THE IMPERATIVE OF REFORMS FOR POSITIVE AND ENDURING CHANGE
NOTHING GOOD COMES EASY, THIS I KNOW. THE HARD WAY, THE ONLY WAY
We must appreciate the fact that any meaningful and enduring change birthed by some reforms in the life of an individual, a family or a nation usually comes with a sacrifice in the short term. This sacrifice includes the pains and discomforts usually experienced at the onset of the reforms. In the long run, the gains and benefits normally surpass, by far, the sacrifice(s), provided the reforms were well thought out in good faith and conscientiously implemented by those concerned.
As individuals and families, we subject ourselves to the rigours of fasting and prayers, and in the process denying ourselves of foods and other conveniences which though are within our reach, in order to attain targeted heights in life. Once the goals are achieved, we are better off and the initial and temporary sacrifice(s), that is, the pains of self-denial are not remembered.
In every family, there is always a head at a time. Providence might bestow the position on some people by reason of birth, age, culture, marriage or status/station in life. The position comes with huge responsibilities. But then, there comes a time when the family head would have to take some “dangerous” decisions for the sake and honour of the family. Such decisions might not be palatable to members of the family, including the head. But because of the great future the seemingly unwholesome decisions guarantee the family, the head would still act courageously and remain strong by not looking back, but ensure the full implementation of the decisions to a logical conclusion.
For a nation like Nigeria, with unmitigated history of corruption and ill-governance in both public and private office spanning over five decades, to attain the enviable status of a developed and progressive economy, the status quo must be holistically reversed and corrected through reforms irrespective of the initial pains and other associated hiccups.
Whether in the life of a family or a nation, the people must be sufficiently informed, educated, sensitized and carried along at every stage in the course of implementing any painful but laudable change(s), otherwise good intentions and ends might be grossly misunderstood and unappreciated.
History has shown that there is no single country anywhere in the world that has truly attained economic and political independence and self-reliance to appreciable extent that was not blessed at various times with pragmatic, courageous and visionary leaders with strong political will who introduced and implemented to a logical conclusion some long overdue reforms. Expectedly, such decisions elicited fierce cries of pains and woes from the citizens at the onset. The countries eventually emerged victorious in the long run and the new generations are eternally grateful to their visionary and indefatigable leaders for taking their countries to the utopian heights. Please, conduct a research into the history of countries we celebrate today as “God’s own countries” and you will understand me better. None attained the enviable status on a platter.
With the benefit of hindsight while in secondary school, I want to cite India as an example of a country hitherto enmeshed in corruption and political turmoil. But today, she is a thriving economy and the citizens are raising their shoulders and lifting their heads up anywhere you see them around the world.
I attended secondary school between September, 1979 and June, 1984 (St. Augustine’s College Kabba, Kwara State then, but today Kogi State). Due to the high rate of unemployment and other socioeconomic and political malaise occasioned by corrupt state actors, the “japa syndrome” in India during this period was unprecedented and Nigeria was one of the countries around the world the Indians flooded in search of greener pastures. Nigerian economy was still strong then in spite of the cankerworm of corruption in public office, the impact of which was not yet so visible on the economy. The Indian graduates, Masters and PhD holders were employed as teachers in many of our schools and colleges all over the country. I am sure many of you on this noble platform were living witnesses of this situation at that period in your schools and colleges.
The great reforms and changes of intense sacrifice were first initiated by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru who ruled from August 1947 to January 1950. His successors, among who were Indira Gandhi (Nehru’s daughter) and Rajiv Gandhi (Indira’s son) etc. sustained the reforms. At a time, the importation of footwears and textiles were banned by Nehru’s administration. The Prime Minister was said to have declared that and I hereby paraphrase, “if we cannot manufacture our footwears and clothes, then let everybody go about barefoot and naked.” And this was just a small fraction of the many reforms introduced and religiously implemented at various times by Indian’s visionary leaders.
Today, in the long run, the nation of India and her citizens are reaping and savouring with glee, and shall continue to do so, the sweet and succulent fruits of their short term sacrifice. Around the world, Indian professionals are highly sought after, respected and usually employed to occupy executive and management positions in blue chip companies. Whenever parts of the forex earned are repatriated home, the reserves of the country and strength of the local currency are boosted. In Nigeria, a visit to Dangote Cement Company (Kogi State), Cam Wire Company (Kwara State) etc. will convince you regarding the executive and management positions of Indians. In case you do not know, India has launched rockets to space. In 2023 alone, the India Space Research Organization (ISRO) conducted record seven missions with successes including the landing of the Chandrayaan-3 craft on the moon’s South Pole. The nation presently has about twenty-two operable nuclear reactors generating electricity. The once struggling India economy is now so strong and flourishing to a level that the country has joined the likes of the USA, France, UK, Germany, Russia etc. in organizing economic summits purposely for African countries to enable them access some juicy packages that she (India) has graciously put together to boost their (African countries) economies. The first India-Africa summit was held in 2008 in New Delhi. Yes, fortunes have smiled on India, but at a cost. Unlike before, now you dare not mess with India!
