Vanguard (Lagos)
7 Août 2008
Abuja could soon descend to the ordinariness that permeates Nigeria. Our most modern city lacks basic emergency facilities. The collapse of the shopping mall last week confirms that administrators of Abuja equate its glitters with modernity.
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I agree completely with the views expressed in the editorial. I was born in Nigeria and I went to University in Nigeria before I moved to the United States some 14 years ago. I have watched in profound astonishment as the entity called Nigeria keeps deteriorating. Some people believe that Nigeria is developing because most people have cell phones or have access to one at the call centers. This is only one of the parameters that some apologists of so called Nigerian development have held on to. In sharp contrast to these beliefs Nigeria in my opinion is a dying nation. There is no future for Nigeria. A nation that accepts corruption as a way of life can never prosper. Nigeria is the world's fifth largest producer of crude oil yet we have nothing to show for it. We call ourself the giant of Africa, yet we cannot boost of basic infrastructure such as quality education, electricity, water, phone services, healthcare, roads etc etc We hear about countries like the United Arab Emirates notably Dhubai and Abu Dhabi. These countries are developing at astronomical proportions and can boost of the same standard of living as the rest of the developed world of North America, Western Europe and some parts of Asia. The mainstay of Dhubai and Abu Dhabi's economies is crude oil. The difference between them and Nigeria is that their ruling class is not as corrupt as those of Nigeria. Secondly, they believe in developing their countries as opposed to looting their country. Dhubai has become a top destination for people all over the world. The author of the editorial pointed out the annual budget allocated to NEMA yet NEMA has never been able to respond to any disaster. I am sure that it will be impossible to account for what those funds were used for. Nigeria has a culture of self aggrandizement. Political office is not for the public good, it is an avenue to get rich quick at the expense of the citizens. The most incomprehensible thing is that these sociopathic public officials visit civilized societies of the United States and Europe. In fact, most of their families live in these places. They are the first to brag about how things work in those places, yet they tend to forget that those societies did not get where they are today through wishful thinking. When are we going to realize that the future of Nigeria is in our hands. Unless we desist from this culture of gross corruption and looting the entity called Nigeria will die a natural death. Unless we start holding people accountable through punitive action for an acts of corruption we will not make any progress. Nigeria is the only place that public afficials know with certainty that they can get away with murder. Nigeria is the only country that does not have a national airline yet we call ourself the giant of Africa. The mortality rate across the board in Nigeria is the highest any where in the world. The ruling class is not ashamed of running to Europe or United States of America and now to a lesser extent South Africa for medical attention. Why can't we build up Nigeria for the good of all Nigerians. These psychophants in public office should realize that natural resources such as Crude oil are finite. What is going to happen when crude oil dries up. We need to ask ourselves these questions. These ruling class, public office holders, politicians and their cronies that have contributed or are still contributing to the death of Nigeria must not forget that they will answer to GOD on judgement day for the deaths of so many poor people that were denied any opportunity due to their actions. They can revel in their materialism, but the day of reckoning is coming.