The mass action of over 200 million Nigerians is more effective in actualizing the change mantra of the ruling APC than the party and its political office holders can achieve. Not minding that the current administration of President Muhammad Buhari (PMB) has 515 days to push through its promises of change and exit the scene, the collective resolve of Nigerians is more likely to deliver a new Nigeria in the twilight of this regime to help relieve its genuine struggle (or pretentious effort) of change.
The fad of New year resolutions isn't faded yet and many Nigerians, like other mortals everywhere on the earth and in other planetary bodies, have some on this 1st day of January, 2022. Without downplaying individual determinations to either part ways with certain dreadful deeds or embrace specific positive points, this piece is more inclined towards those traditional, religious and political maladies that have been quietly adopted as norms by our society. I have since discovered that Politics, Religion & Culture have significant effects on the average Nigerian. Our resolve as Nigerians to keep a clean slate in year 2022 in the affairs of our country should, in my view, therefore be directed towards changing 10 narratives that have been injuriously influenced by the trio of our local traditions, faith-based practices and political tendencies.
Although PMB's administration, like all others before it may (or may not) have the requisite skills and emotions to correctly diagnose and rectify both the causative/influential factors and effects of these ten barriers to the great intentions of security success, economic expansion and corruption combat, Nigerian citizens need to urgently accept these age-long issues as fundamental challenges posed majorly by our traditions, religion and politics. Thereafter, the citizens can urgently begin in 2022, the herculean and time-consuming task of eradicating these presumed little foxes spoiling our national vine, without waiting for our political leaders to lead the way.
1. Dysfunctional structure of governance – directly caused/influenced by Politics.
Some of its direct effects are an overcentralized, oversized, overhyped & inefficient Federal Government; less impactful States, FCT & LGAs; corrupt, unjust & unfair governance models, among others.
2. Uncontrolled growth of country's Population – remotely influenced by Politics, Traditions & Religion.
Politicians believe they need numbers to win elections while many tribes & religions in Nigeria are of the worrisome opinion that God is solely responsible for raising children, irrespective of their numbers and parental socioeconomic status. Social tension, insecurity and poverty are some of the undesirable outcomes of our population size that is touted to be the third in the world by 2050.
3. Litany of docile citizens – also highly influenced by the predominant traditional beliefs & religious doctrines.
Many Nigerians would rather pray for their country than participate in elections or civil protests. What do we get from this grave docility? A perpetual crop of unrestrained leaders with monumental level of disregard for the citizenry, weak institutions and many more.
4. Power-grabbing-only political groups – majorly due to the political ills that pervade the land.
Its direct effects are do-or-die forms of politics, transactional leadership, a rudderless nation, poor governance frameworks etc.
5. Variants of unnoticed public corruption strategies – also largely due to our hybrid of politics and its ensuing context of governance; and less emphasis on diversion (minimal or large-scale) of public funds as a form of desecration of godliness by worship centers and refusal to accept "just any funds" as offerings, tithes etc. Unfortunately, this creates an ambience of unfettered, self-righteous & deceitful money-making habits among political office holders, civil servants and government contractors to the detriment of the nation.
6. Restriction of private sector growth.
Politics is the chief culprit of this economy-annihilating practice that is mostly found within the Federal Government circles. Supposed government regulators struggle with private organizations to become players in their respective industries thereby stifling the capacity for massive expansion. Unsustainable & inefficient government businesses, limited portfolio investments & funds-pooling, high unemployment indices etc. are notable downsides of restricting private sector-led economic growth.
7. Ritual killings & the myth of miraculous wealth without work
Virtually all the three major religions in Nigeria (Christianity, Islam & traditional religion) are guilty of promoting the mindset of miraculous riches while de-emphasizing the place of hard work; career upgrade; self-development, opportunity-identification & other brand-promoting skills of entrepreneurship; etc. The mindless killings of fellow Nigerians that have become the order of the day is a sour taste occasioned by this get-rich-quick syndrome daily indoctrinated by places of worship.
8. Marriage & childbearing pressures
It's unarguable that due to strong religious & traditional beliefs, most Nigerian parents & caregivers are inclined to exert from subtle to blatant pressure on their children & wards respectively regarding marriage and childbearing. People have thus become stereotyped that girls, for instance, are considered normal in the Nigerian society when they "settle" for marriage between the age of 18 and 30 years. Of course, high incidences of marital separation, unwanted offspring, suicide, frustrated homes, violent crimes against women etc. have been recorded against these pressures.
9. Money-spraying habits at ceremonies
As trivial as it appears, this pan-Nigerian culture with strong traditional roots dating back to several centuries has a gloomy effect on the society. The rich in Nigeria have even graduated to the use of money-spraying machines and other cash-spinning innovations in mockery of the Central Bank policies and country legislations against mutilation & abuse of the Nigerian currency. As tempting as it is to always obey this status-conferral Nigerian tradition, it unknowingly stimulates an unhealthy competition and money-at-all-cost mentality, especially among younger Nigerians.
10. Poor health care-seeking behaviours
The causes range from a weak health care system (weak funding, infrastructural deficit, poorly motivated human resource) occasioned by political failures; to consideration of orthodox medicine as faith-diminishing practices by many religious devotees in Nigeria; and poorly regulated cultural practices that impinge the uptake of scientifically proven & contemporary health care interventions. The direct resultant effects are the high burden of communicable as well as non-communicable diseases, high mortality rates and a life expectancy of approximately 55 years among Nigerians (WHO, 2018).
That noted, in order to realistically transform the traditions of over 400 tribes, reform the 3 major religions and polish our failed & displeasing style of politics, both the citizens and leaders have distinct roles to play. On one hand, citizens must begin to dominate public discussions with these ten points through civil protests and media (online, print & web-based forms) engagements. The enormous power in our numbers can compel our leaders to deploy requisite willpower (political, policies, legislations, budgetary provisions etc.) to these pertinent issues, if they lack the initiative. On the other hand, the triad of traditional rulers, clerics and political leaders must rise up, without being prodded, to confront these dangerous practices by first subjecting their minds to dispassionate and reasonable reflections on the subject matters and then leading or permitting constructive conversations around same. Subsequently, these former two leaders should impress it on the third group to develop & implement policies, legislations, budgetary provisions and sundry State commitment towards ensuring these changes in our culture, religion and politics. This is the most rational new year resolution to engender the rebirth of a country regarded as the third most religious (PEW rating, 2015), fifteenth world oil-exporter (Worldometers, 2016) that depends on oil receipts for 70-80% of her revenue, hugely indebted (approximately 35% of GDP – DMO, 2020), seventh most populated (Statista, 2021), perceivably (or indeed) corrupt (149th most corrupt – TI, 2021), Poverty capital of the world (93.9 million poor Nigerians – FDC, 2021) and with a World Life Expectancy rating at 178th position (total of 55.2 years – WHO, 2018).
Dr. Adetolu Ademujimi writes from Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria via ademujimi@yahoo.co.uk