Reforms and changes have also improved the fortunes of Ghana. I still remember vividly that between the 70s and early 80s, Ghanaian youths, many of who were also graduates, Masters and PhD holders were everywhere in Nigeria doing odd jobs such as clothes mending, gutter and street cleaning, shoe mending, dish washing etc. The corruption-propelled brain drain in Ghana was so pathetic. Of course, the Nigerian economy was faring better by far than that of Ghana at the time. Many able-bodied youths and skilled labourers from Ghana took refuge in other countries, including Nigeria in search of greener pastures.
The courage, determination and dogged political will of patriotic Ghanaian leaders who took the bull by the horns, braving all odds targeted at scuttling the lofty dream of a prosperous Ghana in the foreseeable future through reforms, has today restored the once battered dignity of the country and that of her citizens.
THE NIGERIAN SITUATION: LEST WE FORGET WHERE WE ARE COMING FROM.
Let me start from 1979. In Nigeria, every successive administration between October 1979 and May 2023 introduced or attempted to introduce reforms or policies with intent to alleviate socioeconomic and political imbalances in the system. The policies failed either due to insincerity on the part of the government or resistance by forces within the polity which made the government to capitulate.
Austerity measure was introduced by President Shehu Shagari to curb leakages and foster economic prosperity. But the commitment and sincerity of the administration regarding the implementation of the program leaves much to be desired. This is because it is on record that massive corruption was perpetrated by politicians and public servants as revealed by the military junta that toppled Shagari government on 31st December, 1983. Then General Muhammadu Buhari was ushered in as the Head of State in the military government.
General Buhari and his no-nonsense second in command, General Tunde Idiagbon, announced to the nation that the coup was staged in order to right the many wrongs of the previous administration and chart a lofty course for our dear country going forward. Nigerians trooped to the streets in their hundreds across cities and towns all over the country to welcome the long awaited “messiah” who has come to cleanse the Augean stables. Policies code named WAR AGAINST INDISCIPLINE (WAI) were soon rolled out to effect some reforms.
WAI was anchored on FOUR cardinal points namely: i. Queue Culture, ii. Work Ethic, iii. Nationalism and Patriotism and iv. Environmental Sanitation.
It is an understatement to say that the citizens were grossly found wanting with respect to societal ills that each cardinal point was meant to address and correct. There was complete decay in the system. Decrees with retrospective effects were promulgated to legitimize the regime and their course of actions. One of such course of actions was their determination to eradicate illegal use and peddling of narcotics. Whosoever was found culpable in this regard risked a stiff penalty, including death. For the first time, I began to hear names like cocaine, heroin, morphine etc. trending in our news media as hard drugs being abused and paddled by some Nigerians.
Hoarding of essential commodities (ESSENCO) became the order of the day. Foods and other daily needs were all classified by the regime as ESSENCO. We began to experience scarcity and shortages of ESSENCO on the shelves, a situation caused by powerful Nigerians and enemies of the regime. Before you knew what was happening, subtle agitations for a change of government had started.
Task forces were constituted across the country to combat hoarding. Warehouses and shops where ESSENCO were hoarded were forced open and the items were sold to needy Nigerians at cheap prices. The government designated some centres in cities and towns in each State as places where ESSENCO could be readily procured, but procurement was only possible provided you were ready to queue for several hours to take your turn and pay for what you needed at giveaway price.
Truly, the regime appeared to be out to stamp out corruption in the system but the modus operandi was draconian and highly reprehensible. For instance, the action of the regime regarding the retrospective effect of the decree under which some guys, politicians and journalists were arraigned, prosecuted and found guilty by military tribunals and were either jailed or executed by firing squad was widely condemned, locally and internationally, as highly repugnant. At this stage, the popularity enjoyed by the regime at onset had eroded almost completely. Nigerians were loud in their yearning for a change. As far as most people were concerned, the regime was a complete failure. Then suddenly, on 27th August, 1985, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangiga (IBB) and his boys struck in a palace coup that ushered him in as the next Head of State.
