It's very sad that Nigeria government has failed to unlock the secret that could lift its population out of poverty. It's only interested in the next election-'bribe & bullet'. The country must be prepared to address the interconnectedness of trust, governance, economic development and growth. We must be willing to discard routine political rhetorics and embrace the reality- invest in human capital, and key infrastructure without political bias and favouritism, instead of white elephant projects that do not add value to improving living standards. In changing times, the 19th century ideology of exploitation and domination is no longer acceptable. A dysfunctional political system that discriminates- bogus, expensive, wasteful and dictatorial does not drive development. The country is facing steady deterioration, fracturing, fragmentation, democratic governance is now threatened and the political climate does not encourage investment, 'investment should be encouraged, not repressed', it's impossible to attract investment in a political environment of fear and terror, this should be a huge cause for concern. Today the country is locked into stagnation and instability, low investment, low growth, insecurity, mass unemployment and low skills have increased, this is a huge dilemma. The political structure was designed to ensure that the country won't exist in the future. The imperfection in the system is the source of all the problems we're currently facing- cabals, grab your share phenomenon, corruption, etc.We must be willing to do something about it urgently. Unfortunately the government says restructuring is not the answer. The idea that anybody who disagrees is free to go to another country is worrisome and may not be the immediate solution to break out of this dilemma. We must reform the political structure and character of decision-making- new leadership, people of expertise and experience that will guarantee democratic governance-inclusiveness, openness, transparency and accountability to reposition the country to leverage global partnerships to lift the population out of poverty, that's the whole point. Reform/Restructuring is the essential ingridient needed now, it is "an integral part of economic and social renewal', so we must embrace it. A political system which discriminates against its own citizens, often using conquering techniques to surpress equal recognition of individual economic and political rights must be dismantled. A political system which promotes insecurity and instability, excludes millions from secure employment or causes social disintegration will never be efficient nor sustainable. In a 21st century, the focus of the country we're In should be innovative system/ leadership that will equip its young population to explore the risk and opportunities in the global economy, not just the next election. A system that uses the resources of the country to fund few people- the executive and the legislature, friends, families and associates, pay itself exorbitant salaries, unaccountable security votes, for the purposes of ''luxury and adornment", fund white elephant projects, the next election, etc should be restructured. The whole system needs overhauling. We will continue to spread the word about what works to secure human freedom, change comes only by speaking the truth to power. As the country's population booms we must restructure the monstrous political structure/system that exploits people and keep them in perpetual poverty. Restructuring is citizens right, not a choice. Restructuring is about pragmatic innovative solutions to the country's socio-economic and political challenges not politics or soverieignty. In a new world of opportunities, big businesses are looking for new investment destinations like Nigeria, but they need favourable political climate, shared pools of skilled labour, favourable policies that will reduce transaction costs. They offer great opportunities to lift ordinary people out of poverty. They come with scarce capital and technology into a country which creates employment and new income for local citizens. We must empower people not control. We must rediscover comparative advantage and competitiveness by granting greater economic and financial resources to states to enable them manage effectively the security and prosperity of its citizens and full integration into governance without undue interference of the centre. There's urgent need for new cities, key infrastructure, interconnectivity including sea ports, airhubs, marred by unnecessary politicization of public services. Today it's very evident that the current political system characterised by abuse of power threatens national security and prosperity so this is not the future as we're currently witnessing. The problem just stare at us in the face. We must do something about it, now is the time to address it. A political system characterised by 'enormous concentration of control over its wealth and activities in the hands of few elites', and anyone who disagrees is an enemy of the state will not eradicate poverty. No doubt restructuring the country is one sure way to make the centre unattractive and end unncessary agitation for which region will produce the next president. Restructuring is to stimulate efficiency, productivity and growth, neither disintegration nor seccession as peddled by gutter politicians. According to the World Bank; "people drive a nation's stability and economic growth, that is why investing in a healthy, educated and resilient population is key to competing effectively in the global economy". The country has great potentials but the current political system whose motive is control; to maintain security over various ethnic regions limits the country's potentials.This political system is inhuman, exploitative and unsustainable. The time has come to re-think Nigeria's unitary-centralised system of government to lift the citizens out of poverty. How does it sound ; "those who feel they have another country may choose to go". In an ethnically diverse society like Nigeria, this is absolutism, a wake up call for immediate action. The country we're In must rediscover itself and focus on addressing the UN Sustainable Development Goals- SDGs 1- No Poverty, 8-Decent work and Economic Growth, 10-Reduced Inequalities and 16-Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. In the words of Will Hutton; "The country does have a remarkable chance to transform itself and its institutions, and emerge as an economic supercompetitor with a socially cohesive society and a sophisticated democracy, I pray that the country takes it". We're very optimistic about the growth potentials of Africa's most populous country, oil economy, abundant human and material resources, a young and growing population. The dysfunctional political system which is the reason for persistence of poverty and stagnation must be restructured. This is a great challenge to Nigeria's political leaders. Find out more soon as we continue to analyse socio-economic and political changes that create persistence of poverty and stagnation in Nigeria.
Uche Okeke is a Statistician, Social Entrepreneur, the Founder of The LEAD Project Foundation. He has participated in Political Economy of Institutions and Development; Universiteit Leiden. He lives in London.
References:
1. Human Capital And Social Accountability, World Bank, October 30 2018.
2. John A. Hughes, etal, Sage Publications Ltd, London 1995; Understanding Classical Sociology; Max, Weber, Durkheim.
3. Pete Hoestra, WSJ June 16, 2016; Buhari is Nigeria's Problem Not Its Solution.
4. Professor , Sir, Paul Collier, Oxford University, 2017; From Poverty to Prosperity: Understanding Economic Development.
4. Professor Richard Griffiths; Political Economy of Institutions and Development; Universiteit Leiden.
5.Peter Jay, London 2000; Road To Riches or The Wealth of Man.
6. Russell Brand, Century, London 2014; Revolution.
7.Trenna Cormack, 2007; Be The Change.
8. Uche Okeke; London , 27 March 2018; Nigeria's Democracy And Its Crisis Deliberate, Avoidable- 'Bribe & Bullet'. What Can Be Done About It.
9. Uche Okeke, London 4 September 2018 ; The Hard Truth About Restructuring Nigeria.
10.Will Hutton, London,1995; The State We're In.
Read More:
1.State Failure in Nigeria Should Be A Huge Cause For Concern:
http://www.theleadprojectfoundation.com/2018/10/state-failure-in-nigeria-should-be-huge.html
2. Governance in Nigeria; Exploitation & Domination:
http://www.theleadprojectfoundation.com/2018/10/governance-in-nigeria-exploitation-and.html
3. #AtikulatedObi Provides The Answer To The National Predicament-'Governance & Economic Development: http://www.theleadprojectfoundation.com/2018/10/atikulatedobi-provides-answer-to-our.html
4 #AtikulatedObi Will Fill The Gap Created By Excesses of Totalitarian Rule in Nigeria
http://www.theleadprojectfoundation.com/2018/10/atikulatedobi-will-fill-gap-created-by.html.
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