THOSE individuals, who believe the annual ritual of commemorating Nigeria's Independence Day is a period of very sober reflection have good reasons. And somehow, the authorities appear to be listening now to the admonition, though the new attitude could be a function of a plethora of factors, without exempting security. The new consciousness among the ruling elite on the reality about the state of absurdity and contradiction Nigeria has found itself as a sovereign state calls for discourse. Belatedly though, the deep concern being expressed by most of whom providence had given the privilege and opportunity of salvaging the state when the ship of the state began to drift is a paradym shift. We are beginning to see people appreciate many of their compatriots who believe the country should have towered above its contemporaries like India and Brazil at 51. I am delighted that our distinguished senators used the occasion of this year's anniversary to deeply ponder on the state of the nation without mincing words. I was particularly happy that they could admit that the elite had failed the nation after the collapse of the first republic till date. Their acknowledgement was a testimony of a collective guilt, since a number of those who addressed the senate on the state of the nation last week, had been active players in determing the fate of the almost a century-old Nigerian project. The speech of President of the Senate, David Mark was quite remarkable. He spoke the minds of the majority of Nigerians that they did not deserve what their country had become over the years. He lamented that Nigeria now lags behind countries like India and Brazil. Acknowleding the onus placed on the ruling elite, Mark said Nigeria required to accelerate more than before if we hoped to catch up with the rest of the world, as they say.A lot of other senators also decried what they considered as the systematic collapse of the Nigerian structure owing to the rudderless leadership imposed on the country at different times. Senator Ganiyu Solomon bemoaned the gradual erosion of the principle of federalism, coupled with the arbitrariness of the leadership of the country. Consequently, he was of the opinion that the quest for a stable and progressive country was in Nigeria returning to a true federal structure.I also found the contribution of former Governor Kabiru Gaya instructive as he wondered how Nigeria frittered various opportunities to consolidate its leadership as an emerging nation after Independence. He recalled the vision of the founding fathers of the country, which ensured that the country commanded global reckoning in agricultural produce while guaranteeing food security at home. The beauty of the debate among the senators was reflection of their deep understanding and appreciation of the level of decay in the Nigerian system. In fact, Gaya's contribution was quite outstanding in this regard. However, the seriousness of the session was almost marred by the throwing of 'scud missiles' by a senator at a former leader, whose tenure is most remembered for oil boom. But the brilliant and excellent contributions by a couple of senators obliterated the images and imagery he had wittingly or unwittingly attempted to conjure and convey to his audience. Nonetheless, I was uncomfortable with part of the submissions of Senator Enyinaya Abaribe, especially for alluding to the cosmetic changes that had taken place in his alma mater as more than a sufficient reasons for Nigerians to wriggle their waists to samba beats. He had underplayed the stern warning by a former British envoy to Nigeria that the country could be fiddling with a time bomb owing to the burgeoning army of unemployed Nigerian youths, particularly university graduates.Through the discourse, the semators were able dissect the key problematic arreas in the country. Among them were national cohesion, general development, constitutional framework, policy somersault, syndrome of wasted generation and absence of patriotism among the elite. It was apparent that most of the senators agreed that so many things had gone wrong in the country, hence the need for freshness and sustainability in measures to restore hope and confidence in the entire citizenry. Rather than gloating, the senators admitted the past leadership's inadequacies and failures. But this realisation is just a step in what they can do for Nigeria at this hour of its quest for self-discovery. Words had not been marked with actions over time. That was why policies and programmes were half-heartedly executed. Funds earmarked for the provision or rehabilitatin of infrastructure were not accounted for. Indeed, it has thrown a blanket of public cynism towards anything that has to do with. Therefore, the senators must lead the way in probity beyond the fringes of the national assembly. There shall be greater joyand fulfilment for our lawmakers if by next December, the govenment is able to deliver on part of its promises on some strategic highways that are in very deplorable state. It will be a disservice to the people if the senators failed to take up the challenge posed by the agonies of teeming population of unemployed graduates. The administration of Dr Segun Mimiko in Ondo State has provided a model through which we can get them employed in farming. The sermon delivered by senators to mark the 51st independence will be meaningful if there is a follow-up policy of more action, and less takl!The challenges facing the country keep rising. The problem is not basically about scarcity but principally because of the way we manage them. A situation, where a few have 'acquired' more than they deserve portends danger, when the majority live below poverty line. The system must devise an urgent means of bridging the gab between the elite/rich and the governed through empowernment by rural based, productive, but decent engagements.Oderemi, 08023501874 (sms only)
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