The Lunacy of Prevarication: Governor Obiano’s $5M Vegetable Export To Europe And The Challenge Of Standing For Something -By Nwike Ojukwu

According to Webster’s Third New International Dictionary (Unabridged), to prevaricate is “to deviate from the truth.” The same dictionary defines truth as “sincerity in character, action, and speech.” Character is a distinctive quality or trait that is original and immutable: our signature identity that defines who we are. When one lacks character, we say the person lacks integrity. Somebody who prevaricates, therefore, is destitute of character. Proverbs 6:16-7 provides, “These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood.” A lying tongue means someone for whom lying comes naturally. These concepts have come under scrutiny particularly in Anambra state recently due to Governor Obiano’s claim that his state generated over $5M in exporting vegetables to Europe when in fact he knew it was false.

Now, since PMB came to power, Nigerians have fallen on hard times: the economy has been in deep recession or is it depression. Government workers have had to go without salaries, and our naira is going through progressive devaluation that is yet to hit bottom. The state governments are having difficulties paying salaries, not to mention providing services to the people. Governor Okorocha of Imo state proposed three working days a week to avert an economic crisis in his state, the first anywhere in the world. Smart state governments are finding creative ways to generate funds to meet their financial obligations. A worthy example is Governor Obiano of Anambra who demonstrated his ingenuity by exporting vegetables to Europe and earning $5M. What a commendable and noble idea! But the puzzle is that the farms that produced the vegetables exist in pictures and billboards and cannot be located anywhere in his state.

The logistics of exporting fresh cut vegetables is intricate due to its highly perishable propensity. Exporting vegetables require almost a seamless coordination and promptness, and an excellent shipping network, from the point of harvest to the ports of export, as well as technology for preserving the product, which we lack. It also requires functional and effective air cargo facilities. Our energy supply is anything but constant and if you have been to our ports lately, airports and seaports, you will discover that we lack infrastructure and expertise to engage in serious export enterprise. The Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) is lousy, and our Customs, and Excise is, for lack of a better phrase, a nightmare. Besides, we have never had a government that is pro-business: we are neurotic with petroleum exploitation to the detriment of other sectors of the economy. In the face of these practical realities, Obiano looked us with a straight face and declared that he exported vegetables from Anambra state to Europe. If he had said that his state exported yams and cassava to Europe, perhaps, we might believe him. But to declare that he exported vegetable worth that amount is beyond believable.

You know, there are lies that one could peddle, and the rest of us will overlook and simply walk away. But there are lies that defy common sense and logic because their chances of surviving scrutiny is zero, and this one is a classical illustration. In any event, the pertinent question, in my view, is why the governor should lie over such a thing. Well, my experience is that politicians lie for various reasons including, but not limited to, attracting cheap publicity, and securing votes in an election. This is not exclusive to Nigeria. In fact, it is said that you cannot be a good politician if you cannot lie. Governor Obiano, in my view, is living up to that creed.

Conversely, there is a moral perspective with respect to our dealings with our fellow human beings: we call it integrity. Integrity is being the same person at all times. It means being decent. It means being sincere in words and deeds. It means possessing moral character that is tried and true. It is the ability to rise above deprecation – what people might say; to declare what you know is the truth. This, unfortunately, is what is lacking in our politicians and leaders. Every aspect of our lives seeps with scurrilous disposition. For instance, PMB is trying to recover our stolen wealth, but from politicians outside his circle. His efforts lack integrity because of its selective bearing. All you need is to steal as much as you can, switch to APC and you will be safe and secure from the long arm of the EFCC. A couple of weeks ago, we learned that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and some other government agencies covertly hired children and relatives of politicians and powerful Nigerians, but his government is yet to explain to us what transpired. Currently, our National Assembly (NASS) is mired in a cesspool of scandal. When will this nonsense cease and when will Nigerians demonstrate their outrage?

The challenge, in my view, is not that Nigeria’s leaders lack character or that we cannot trust them to stand for something. My frustration is that we are complacent with the system that replicates such people. Aaron Tippin sang, “You’ve got to stand for something, or you’ll fall for anything.” The rest of the world will not force us to demand accountability from our leaders; neither will it lend a helping hand to tapping the energies and potentials of our citizens. It is our responsibility to do something about our situation.

Evidently, our leaders reflect us and if liars lead us, the world will conclude that we are a bunch of degenerates. I know, first hand, how this generalization could color a people and destroy the dreams of its youths. I have experienced the trauma and humiliation of possessing Nigerian passport and being singled out for an extra search at airports outside our shores. I have experienced the challenge of convincing a foreign corporation to invest in Nigeria because it believes that we are dubious. I have experienced the displeasure of being required to pay cash instead of writing a check or swiping my credit card for services at FedEx because Nigeria is the destination of the packet. Folks, I did not manufacture any of these experiences; they are facts.

The challenges we face as Nigeria are enormous and could make a diehard believer in a prosperous Nigeria falter and doubt if we will ever create something out of our pristine landscape. But I disagree that Nigeria is a lost cause. It is a time like this when faith in our country is threatened that invites men and women who still believe in Nigeria, men and women with credibility to seize the moment and initiate idea-profiling projects that will gather people of like minds who can stand and do something.

Our politicians lie and do bizarre things, which paint all of us with the same brush. But we know better than to capitulate to the treachery of the few. Each of us must rise and define himself or herself in his or her small universe. We can start changing our society by being honest in our dealings with one another. Incremental demonstration of integrity matures over time to a movement- a quiet revolution that will alter the trajectory of our land. I have vowed that in my dealings with all peoples, I will show, by my conduct and utterances, that there are still Nigerians who will not prevaricate and can stand for something.