With the nagging reality of economic
recession, it is quite unlikely that the drums would be rolled out to
celebrate Nigeria’s 56th anniversary on Saturday. Without a doubt, these
are hard times for our dear nation. The signs are, indeed, not
palatable. There is hunger in the land. Of course, once hunger
establishes its foothold in any place, anger is bound to surface. Thus,
there is hunger-induced anger in the land. At the home front, husbands
and wives are increasingly getting mad at each other. Palpable tension
is everywhere. At the slightest provocation, people easily flare up.
Domestic violence is on the increase. At major newspaper stands across
the country, members of the “Free Readers Association” engage in
animated squabbles that often lead to free for all. That hunger has
given rise to anger in the land is, thus, not an understatement.
Characteristically, frenzy prayers are
being offered across various religious centres in the country. Mission:
For our nation to be free from its many troubles.
“Oh God, please put an end to the troubles of our nation” has now become a major prayer point in different worship
centres. Since nothing is impossible
with the Almighty God, Nigerians are, understandably, knocking on the
gates of the Most High for an end to the nation’s many woes.
But then, as our nation turns 56, my
wish and prayer for the nation differ quite sharply from that of my
other compatriots. At 56, my wish for Nigeria is for her troubles to
multiply; for her to be embroiled in tougher challenges and battles. My
wish is for the country to be entangled in additional complicated
circumstances, issues and problems. Before one is accused of all sorts,
let me affirm that my stance in this respect stems from a patriotic
standpoint that is stimulated by the stark reality that without
troubles, difficulties, challenges and complicated stuffs, no
individual, nation, or society could really make the needed head start.
Troubles, fierce challenges and perils are the major ingredients
required to attain greatness.
In 1964, foremost social activist and
educationist, Tai Solarin (1922-1994), wrote a controversial article
titled, “May Your Road Be Rough”. At the beginning of the contentious
piece, Solarin wrote: “I am not cursing you; I am wishing you what I
wish myself every year. I therefore repeat, may you have a hard time
this year; may there be plenty of troubles for you this year! If you are
not so sure what you should say back, why not just say, ‘Same to you’? I
ask for no more”.
While trying to clarify his stand on the
subject, Solarin wrote: “When my sisters and I were young and we slept
on our small mats round our mother, she always woke up at 6a.m. for
morning prayers. She always said prayers on our behalf but always ended
with something like this: ‘May we not enter into any dangers or get into
any difficulties this day.’ It took me almost thirty years to dislodge
the canker-worm in our mother’s sentiments. I found, by hard experience,
that all that is noble and laudable was to be achieved only through
difficulties and trials and tears and dangers. There are no other
roads.”
Though many people misinterpreted
Solarin’s prayer as a curse, but the main intent is to bring to the fore
the intricate relationship between the bumpy roads of life and success.
The bottom line is that success is not achieved on a platter of gold.
It comes through continuous struggles and battles on the turbulent
waters of life. In Solarin’s words, life, if it is going to be abundant,
must have plenty of hills and valleys. It must have plenty of sunshine
and rough weather. It must be rich in obfuscation and perspicacity. It
must be packed with days of danger and of apprehension.
At 56, it will not be far from the truth
if one concludes that Nigeria remains a crawling toddler. This is
largely because we have always preferred the easy route to greatness.
Our Independence was more or less got on a platter of gold. As if that
was not enough, we suddenly struck oil. Thus, began a life of misplaced
allure and grandeur. At the height of our nation’s stupendous oil
wealth, a former Head of State was quoted to have said that: “Money is
not Nigeria’s problem but how to spend it”. Thus, we virtually
squandered our oil wealth. Today, there is trouble in the global oil
market.
Thus, unlike what the rookie Head of
State had affirmed, money has now become our nation’s problem. Most
states cannot pay salaries. The Federal Government cannot fund its
budget. Companies are downsizing. From all indications, trouble is here.
Yet, at 56, trouble and more troubles are what we actually need to get
our act together. Most of the developed world democracies thrive under
difficult situations and conditions. Ours cannot not be an exception.
Current trouble times, if well-managed,
could, indeed, be a blessing in disguise. The lull in the international
price of oil could be an opportunity for us to eventually focus on the
non-oil sector upon which our fore fathers built the nation’s
prosperity. Now that we are groaning under severe economic burden is the
exact time to pay adequate attention to other sectors where unlimited
opportunities for job and wealth creation as well as accelerated
economic and industrial growth abound.
We could take a cue from the nation of
Israel which turned a huge geographical adversity into gains to become a
renowned global agro-economy. We could also draw huge lessons from
China which bounced back from a great famine that took millions of lives
between 1958 and 1961 to become the world numero uno in food
production. The Singaporean model as illustrated by the late pioneer
Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew, has equally shown us that bumpy roads are
crucial necessities for national rebirth.
Going back to Solarin’s postulation,
life will be worthless and unchallenging without rough roads. It is the
rough paths of life that provide the desirable impetus for greatness.
Therefore, at 56, here is wishing Nigeria many rough roads.
God bless Nigeria.
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