Trust Nigerians, the government of IBB was welcomed with singing, dancing and drum beats. You could notice the radiance on their faces as if saying the new regime was the best thing to have happened to Nigeria in the annals of governance. Expectedly, the new regime promised to fight corruption to the hilt and correct the oppressive tendencies, arrogance and high handedness of the previous regime in a government of open door policy.
Soon, the government enacted policies designed to usher in some proactive reforms code named SRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENT PROGRAM (SAP) to strengthen the economy. The 1st Tier and 2nd Tier foreign exchange market system was also introduced as part of the reforms aimed at stabilizing the exchange rates. But with time, looking at the trajectory of the regime as they executed their policies, Nigerians began to ask questions. “Is IBB government truly out to fight corruption and salvage the pariah image of the country both home and abroad? Is SAP a smokescreen created to hide the avalanche of corrupt activities of the regime? Is IBB faithful in the way and manner he is implementing the transition to civil rule time table meant to usher in a democratically elected government as scheduled? Is the regime ……?”
One event led to several others and IBB had to step aside weeks after the June 1993 presidential election because at that point the country was “burning and boiling” due to the many avoidable and regrettable dramas that characterized the election. Once again, some powerful Nigerians aided by state actors at various levels and sectors, resisted the proactive reforms and positive change that the envisaged enthronement of democratic governance promised to birth.
Immediately after the “collapse” of IBB government, an INTERIM NATIONAL GOVERNMENT (ING) headed by Chief Ernest Shonekan was inaugurated. I do not intend to dwell on the policy framework, direction and events of the various administrations from Chief Shonekan to President Buhari. As we know, Buhari’s administration as a two term democratically elected President ended on 29th May, 2023 and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was sworn in same day as the next and current democratically elected President of Nigeria.
WHERE WE ARE NOW
President Tinubu hit the ground running by announcing that the contentious and controversial FUEL SUBSIDY REGIME is gone during his acceptance and inaugural speech. Since then, the President, his team and other protagonists of fuel subsidy removal have been so consistent in telling us that the era of subsidy bred huge leakages in our commonwealth from which some incorrigible, selfish and unpatriotic Nigerians who have held the country captive have been feeding fat for over two decades. Unfortunately, previous administrations lacked the courage and political will to confront the hydra headed monster headlong once and for all. I will not delve into any arguments, either for or against, because already there are numerous arguments out there authored by pundits in political and economic matters which are the fulcrums (politics and economy) of the fuel subsidy issue. The multiplier effects of the President’s action are the pains and hardship the people have to contend with on daily basis as prices of foods, goods and services have skyrocketed. The local currency has so much depreciated in value due to unprecedented rising exchange rates and galloping inflation.
The question we should honestly and sincerely ask ourselves as patriots is whether the sacrifice (pains) Nigerians are presently making arising from the President’s action are worth it when weighed against the gains and benefits in the foreseeable future? Before this time, have Nigerians ever been receptive to any reforms meant to stabilize the economy later, bearing in mind that no positive and meaningful change(s) can be achieved without placing burdens, which are usually temporary, on the people? Do we have a history of clean slates by previous governments in their fight against corruption and leakages in the system that could make Nigerians believe and embrace the lofty programs of their successors in spite of the apparent pains the people might suffer? Regarding the arguments being canvassed out there, whether for or against, I ask, are people making their presentations from the standpoint of patriotism and national interest or from the standpoint of partisan politics and/or selfish interest? There is need to really dissect and analyze the antecedents (the power, influence, affluence and relevance wielded in previous administration or administrations) of some people in order to know where they were before and where they are presently in the scheme of things so as to decide whether to consider looking into their arguments with patriotic interest or trash them.
As a nation, we cannot continue to do things the same way by maintaining the status quo, resisting reforms for positive change and instigating unnecessary and avoidable crisis in the polity and then expect better results for a secured future of our dream.
No doubt, the stoppage of fuel subsidy and attendant discomforts has impacted harshly on the economy and survival of homes and families, especially on those at the lower rungs of the ladder who are low income earners and the most hit by President Tinubu’s decision. Cost of living has risen sharply and standard of living has nosedived. But the truth is, we are all bound by the same fate in the current painful journey and arduous task of nation building. If we must attain the greatness we earnestly crave and dream of as a people, we just have to endure and persevere as we tread the rough and thorny path leading to our colourful, beautiful and golden destiny. There is no meaningful and long lasting success without opportunity cost. The difficult and painful choice we made today is the fullness of joy and happiness tomorrow.
One lesson I have learnt is that at any difficult time in life, God will always position somebody in the family to provide succour and bear the uncomfortable but temporary burden of difficulties. That person might be you in the present circumstance. Please, do not give up. The much envisaged bright light shall soon begin to shine continually beyond what the darkness (pains) can comprehend. This is my humble advice and considered opinion.
