16th January, 2019
By Oluwagbenga Oyebanji
The 1950’s brought a new wave of demands to Africa; countries started demanding their independence from their colonial masters. They wanted their destinies in their own hands, though the demands were premature due to low human development capacity, the colonial masters dragged in the area of human development. When Britain was leaving Nigeria, there was only a university with over 60 years of colonial occupation by the British, Nigeria had over 40 million in population with 70% mainly youths.
There are two factors that shape decision making in Nigeria, religion and tribe. Most of the conflicts in Africa are premise on these two issues. The colonial masters handed over to tribal extremists and religious bigots, those that believed there tribes are superior to the country. The 60’s brought another challenge to Africa, coups-d’état caused by greedy politicians and highly inexperience young military officers. The whole African continent was ravaged by conflicts and tensions by politicians and leaders of the major tribes, wars spreading like a wild fire through the cardinals of the continent, North, East, West, and south, Algeria, Nigeria, Congo, and not forgetting apartheid in South-Africa.
Political tensions took over the continent, Nigeria experienced a coup-d’état in 1966 and a counter coup that led to the Biafra war in 1967 that lasted for 30 months to 1970. The war could be avoided but the military men felt they were acting nationalistic. If we took Nigeria as a case study, we could understand how to solve Africa’s problems, not all but major problems. Culturally most Nigerians are wired through tribe and religion, these are what the politicians are using to hold firm grip unto power. The new generation of Nigerian youths care less about how they are governed but are interested more in how they can get the piece the pie, corrupt politicians flaunting wealth that could not be accounted for, they are legitimized by the traditional institutions through coronation of chieftaincy titles which is a big deal in Nigeria’s culture.
The most populous country in Africa, Nigeria has to get democracy right. The influence of democracy in Nigeria is strong on other African countries which should not be underestimated; the success will have a strong impact on the continent. Democracy came to Africa through their colonial occupants, the cultures were not contextualize, institutions were not designed based on culture, all the socio- economic problems in Africa could be traced back to colonialism, not that colonialism didn’t have its merits, but the demerits became indelible in the affairs of the states.
Leadership problems confronting Nigeria is like a virus on other Africa countries. What do we do to get out of these problems? Firstly, leadership as a curriculum must be taught in all the educational centers from primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions. Secondly, our institutions are built based on personality, we need reforms that are structure based, which is based on information and data. Thirdly, we need an electoral reform which ensures that INEC is truly independent, that every person’s vote count. Also INEC must include Nigerians’ in diaspora which is where virtual voting comes in, and a strong security configured digital infrastructure to prevent against cyber-crimes. Fourthly, devolution of power and true fiscal federalism that ensures that all arms of our democratic institutions are truly independent, legislative, executive and judiciary.
If these four ideas are considered promptly, Nigeria’s economy will fall into place, it won’t be long before we take our place in the successful comity of nations. Nigeria is blessed with the most vibrant youthful population in the continent, what we lack is an emotional bandwidth with the youths. I have never doubted the ability of Nigerian youths, the swagger, confidence, and tenacity is unparalleled in the continent. Nigeria will build the best democracy in the continent if our youths were integrated in the policy framework. The future of Africa is here in Nigeria, “The labor of our heroes’ past shall never be in vain.” God bless Nigeria.
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