Demo-crazy Nigeriana -By Tony Osakpamwan Agbons

A few months ago, precisely in December 2022, I wrote an opinion piece titled, ‘The Land of Comedus’. It was a satire on the penchant of the Nigerian state to bastardise global best practices at the speed of light. Nigeria currently wears the badge of a land where ‘anything goes’ and we pride ourselves (unfortunately) with the toga of ‘it is the Nigerian factor’.  As a country, key sectors have been mutilated and interred under the heap of ethnicity, religion, greed, corruption, mediocrity, and state capture by a few demonic political `ruining crass` (ruling class supposedly).

Take a walk down memory lane with me dear reader and name one sector in the Nigeria Project that is working. Yes, please take a moment to think and reflect. The Education, Health, Agriculture, Transportation, Aviation, Power, Housing, Technology, Sports and other critical sectors are lying in coma. Nigeria has not been able to fix electricity. Citizens have no choice than to procure Generators of all shapes and sizes to get electricity. They end up spending stupendous financial resources on petrol/diesel to power their homes and businesses. We have not fixed our healthcare system either. Nigeria has one of the lowest life expectancy in Africa. It is 55 years and lower than our neighbours, Niger, and Benin Republic who both are 63 years. Ghana, South Africa have 65 years while Egypt is 72 years. All these failures despite our vast natural endowment is a huge shame. Yet, we pride ourselves as Giant of Africa. What a celebration of acute failure!

It is very sad that simple things that work well like A, B, C, D in other countries suddenly become complicated like Further Mathematics in Nigeria. The Nigeria state has a way of self-destruct never seen in the history of mankind. I will give a few scenarios and example. In 1977, we decided to copy the example of the British in having a national, impartial, non-partisan television station like the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation). We named ours the Nigeria Television, NTV and later the Nigeria Television Authority, NTA. Ask yourself, is the NTA up to scratch today? Are they doing what they are supposed to do? No! Unlike the BBC who stayed to their purpose and waxing strong till date, the NTA has become a mouthpiece of AGIP (Any Government in Power) in Nigeria. The TV station remains analogue, substandard, and unable to compete with other TV stations. Nigerians know where to get truth and never tune in to NTA. Take a bow Arise TV and Channels TV.

Move on to Aviation. Nigeria had a national carrier – The Nigeria Airways. It was founded in 1958 and was the best airline in Africa and the Middle East. Few days ago, there was a viral video on the social media outlet, TikTok showing one of Nigeria Airways 747-200 aircraft touching down at London Heathrow Airport in 1980. Ask me what happened to Nigeria Airways. Again `Nigeria happened` to it. The Airline was killed, buried and since decayed. What happened to the Nigeria Railway Corporation? It was dealt a fatal blow by the Nigeria system. The recent window dressing and procurement of locomotives we call trains is a far cry of where we ought to be by now.

Okay, we take a walk to the Educational sector. How is the market? Our public University system is/has collapsed at all levels – primary, secondary, and tertiary.  The latter in particular is beset with incessant strike actions. The most recent being the eight months industrial action embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU. Reason – unwillingness of the Federal Government to abide by agreements reached with the Union over the years. Like others before it, the current government treated the strike action with levity, and nothing was done. Eventually the University teachers were bullied back to the classroom by a court action. Facilities in most Nigeria universities are on the decline, and quality receding. In the 1970s to late 1990s, we had foreign (International) students coming to study in Nigeria Universities. University hostels in the 70s and 80s were habitable and beautiful. Students had well stocked libraries and even food canteens were top-notch. University students were even paid stipends and allowances as they study. What a good life that was! As a young undergraduate in the 1990s at the prestigious University of Benin, I was privileged to have Ghanaians, Sierra Leoneans, and Kenyans and other nationalities as school mates. However, fast-forward to today, our Universities are no more than `glorified` secondary schools. Not as a result of the capacity or expertise of the personnel but due to the infrastructural decay. The same applies to public primary and secondary education. Today, it is becoming a taboo for parents/guardians to send their children/wards to public schools. Private schools (primary, secondary, tertiary) are now a booming business. Education is now a luxury beyond the reach of the average Nigerian.  The sad commentary is that the demonic political `ruining crass` send their children to schools in the United States of America, United Kingdom, Canada et al.  Do they really care about us? Of course, they don`t. Again, Nigeria happened to us.

We stroll to the Power sector – Electricity. Nigeria has failed woefully to solve this basic and all important elixir of economic development. No nation can advance without Power. It is the basis of prosperity in every part of the world. Again, despite trillions of naira pumped into the sector, it is darkness instead of light. Once again, Nigeria happened to it. We move gingerly to the `King of All` – Healthcare sector. This is the numero uno sector. Like the others, it is in shambles. The demonic political `ruining crass` run abroad for their Medicare while ordinary citizens wallow in pains. The President and other political figures, their families and proxies travel to hospitals in the UK, USA, Europe, Asia, and Middle East. Why would they bother to fix healthcare at home when they can easily access healthcare abroad? Again, Nigeria happened, and the list goes on.

Alas, the last hope was Democracy. Yes, democracy. We began the journey in 1999 having tried unsuccessfully between 1960 -1966 and 1979 and 1983. We adopted the American- styled Presidential system of Government after failing with the British-styled Parliamentary model. Just like many other things in Nigeria, the `ruining crass` has/is making mockery of democracy. How else do we explain the unitary system that is practiced in Nigeria under a Federation? What indeed is Federal about our Federal system? Nigeria took a system that is serving the Americans so well and bastardise it. To worsen the already parlous situation, our Demo-crazy is not evolving. Not with the charade that happened on Saturday 25^th February 2023.

An election that was touted to be the best ever in the history of Nigeria was bastardised. The last ounce of oxygen pumping the `heart of Nigeria` is ebbing away. All thanks to the connivance of INEC (Independent National Electoral Commission) and the political `ruining crass`. The BVAS (Bimodal Voters Accreditation System and IREV (INEC Result Viewing Portal) technology that was brought in to correct the mistakes of the past was abandoned for the most significant aspect of the February 25^th election.  Nigerians are still in shock as to why INEC could not electronically transmit (in real time) the results of the Presidential election from polling units. This glitch allowed the `ruining crass` to dip their `demonic fingers` to manipulate and manufacture figures for the presidential election. Once more, Nigeria happened. Yes, Nigeria happened and the thin thread of trust binding the nexus of Nigeria is on the verge of snapping. The regular insanity and impunity of the `ruining crass` is blaring its horns and as it stands, the Nigerian Judiciary is the final hope of the citizens of the republic. In the final analysis, this piece is just my informed opinion on `Demo-crazy Nigeriana`. It does not support `vawulence` and if peradventure you don`t agree, you can go to court!

Dr Agbons is Lead of the Institute of Leadership and Good Governance @www.twin2.org