With a population of over two hundred million people, Nigeria could fit into the description of an overpopulated country.
This is, however, contestable as the nation is endowed with a sustainable landmass and adequate resources to meet the needs of the entire population.
Sixty years have passed and the hopes and aspirations of the masses are yet to be significantly realized
There is no constant power supply in many parts of the country. We have just a few model educational institutions and state-of-the-art medical facilities. No proactive security system. Among several other inadequacies.
The basic facilities that make life more meaningful in more developed countries are not working optimally in Nigeria.
So what could be the reason for this?
While it is true that the years of military rule stagnated us as a country, I strongly hold the view that the major problem in contemporary Nigeria is politics.
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Since May 29, 1999, we have been ruled by democratically elected leaders not only at the Federal and state levels but also at the local government level. Yet, the needed development remains a dream.
This is arguably so because the average Nigerian politician only thinks of elections. The workable plan he has is how to win an election. And when he is in office, he thinks of how to be reelected, or how to get his stooge to succeed him at the end of his administration.
The average Nigerian politician will skip meals, stand for hours, campaign under the rain, be beaten by the ferocious sun, travel seas, endure sleep, and pass through immeasurable stress just to attain electoral victory.
However, he is unwilling to make similar sacrifices and perform, at least, up to par when he is elected.
Only few politicians have a good plan for the people. Many don’t have and don’t bother to have any blueprint that will reduce the poverty rate and also safeguard the lives and property of citizens.
The average Nigerian politician, after his inauguration, spends about a year making appointments and going for a thank-you tour to those who voted for him.
He uses the second year to attract middling projects that will not make much impact. At the same time, he gets himself decorated with myriads of awards from notable organizations to be regarded as a worthy, performing leader.
He begins to see calls and messages of most persons as disturbances. He is undisturbed because he doesn’t need them since elections are still far.
He does not truly care about youth development and empowerment. Why? Because he knows the youth will better serve his purpose if they are unfocused, debauched, and helpless.
He will pretend to accommodate people with laudable ideas that will add value to his people, especially in the form of proposals, but he will surely dump such white papers in the trash can.
After two years in office, he starts preparing for another election. He no longer has time to keep executing the mediocre projects he has endeavoured to bring to his people.
He then starts returning calls and responding to messages. He becomes a listening leader who is largely reachable. He is willing to attend all ceremonies organised by those he sees as being politically relevant.
He starts dishing out press statements on both matters of great and less concern, just to be loved and be on the news daily.
He is ready to visit even an infant if he realizes that the child has a magic wand for him to remain in power. He will gladly accommodate pastors, prophets, imams, and all political clairvoyants that will see the victory he yearns for.
All that matters to the average Nigerian politician is winning elections and not necessarily how to end the plight of the average citizen. My contention is that: until the bulk of our political leaders start drafting a workable blueprint that will better the lots of the masses, and match it with sincere efforts, Nigeria may not develop rapidly as we all desire.
