17 September 2010

By Bukhari Muhammed Bello Jega

The reform of any given economy must primarily, begin with the analysis and understanding of its people, because it is only the people that can reform an economy. An economy per se cannot reform the people. No wonder eight (8) years of former President Olusegun Obasanjo leadership and his Western neo-liberal reform programme failed to achieve it desires objectives; simply because the reform and its evolution in the first place is not only alien to Nigerians; but, it failed to take into cognizance of the peoples’ needs. And the end result of the whole fiasco was a monumental flogs; which endangered serious poverty, unemployment; underdevelopment, frustration and corruption; that have continue to eat deeply into the fabrics of the Nigeria society.

It will be recalled Chief Olusegun Obasanjo anchored his reform policy tagged “National Economic Empowerment Development Strategy” (NEEDS), which promise to achieve poverty reduction, 10% growth rate in agriculture, single digit inflation, job creation, exchange rate stability, and annual growth rate of at least 7% failed to deliver. The so-called reform policies not only halt the developmental process, but also open a window of opportunities for outright looting of the commonwealth of Nigerians; if the various probe panels’ investigations are anything to go by. The failure of the articulators of the NEEDS policy to include homegrown economic solutions was primarily the reasons for its failure. There is no way one can build a modern economy, when large segment of the population still rely on their traditional pattern of business and agricultural system.

Nigerians’ today are descanted with the various reforms that have taken placed over the years. Nigerians from all works of life are yearning for reform policies that will provide them with the basic needs of life like food, shelter, adequate, comprehensive, and affordable education, and healthcare for themselves and their children. Any economic reform policy that ignores this aspiration and pauperizes the people rather than empower them, is doom to fail before it take off. A reform policy  that look abroad not with a view to improving the skills of economically active population and carrying them along in the reform process but with a view a of running programmes and project down their throats that they cannot understand , appreciate and accept will never see the light of the day. This has been our problem since the foundation of Nigeria was laid in 1960.

Unfortunately late President, Alh Umar Yar'dua had a date with history, to reverse some of those obnoxious policies and recover our stolen wealth from the enemies of Nigeria; but, indecision and ill health seriously crippled such desires of national recovery. In addition, the current government must discard the ruminants of Obosanjo economic policy been disguise as Vision 20:20:20. There is nothing wrong with Nigeria aspiring to join the club of 20 biggest economies in the world; but the question many are asking, how can we join the club of big boys when we are face with, high rate of poverty, unemployment, lack of basic infrastructure and a very weak industrial based; with a dilapidated energy sector which is the engine of growth and development. I believe we should not be in a rush to overblown our triumph while our internal contradiction are still there facing us squarely. A country, which is unable to developed the skills, knowledge of its people and utilized them effectively towards the development of its economy, can't made claim to joining the club of nations that have settled some basic domestic problems and have build a nation out of scarcity amidst environment challenges and international economic constraints. Such nations include China, India, Malaysia, Singapore, Islamic Republic of Iran, Venezuela, South Korea, Thailand etc. yet, these nations are not making noise like the way we seem to be doing; while they continue to build and strive to developed and provide the fundamental needs of their country men and women.   

Development is not neutral; it involves the integrations of various strata of Nigerian society. Those who are advocating for vision 2020 are either blind to the realities at hand or mischievous bands of opportunists who are using slogans to fating their pockets and stomach. The policies of neo-liberalists that Nigerian government seems to be implementing had failed before to make this nation great (if the experience of SAP is anything to go by)and will continue to failed and waste our precious time and energy; as long as such policies are not articulated on the basis of tackling the needs and expectations of Nigerians. These neo-con or economic hit men and women, in our national space must realize that the people must be carry along in this journey. The role of peasants, in transforming China and Vietnam cannot be romanticized from the facts that, the people especially at the rural areas not only hold the key to any reform package; but, provide a guide for a people centered reforms base in the country. No meaningful development can take place if the development process depends on outside factors either for capital or expertise; instead of domestic realities.

It is evidence today, what the Nigerian people desires, is reforms of their basic needs; that support life and give them the confidence to control their destiny, what is live meant for; if man can not enjoy the basic needs of lives such as shelter, food, clothing, education, health care, potable and affordable drinking water, good motorable roads etc. these are basic for his survival and development. All these reform based on statistical antics and intellectual capitalist’s clientism by these neoliberal reforms minded elites/Nigerians; must pave way for the reform of the peoples’ basic needs of lives. The reforms of the peoples’ basic needs of lives, must be, propagated and invigorated by a spontaneously action with energies which is essentially indigenous; which will accommodate the rural area and build agricultural based economic transformation.

The Nigerian state under the leadership of President Goodluck Jonathan has a date with history to gives Nigerians the basic services that are required for them to move forward. His late Boss has started the act of providing the much need infrastructures in the country; it is his duties today, to make sure such project are not abandon by the contractors and ensures that accountability and transparency are fully enshrine in the system to stem the wave of hopelessness, frustration, poverty, underdevelopment that seem to stare the country in it very eyes and is igniting the flame of fire of discontentment and angers in the land. With the enormous resource both material and human; Nigeria has the historical role to developed; but we must not allow our difference to pull us backward; or the fear of failure or the desire to catch up with others to make us loose our vision for a better tomorrow; let patiently evolve a system that is indigenous in nature through trial and errors to build this great nation.

It is imperative to say that; both the leadership and followers have a role in this great leap forward for national rebirth; the leadership must show exemplary leadership; with the mindset of having the people as the centered themes of their reform policy. And the followers have the role of disciplining themselves for the challenges ahead with patient and resilient to build a nation that is ours. It is important to listening to the wise counseling of Frantz Fanon in his celebrated book “The Wretched of the Earth” when he advise leaders and people of Africa to brace up for the challenges of development; comrade argued that " Africa is noted for goods words and no so much for deeds to actualize the word. It is evident that we need to become actualizes rather speechmakers; let us stop giving excuses on why things cannot be done. Let get thing done, we have the studies, let us have the action. I believe this beautiful counseling touch directly to the heart of Nigerian problems and offer an insight into solutions to Nigerian situation; for it’s to attain sustainable development through the reform process that put the wishes and aspiration of the people first before any other thing. This is a faith that the presidents and the entire stakeholder involve in re-inventing a new Nigeria. Keep a date with history.

Bukhari Muhammed Bello Jega National Facilitator,Study Initiative for Leadership Discipline in Nigeria (SILDIN) ABUJA
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