I recently visited Toronto in Canada (not to collect certificate like some politicians that made the city popular in Nigeria). On our way from the airport, I engaged my host in a discussion about the country in general. These are some of the insights:

First was the deliberate plan of the Canadian government to discourage excessive wealth acquisition. How is it done? I probed. Due to the transparency in the system, all monies earned are traceable. Therefore, the more money you make, the more the tax you pay. This made a lot of sense to me. Wealth can easily be spread and too much affluence will not reside with few as we have in Nigeria.

As each day progressed, I learnt new things. I discovered that their housing system was well structured; my host enlightened me on their mortgage system. One deposits about 30% of the house value with interest rate of not more than 5% with credit receivable after five years. What that means is that you could sell the house after five years and use the credit to buy a bigger house if one desires. To my chagrin, I discovered that cars are leased to buyers at interest free loan payable within 78 months.

I also learnt that people pay heavy tax but enjoy the value in the provisions of good road, free health care and education. Government pays for all students. There is legislation for students to attend schools within a geographical axis they reside. My host told me that, the choice of their children’s school informed where they live. The road network was superb. All roads are tarred to the inner streets. I was informed that routes are reconstructed if they observe too much traffic. Obedience to traffic law is sacrosanct as heavy penalties are paid or licence may be withdrawn. Water and electricity were working without any hitch.

Let me not talk about their tourism and farming. But you can Google Niagara Falls to have a feel of what tourism can do to a nation. On farming, we visited a family friend for barbecue dinner and guess what, the corn we ate were all fresh and sweet from the farm nearby. When we were going to the beach about two hours drive from town, I saw farm lands running into miles operated by professional resident farmers who live on the farm with all the good things of life. And I added a new word to my vocabulary. When we went to an eatery for lunch, I requested to use the gents or toilet, the guy was lost until I explained further. He said, you mean ‘washroom’? You don’t say you want to use the gents (for men) or ladies (for women).

The few days spent in Canada set me thinking about the real essence of leadership and why our own leaders don’t see all these when they travel or why they refuse to implement them in our nation.

On my way back to Nigeria, the problem started from the airport as the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) officials could not set bars for passengers to queue on a straight line. With the air conditioners not working, chaos started. Anyway, we grumbled our way through immigration and waited again endlessly for our baggage to roll out of the conveyor belt. The custom men too harassed what is left of the tolerance in some of us.

By the time I got to Lagos-Ibadan expressway, the road I left bad a few weeks ago had gone worse due to rain and usage. I thought the contract for this road was awarded? I asked myself. Couldn’t the contractor patch the bad portions and reduce traffic on this road? On entering my area, the roads were almost impassable. On getting home, there was no light, we had to start the generator to first pump water and enjoy electricity by polluting the environment. I was seriously depressed and felt like selling all I have acquired and relocate.

As I was reflecting on my predicament, my friend who accompanied me from the airport said  “ Agagu is dead”. Without much thought, two things about him flashed through my memory. What will Nigerians and people of Ondo State remember him for when he was minister for Power and Steel and governor?

Life truly is vanity. Agagu is gone but our President is still alive and can make the necessary change. This 2015 distraction is too much. It looks like a deliberate ploy for him to fail.  Obasanjo gave us GSM, Mr. President should give us light.

Remember, all you have is today. Tomorrow is in God’s hand.

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Read this article in the Leadership Newspapers

Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija.