By Arch. Kabir Ibrahim.
Nigeria has abundant mineral resources,high human capital,large cultivable and irrigable land as well as an array of talented people just like Brazil,China and India to mention afew success stories.
These countries were in similar circumstances not too long ago but it is very clear that they are now FIRST WORLD Countries by looking inwards and harnessing their resources.
Nigeria can do the same provided that we collectively work at it by ensuring good governance and very little tolerance for corruption.
Our oil should be looked upon as a bonus to help develop other resources and not a curse to unleash underdevelopment in the land.
Prior to 1970 Nigeria’s economy was on its way to bringing about prosperity to the majority of our people but as soon as oil became available in commercial quantities Nigeria and Nigerians became complacent which actually led to loss of focus for honest hardwork and instead brought about a very high level of corruption.
It is now dawning on us to wake up and make Nigeria livable against very difficult threat factors like high rate of unemployment, general poverty, high level of insecurity, climate change,nauseating level of corruption and ineptitude.
Giving out palliatives and support for farming activities, fighting insecurity, improving infrastructure and doing so many lofty things will definitely help to ameliorate the situation somewhat but the biggest threat factor of “zero tolerance for corruption” necessary to ennoble sustainable National Development requires an IRON HAND!.
To begin to confront corruption, Nigerians must elect or appoint its leaders based on three parameters namely:1.COMPETENCE, HARD-WORK and INTEGRITY.
These attributes are vital for good governance as they consolidate MERITOCRACY which is the foundation of SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT any where in the WORLD!.
To close my abridged thesis,I would like all Nigerians to appraise and reappraise all the efforts by the government at giving out palliatives,support windows for Agriculture, SMEs, Social safety Nets, efforts on Power, Aviation, Maritime, Roads and other infrastructure,health and the economy etc.
by all Administrations including the APC administration from 1999 to date and come out with any good reason or reasons for the national protests apart from lack of TRANSPARENCY and CORRUPTION on the part of those saddled with the implementation of all the programs!.
We must severely punish all those found misappropriating ,stealing or mismanaging resources entrusted to them for National Development.
If this is done transparently we will exit poverty and get into sustainable prosperity like other so-called FIRST WORLD countries,God willing.
Arc Kabir Ibrahim FNIA, National President, All Farmers Association of Nigeria(AFAN), President NABG(Nigeria Agribusiness Group), Chairman BOT, NAFN( National Agricultural Foundation of Nigeria).
