Photo credit: Nairametrics
I’m proud to be a Nigerian. Indeed, I belong to the discerning few who see themselves first as Nigerians before seeing themselves as members of their respective ethnic groups.
However, I also believe that our richness in ethnicity, just like our teeming population, could be a source of strength if well managed.
The Yoruba language is rich for its proverbial sayings. One of them describes a festival, no matter how long, as a transient event. Of course, while the festival lasts, we will eat special delicacies, wear aso odun, festival clothes and even go on holidays in some instances.
The advent of crude oil could be termed a festival in the Nigerian situation. During the festival, we spent the petrodollars as if there was no tomorrow.
About the first project we undertook was the unnecessary civil war. I term it unnecessary for two reasons. We could have used the negotiation table more. Winston Churchill was right when he said, ‘It is better to jaw jaw than to war war’.
The second reason is an outgrowth of the first. Can we honestly say the issues that led to the civil war have been resolved?
We spent on salary increments. Udoji awards, Williams awards, etc. Those were the days of, ‘The problem of Nigeria is not money, it is how to spend it’.
We hosted the biggest cultural programme of blacks in the world, FESTAC. We also hosted the whole of Africa to the Second All Africa Games. Evidently, Nigeria was the destination to be at that time.
At a certain point in time, Africa was said to be the centrepiece of our foreign policy. We gave total support to Africans in Southern Africa who were ensnared in the evil apartheid policy.
We were even importing the so called essential commodities at a point in time. Incidentally, those things which we termed ‘essential’ could have been produced on our shores.
For most of these things, our leaders engaged in sleazy deals. In fact the sleazier the better.
But we hardly thought of some important things. Some of these are building institutions, life after oil, how to be self sufficient, etc.
We shall take on life after oil.
Crude oil, like most other mineral resources, has a shelf life. That is, there is a time when it will no longer be economical to invest on the oil well. In fact, certain countries had predicted that Nigerian oil would dry up at certain points in time. However, God had always been faithful to Nigeria. If one oil well dries up, we eventually discover oil in at least five spots.
But the Western world had been conducting several researches to find alternative sources of fuelling their machinery. Especially an alternative that would be environmentally friendly.
The irrational behaviour of members of the oil producing cartel, OPEC, did not help issues either. They knew as far as oil supply was concerned, they could always hold the developed world by the jugular.
And they often did!
Now, in less than two decades, the advanced world will be using non oil means to fuel their machinery. This of course, will be more than a big blow to the oil exporters.
In fact, it is better described as a kayo!
So, where does Nigeria stand with this development?
Don’t be surprised if I give a honest answer. And that answer is, I don’t know. But, I personally feel it could bring this country a lot of good tidings. When we know that the petrodollars are no longer there, we will find other things doing.
I see Nigeria going back to the land. We will go back to agriculture. Then, the various states will start prospecting for mineral resources. Incidentally, I hear there is no state in Nigeria which does not have, at least, one mineral resource. Tax evaders will certainly no longer have a field day. The tax collectors will be much more serious with their jobs.
I foresee the states stopping the lazy attitude of going cap in hand to Aso Rock, to beg for allocations. In any case, the government at the centre would hardly have enough, even for itself.
However, for now, we are yet to put our thinking caps on!
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