oil, but now we are even buying palm oil from Indonesia, a country that came to Nigeria to buy palm seedlings to plant in their country. What a shame!
“Some private manufacturing companies are manufacturing indigenous cars and vehicles; unfortunately, the federal and state governments are not patronizing them the way they should.
“High patronage of these locally made vehicles will boost our economy and also help create jobs for our teeming youths.
“Unfortunately, after 63 years of independence, we don’t have the belief and confidence in our own products. The President, Governors, Senators, Reps members, state legislators, and other Nigerians don’t believe in what is being produced locally; rather, they prefer to buy and use foreign vehicles and products.
“We as a nation should come back to our senses and start using products manufactured in our own country. That is true independence.”
However, some citizens are still keeping hope alive as President Tinubu promised that his administration would do everything to ensure the revival of the nation’s economy.
Tinubu gave the assurance during the Federal Executive Council meeting on August 29 when he unfolded a three-year economic revival plan to address the social and economic challenges affecting the country.
“We shall evolve a homegrown re-engineering of our finances, a reimagined stewardship of our resources, and we will let the economy work for the people of this country.
“There are so many things we can and will do. Yes, some
