50-something years after independence and sadly, with nothing much to show for it, on the contrary many of us who were alive and old enough to appreciate the quality of life at the time the British colonialists were leaving in 1960 feel there’s been a gradual and sequential retrogression in the quality of life in our dear Nigeria.
Apologists for this are quick to say 50 years is a “little time” in the life of a nation and we should not be in too much of a hurry! Nothing could be sadder to say as it lulls one into slumber, deadens the creative, competitive, spirit, and encourages the profligacy and reckless looting that have characterised governance. If there is no sense of urgency to development a country literally goes to sleep.
Let no one be deceived, 50 years is a long time, a damn long time!
It took the government of Obafemi Awolowo in Western Region of the First Republic less than 10 years to establish the first television station in Africa; the first international standard stadium in Africa; the tallest building in Black Africa; a vibrant and flourishing industrial estate; world class university; free minimum and compulsory education; enduring road infrastructure; and numerous other benefits of life. And there was no oil money then. His government felt challenged; it had a sense of urgency to bring development and “life more abundant” to the people; and all energies and thoughts were so directed.
It took the government of Abdul Razak Hussein in late 60s less than 10 years to transform Malaysia from a country that came to “borrow” palm tree seedlings from Nigeria to becoming the largest producer of palm oil in the world and set it on the path of industrialisation.
Similarly, it has taken the government of BabatundeFashola no more than four years to build on the foundations of his predecessor to transform the face of Lagos from the suffocating mega-trash of the past to, slowly but surely, make the state the pacesetter in modernity and better living.
Similarly, in less than four years of being in government, people of other western states are feeling the impact of good governance in their lives through competitive fast-paced urban renewals, social engineering and cultural revival in the hands of their young and dynamic governors. All over, there is discernible sense of purpose that lifts the spirit and gives hope. One also hears of similar development in Amaechi’s Rivers State, Akpabio’s AkwaIbom State and a few others.
There is only one answer to all of these achievements: Good Governance. Good governance is about the people being governed; it starts with the people and ends with the people. It is about the consuming passion of the government to add value to the lives of the masses, to make life easier for them by an ever thoughtful process of helping to ease their pains and give them the opportunity to come out with their best – each and everyone.
Good governance is proactive; it not only thinks about today, it thinks about tomorrow and the day after tomorrow; about 10, 20, 50 years hence. Good governance is about seeing the people stand long hours in the rain or sun waiting for buses and saying to yourself, “wait a minute, something’s got to be done to help these folks,” then going ahead to provide them some shelter. It is about planning and adding quality to the lives of the people; providing gardens and parks, even in villages; not anarchical constructions, crazily turning everywhere into concrete jungles. It is about loving and respecting the people.
It starts from very simple things like that, right on to larger issues of thinking, like America’s President, J.F. Kennedy said: “We gotta get to the moon,” and challenging America’s scientists to work out the feat. It comes from a leadership that thinks, thinks about the people and thinks about making their lives better. It is about a leadership that inspires and dreams big dreams.
We are faced with myriad of challenges, but our President and governors must be able to think through them for solutions. Our scientists, our engineers must be called upon and encouraged to help out with creative ideas for products and patents (not to go to the moon but) to make ordinary things of life simple for the people: cheap and easy roof over their heads; tools to make farming and harvesting easier; getting power in their homes to eliminate generators and the astronomical costs to life and property entailed in frequent fire disasters; clearing rubbish off the streets; towing breakdown vehicles, especially the huge trucks and trailers that turn middle of the highways into instant repair garages; hygienic methods of selling meat or scrapping fish scales in the market; and things too numerous to mention.
Nigeria has the advantage of a huge population with a market potential that’s the dream of many an investor. The private sector (financial institutions and big corporations) would partner a government they see as serious and sincere.
But it doesn’t start with just “summoning and challenging” engineers, the basics need to be in place: passion for positive change and a government that the people believe in. Then, putting the building blocks of right technical education like the trade centres of old in place; committing national resources to education, and education, and education – for that is the bedrock to any meaningful development.
Above all, good governance must eschew corruption. The corruption in our governments and country stinks to high heavens. No lasting good can come out of a situation as presently exists, where we lack the courage to do the right thing; where self and individual interests are supreme over the common good; where the National Assembly members that should be on part-time earn inordinate sums of money squabbling and bickering over non-important issues; where appearances are more important than substance in a country obsessed with titles.
Good governance is not about throwing big agbada around and blasting people off the streets with sirens. It is about rolling up sleeves and getting down to work. It is not about draining the people of their blood; it is about putting flesh on their crying bones!
