IN 1960 when Nigeria achieved political autonomy from the British colonisers, Nigerians dreamt of a bountiful country. We envisioned a country that would play a pivotal role in global affairs. There was a foreboding that the new nation, multi-ethnic in character, might be unworkable. But, the Independence Constitution of 1960 had a measure of fiscal federalism and coordinate bonds between the centre and the regions to ensure the workability of the new nation. This architecture was soon unhinged by the feuding elite, and the country was thrown into a bloody civil war. Rather than learn hard lessons from the conflict, the military, which usurped powers from the civilian political elite, deepened authoritarianism. The result is that successive governments have left the country prostrate today.So what is there to celebrate' It is just as well that the country's current rulers have indicated that the anniversay would be low key. On all account, the country is yet to fulfill her destiny. Years before the oil boom and the resultant Dutch disease, Nigeria was predominantly an agrarian society with countries like Malaysia and Singapore coming to us to learn the secret of our green economy. This trend has been reversed as we now import our food from these countries. Nigeria is currently the biggest importer of rice in the world. Past projects to boost food production such as river basins and rural infrastructure development failed due to the corruption in high places. The net effect is food insecurity.Today, the country lacks basic infrastructure like electricity, with a population of about 150 million rationing a mere 4,000 megawatt of electricity. The symptoms, of course, are too well known: closure of many businesses in the real sector of the economy due to astronomical cost of energy; unemployment, and a broader effect of de-industrialisation as major manufacturing concerns moved to neigbouring countries. Though the country exports about two million barrels of crude oil daily, it is still incapable of meeting domestic demands for refined petrol and kerosene, and regularly taunts a vague category of oil subsidy that must be removed to make supply possible. Again, the effect of this is that the country is the highest importer of electricity/power generating sets the world over.In the education sector, the current university academic staff warning strike, and the poor outing of students examined by the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) and National Examination Council (NECO), offer a window into the sorry state of affairs. In terms of funding, successive governments have been unable to meet the UNESCO-stipulated 26 per cent budgetary threshold for education. The effect is brain drain and a dip in the quality of education in the country. Amidst this crisis, the ruling class sends its children to schools abroad, often with dubiously-acquired resources, while public institutions suffer.Nigerians do not enjoy the best of health. A recent rating puts the country as one of the worst in the world, a testimony on the state of the health sector. The country is perpetually embroiled in the war against malaria, the commonest deadly killer of our people despite the huge roll back malaria (RBM) expenditure. Beyond these, basic morality has broken down in homes and public places. The youth no longer respect elders and are now at the centre of despicable acts such as gang-raping, Internet fraud, cultism, kidnapping, among others.Probity is in crisis as corruption has taken over the front burner of conduct by public officials. Only recently, the country was rated 134 out of the 178 nations that were assessed by Transparency International, a fact that has become an established trend since 1999. To be sure, the country suffers from governance crisis, a corrupt bureaucracy, state impunity and the breach of the rule of law.Security-wise, law and order have practically broken down, as kidnapping, armed robbery and low intensity insurgency pervade the country. The serial bombing by the Boko Haram sect has made nonsense of security in the country and portrayed an atmosphere of siege. In the last general elections, more than 800 lives were lost in post election violence. All these can be attributed to failure of governance and deepening poverty. The present administration is not faring any better than its predecessors, as it exhibits in many fronts, evidence of disorientation.It is not too late to rescue the country from the brink of collapse. Exemplary leadership is imperative at all levels to realise the dreams of our fathers who toiled for Nigeria's statehood, and the hopes of our people for years to come. That leadership must initiate a national dialogue to forge a creed for the country.The creed must include new ethos, and the lowest common denominator of conduct, expected especially of those in public office. It must enthrone integrity and accountability, competence and hardwork in public conduct. It must aim to redirect our society from the current inordinate scramble for material gain. And it must reinvent our societal values with just rewards for acceptable conduct, and punishment for deviance.It is not enough for President Goodluck Jonathan to throw up his hands in befuddlement, as he did the other day. He has an historic duty to redirect the ship of this promising state. To fail to do so will be the ultimate betrayal of the Nigerian dream.
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