REFORMS VERSUS RELIGION
The founder and forerunner of Christianity was Jesus Christ. It is on record in the holy Bible that the elites and powerful rulers/emperors in the society rejected His teachings and reforms in spite of the immeasurable future and everlasting gains/benefits therein. These people were not prepared to embrace change and turn over a new leaf because to them, accepting the message was a sacrifice they considered too much and could not imagine. They would rather lynch or kill Him before His time than allow the masses to be swayed to His side. At a particular gathering, He had to abruptly abandon the teaching and fled for His life to safety. Even, in His country home He was rejected. But did Jesus give up the pursuit of His divine mandate in spite of the overwhelming danger to His life and the lives of His disciples? The answer is a capital NO! Maybe a similar scenario also played out in some other religions whereby the founders and forerunners of the religions had to flee from their homes and people to safety due to threats to their lives. People want to go to heaven but they do not want to die. There is the heaven in life hereafter and there is also the heaven on earth. To experience either of the two or both, one must be prepared to tread the narrow and difficult but sure and only path that leads there.
No change, no matter how lofty, ever comes without resistance by the people. Right from time immemorial, humans have never at any time been receptive to change. It is usually the dogged determination of visionary leaders and their teams/supporters that can bring about the desired change irrespective of the initial resistance by the people either out of ignorance or sheer hypocrisy.
THE WAY FORWARD
President Tinubu cannot afford to succumb to pressure, intimidation and blackmail in his determination to take Nigeria out of the woods through the reforms he has introduced, including the fuel subsidy removal. The abolition of the subsidy regime has placed specific burdens on three categories of Nigerians namely: i. the innocent and poor citizens (who have to daily contend with rising cost of essential goods and services), ii. those in positions of power and authority (who are expected to demonstrate clear and visible example by cutting down reasonably the cost of governance in running their offices and in their personal emoluments/entitlements) and iii. the marauding predators in the system whose burden is the fear of imminent justice (prosecution and possible punishment ranging from jail terms, restitution, forfeitures, status downgrade etc.). Therefore, the cries of woes and pull-him-down in the polity are not unexpected. The President should remain focused. But he should be very honest and sincere with Nigerians and conspicuously seen as such in that light in the implementation of the reforms to a logical conclusion. Strict measures should be put in place to quickly identify and dislodge all clogs in the wheel of progress and fifth columnists within his cabinet, the civil service and the ruling party. These undesirable elements, for personal and selfish reasons, will not stop at anything to connive with enemies within and without in order to truncate his lofty dream for Nigeria if they are given the chance. The President and entire administration at all levels and arms of government must demonstrate to Nigerians in real and practical terms, visible to all and sundry, that they are also making as much sacrifice, if not more, as the innocent and poor citizens in the joint efforts to birth a new Nigeria of our dream. For the sake of sincerity, honesty and accountability, the amount of monthly revenue allocations to each Local, State and Federal government, including palliatives and other interventions at any time and by whatever names called, and details of how the resources are being utilized, should be published for easy accessibility by the public. The government must be truly accountable to the people. The people too must be prepared and ever ready to hold the government at all levels accountable and this must be championed with deep sense of patriotism by well-meaning individuals, labour unions and civil society/human rights/non-governmental organizations.
CONCLUSION
A wake up call to all Nigerians from all walks of life, home and abroad, regardless of political, tribal, ethnic and religious inclinations, to rise up and join hands with the government in fighting the just and patriotic cause of nation building befitting our country as truly the undisputable giant and pride of Africa in all ramifications. On several occasions, the President has told Nigerians that as a human being, he is not beyond making errors. Where and when such errors are identified, he would listen to the people and make amends. Such amends might be the reason why the pump price of PMS has stabilized between #600 and #650 per litre, a situation that made the IMF to announce/speculate recently that the President has secretly reintroduced subsidy. IMF believes that by now the pump price of PMS should be over #1,000 per litre if the fuel subsidy removal is still 100% in place. Please, my people, endeavor to speak out and speak loud and clear if you have an idea or know something that is germane to enhancing/uplifting the country’s socioeconomic and political transformations. Let us hear your objective and fruitful contributions towards nation building. By so doing, the labour of our heroes, past and present, shall not be in vain. Failure to speak out is not only unpatriotic but also tantamount to knowing nothing.
God Bless The Federal Republic of Nigeria!
Long Live The Federal Republic Of Nigeria!
Written by:
Emmanuel J. Onemola
Ilorin, March 2024.
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