Of the rulers that have ruled Nigeria since 1960, the north has the highest percentage yet that region of the country has the highest illiteracy level. It can also be argued that it is the least developed socio-economically and infrastructure wise.
Former president Olusegun Obasanjo who is from the south-west ruled this country for a total of eleven years both as a military ruler and a civilian president, yet he didn’t complete the repair (is it rehabilitation, upgrade or expansion? I have lost count of the various terminologies used by different government) of the Lagos-Ibadan express way neither is Lagos-Abeokuta express through Sango-Ota a pretty site. He lives at the hilltop mansion in Abeokuta. The Apapa-Osodi road, the only road connecting the nation’s premier and busiest port to other parts of Nigeria did not also tangibly benefit from these eleven years. Today, that road is a shame, a national embarrassment besieged with mostly irresponsible truck drivers whose stubbornness and disposition to parking instruction is glaringly indicative of the selective hypocrisy and lameness of the federal government in enforcing laws. I know this because if former governor Fashola of Lagos state could clear the dreaded, ‘no-go’ Osodi stresslessly then the supposed federal authority that cannot put sanity on that road is but a sham.
Former president Musa Yar’Adua is from the North yet he effectively handled the ‘Niger-Delta problem’ of militancy through the amnesty program.
Mallam Nasir El-Rufai was not the ‘son of the soil’ when he became the minister for Federal Capital Territory yet his strides ensured that the original master plan of FCT was not derailed.
The dream team that won the 1996 Olympics gold in Atlanta consists more of players from the south yet Nigeria got the glory and not just the individual players. Bonfere Jo assembled the best based on skills. He did not attempt to ethnically balance the team.
The much noise and argument albeit mostly unnecessary and substance-lacking about the appointments made so far by President Muhammadu Buhari is a pointer to the fact that most Nigerians still believe that having someone from their side of the divide (that divide is usually based on ethnicity but sometimes on social or political class) guarantees a better life. Although I think the selfish undertone is the believe that this gives one a better chance to share in the national cake. Unfortunately, the ‘baba’ from Daura is here now and he will most likely take away the proverbial national cake and replace it with national responsibility.
If the preceding examples do not disabuse our minds that ethnicity rather than meritocracy should be the basis of political appointments, then it is safe to say that we are a people hopelessly myopic and perpetually blinded by ethnically motivated sentiments what have for long stunted our development as a nation.
What Nigeria needs most right now is not some grandstanding argument about federal character but to start building strong and corruption-immune institutions with clearly defined operational framework. When this is done, it will ensure that regardless of where an elected official or a political appointee is from, he is confined and constrained to work within the operational framework thrust upon him by the strong institution of public service that has been built. For example, if I were the head of immigration or customs, no matter how much I like to emancipate the people from my beloved Iwo in Osun state, it will be impossible to fill the immigration or customs with my kinsmen because the transparent recruitment process which will be an offshoot of a strong institution will vigorously prevent me from arbitrarily employing my Iwo ‘peeps’.
For those not yet convinced about my argument, consider this; is the local government councilor not from among his own people? How many borehole has he sunk? Is the local government chairman not from his own people as well? How many blocks of classrooms or grade C roads has he constructed? The federal lawmakers and senators, are they not representing their people? how much have they impacted their constituencies? These categories are the closest to the people who also interestingly come directly from ‘their own’ people yet their impact is hardly ever felt. It is thus surprising that Nigerians still believe that ethnically balanced appointments are important in moving the nation forward. This is the reason why I took the liberty to donate for free a tagline to the Federal Character Commission.
Still not convinced that meritocracy is the way forward for Nigeria? Then India to the rescue, a mind transplant is urgently needed by this reader.
Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija
