For the past three weeks, I have been on a visit to Nigeria, taking in the sight and sound of this great nation which, in spite of the multi-dimensional challenge it faces, is destined for greatness and I don’t say that glibly. Nigeria is a country that is destined to do big things and become a major player in international politics in the very near future, and those who are believers will reap the benefit bountifully.
Those who sneer at it from several thousands miles away and ascribe to it all the negative and unsanitized definitions will miss out of the new nation of vibrant people that is fast emerging and that is where the main essence of my column today is centered around.
For too long, those of us in the Diaspora have dismissed Nigeria as a country that has negated the essence of its founding and sacrificed the hopes of its citizenry, and thus have severed the chord of its social contract. For too long, we in the Diaspora have sneered at Nigeria, and dismissed every baby steps it has taken to reclaim the essence of its founding. We have criticized her for not having some of the basic things that we in the west take for granted; we have written less than flattering stories about these challenges and made the country appear unattractive and less than appealing. We have washed our dirty linens in the public and where other societies put their best face forward, we always amplify those that deface our collective pride and élan.
I don’t want to be mistaken, we sure do have our challenges- no doubt about that, but as a political scientist and one whose twin areas of concentration while finishing my masters degree was in comparative politics and international relations, I do have a very solid understanding of the evolution of nation states, especially the BRIC ones-Brazil, Russia, India and China and how they moved form third world status to what is now called the BRIC states. One key element defines those countries evolution from subsistence levels of development to economic giants they are today: their Diasporan citizens were active partners in their developmental efforts
Brazil only a few years ago, experienced the same developmental challenges that we currently are facing. It was essentially a third world country that had been ruled by a succession of military dictators with severe human rights record. The people had been indoctrinated into believing in the strong man rule and had come to accept such as the new norm.
A return to democratic rule in the late 80s and the building of strong institutions which to the credit of the military, was a primary focus enabled the South American country to galvanize its populace soon after the military returned to barracks and today, Brazil is an emerging economic power house. Most of the catalyst for its growth has been its Diasporan population.
Less than 30 years ago, India was seen as an exotic land with exotic people---or as a writer in the New York Times had once described it as a ‘land of snake charmers. Today, India is the out-sourcing capital of the world and its economy is heating up, with a strong middle class. Same growth pattern applies to China which shortly after the death of Mao-Tse Tung, under the visionary leadership of Den Xiaoping, had turned the once agrarian society into an industrial hub which today has made it the world’s second largest economy. A key component that of that growth, like the Indian experience was its Diasporan population, who had bought into the new China that was emerging and brought its expertise garnered over the years all over the western world to help move the nation forward. China then lacked modern infrastructure and the streets of Beijing were filled with bicycles. Today, the streets are filled with the most current automobiles known to man.
Nigeria, from what I have seen in the last three weeks, given its population, the vibrancy of its people, the capacity to thrive in the face of mounting challenges and a spirit that does not see government as the source of its happiness and growth is certainly on the right trajectory to become a major economic power in the foreseeable future.
This is why I am advising our Diasporan community not to continue to see the country from the prism of a society that has cut of the bond of its social contract. The Nigerian Gilded Age is alive and well and is thriving and those who are in it will be the heirs of the old money that like the American gilded age of the late 19th Century, still dominate the American socio-political experience. Those who rubbish it and darkened its vibrancy with all kinds of negativity will regret tacking that path.
In three weeks here, I saw young men like Ehi Braimah- the former journalist who owns the world class hotel called Adna located at 28 Ladipo Bateye Street live the emerging Nigerian dream. I saw young men and women in Abuja, Lagos and Uyo utilize the creative talents to create enterprises which have brought them wealth and happiness. At restaurants, bars and clubs, I saw young people being enveloped by the hopes of what is to come as they celebrate what they have already seen and conquer. I saw Nigerians whose only desire and dream is to see good governance and a sense of national security, unity in diversity take root in the country.
I saw a country on the move and I decided I am coming back to be a part of this emerging nation. Having lived the American dream, I think it’s about time I lived the Nigerian dream! And so, my fellow Diasporans, even though we have been welcomed and assimilated the culture and social ethos of the countries we live in, don’t forget home-a lot is happening and you will regret if you, by lack of information or jaundiced opinion had cut yourself from the boom that is occurring now in Nigeria. Don’t buy all the stories about a Hobbesian state of nature kind of existence that has been over flogged in certain sections of the media, it is not that bad. Things are looking up in Nigeria, and you must be a part of the upward transformation or you will be looked down by some of your colleagues who threw in their creative hats in the socio-political ring and won huge economic battles in the process. Just a little advice to y’all.
Night when PDP and ACN came together to celebrate performance
Last Saturday, I attended The Sun Newspaper Awards where notable Nigerians were rewarded for the value they have added to humanity. The award was a classy affair and was attended by notable individuals form all walks of life. The highlight of the event was the conferment of the Man of the Year Award on Governor Godswill Akpabio-the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State. Amidst pomp and pageantry, and musical performances by the American 80s R&B group-Midnight Stars, whose rendition of their classic hits such as “Am Curious” “Wet my Whistle” and a great show by Tuface Idibia, Governor Akpabio was ushered onto the stage, where he was given the award of “The Man of the Year” by the Managing Director of the newspaper, Mr. Tony Onyima.
What struck me most, was the assemblage of politicians of different ideological stripes and hues on stage to help with the investiture but who were united by one unvarnished fact: performance and why it matters in our evolving democratic process, On the stage, were two ACN chieftains-Governor Adams Oshiomole of Edo state and Ex-Governor Segun Osoba of Ogun State. Trading ideological banters the ‘Comrade” Governor as Adams Oshiomole is widely known commended Governor Akpabio for bringing uncommon transformation to his state. The same sentiments were expressed by Ex-Governor Osoba. Such display of non-partisanship is needed in our democracy, which some people have reduced to blood sport. Seeing opposition governors commend a colleague from another party based on proven performance I believe can only help lessen the zero-sum tendencies that has defined our democracy so far. Congratulations Governor Akpabio for the award!
Long Lost friends reunited!
Having been out of the country for a long time, and not having the time toattend some social events during my regular trips to Nigeria in the past years, made it impossible for me to reconnect with my ex- friends. The above award ceremony provided the platform for me to reconnect with many of my friends whom I had lost contact with. It was good to see my brother-Leo Stan Ekeh- the genius behind Zinnox Computers. It was refreshing seeing him, and remembering the dreams he had to change the face of computing and IT industry in this country, back in those days at his Oregun office of what used to be TASK SYSTEMS. I am very proud of my brother, Stan’s success and how he has inspired other Nigerians to dream and think big.
I also ran into my ex friend and fellow journalist-Danladi Bako whom I last saw about twenty years ago, my big brother-Isong Akpabio, formerly the corporate honcho at Mobil Producing and we reminiscenced the good old days both in Lagos and in my home town area-Eket, Bisi Olatilo, Patrick Doyle, Mayor Akinpelu, Segun Arinze, dozens of other colleagues whose only contact they had with me, prior to that event, was through this page and my newspaper-The Diasporan Star in New York. It was nice seeing everyone.
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