We’ve got to get it right this time. Our President, governors and lawmakers must be “in a hurry;” and they must inspire us to greatness by their lifestyles and vision.
Good governance is what we must demand of our leaders; and our votes in elections must be the cudgel against poor performers.
BY TUNDE FAGBENLE
Let no one be deceived, 50 years is a long time, a damn long time!
It took the government of Obafemi Awolowo in Western Region of the First Republic less than 10 years to establish the first television station in Africa; the first international standard stadium in Africa; the tallest building in Black Africa; a vibrant and flourishing industrial estate; world class university; free minimum and compulsory education; enduring road infrastructure; and numerous other benefits of life. And there was no oil money then. His government felt challenged; it had a sense of urgency to bring development and “life more abundant” to the people; and all energies and thoughts were so directed.
It took the government of Abdul Razak Hussein in late 60s less than 10 years to transform Malaysia from a country that came to “borrow” palm tree seedlings from Nigeria to becoming the largest producer of palm oil in the world and set it on the path of industrialisation.
Similarly, it has taken the government of BabatundeFashola no more than four years to build on the foundations of his predecessor to transform the face of Lagos from the suffocating mega-trash of the past to, slowly but surely, make the state the pacesetter in modernity and better living.
Similarly, in less than four years of being in government, people of other western states are feeling the impact of good governance in their lives through competitive fast-paced urban renewals, social engineering and cultural revival in the hands of their young and dynamic governors. All over, there is discernible sense of purpose that lifts the spirit and gives hope. One also hears of similar development in Amaechi’s Rivers State, Akpabio’s AkwaIbom State and a few others.
There is only one answer to all of these achievements: Good Governance. Good governance is about the people being governed; it starts with the people and ends with the people. It is about the consuming passion of the government to add value to the lives of the masses, to make life easier for them by an ever thoughtful process of helping to ease their pains and give them the opportunity to come out with their best – each and everyone.
Good governance is proactive; it not only thinks about today, it thinks about tomorrow and the day after tomorrow; about 10, 20, 50 years hence. Good governance is about seeing the people stand long hours in the rain or sun waiting for buses and saying to yourself, “wait a minute, something’s got to be done to help these folks,” then going ahead to provide them some shelter. It is about planning and adding quality to the lives of the people; providing gardens and parks, even in villages; not anarchical constructions, crazily turning everywhere into concrete jungles. It is about loving and respecting the people.
It starts from very simple things like that, right on to larger issues of thinking, like America’s President, J.F. Kennedy said: “We gotta get to the moon,” and challenging America’s scientists to work out the feat. It comes from a leadership that thinks, thinks about the people and thinks about making their lives better. It is about a leadership that inspires and dreams big dreams.
We are faced with myriad of challenges, but our President and governors must be able to think through them for solutions. Our scientists, our engineers must be called upon and encouraged to help out with creative ideas for products and patents (not to go to the moon but) to make ordinary things of life simple for the people: cheap and easy roof over their heads; tools to make farming and harvesting easier; getting power in their homes to eliminate generators and the astronomical costs to life and property entailed in frequent fire disasters; clearing rubbish off the streets; towing breakdown vehicles, especially the huge trucks and trailers that turn middle of the highways into instant repair garages; hygienic methods of selling meat or scrapping fish scales in the market; and things too numerous to mention.
Nigeria has the advantage of a huge population with a market potential that’s the dream of many an investor. The private sector (financial institutions and big corporations) would partner a government they see as serious and sincere.
But it doesn’t start with just “summoning and challenging” engineers, the basics need to be in place: passion for positive change and a government that the people believe in. Then, putting the building blocks of right technical education like the trade centres of old in place; committing national resources to education, and education, and education – for that is the bedrock to any meaningful development.
Above all, good governance must eschew corruption. The corruption in our governments and country stinks to high heavens. No lasting good can come out of a situation as presently exists, where we lack the courage to do the right thing; where self and individual interests are supreme over the common good; where the National Assembly members that should be on part-time earn inordinate sums of money squabbling and bickering over non-important issues; where appearances are more important than substance in a country obsessed with titles.
Good governance is not about throwing big agbada around and blasting people off the streets with sirens. It is about rolling up sleeves and getting down to work. It is not about draining the people of their blood; it is about putting flesh on their crying bones!
We’ve got to get it right this time. Our President, governors and lawmakers must be “in a hurry;” and they must inspire us to greatness by their lifestyles and vision.
Good governance is what we must demand of our leaders; and our votes in elections must be the cudgel against poor performers.
BY TUNDE FAGBENLE
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