Let us not delude ourselves; we need to come to terms with the real essence of governance. It encompasses various aspects of laws, policies, processes and management of resources which focus on the people and on development. Development, by itself, is predicated on value addition, failing which we either stagnate or retrograde.
Please recall that prior to our independence in 1960, Nigeria was an agrarian economy, in which agriculture was the main sector of the economy which contributed significantly to our GDP. The North with its extensive arable land boasted of groundnut pyramids; the West produced cocoa plantations and the East was proud of its palm produce. Collectively we produced most of what we ate. Alas, 60 years after, what commensurate value have we added to these earlier accomplishments? Today are we not under the threat of palpable food insecurity?
An independent Nigeria saw a Nigeria that had joined the enviable league of global petroleum oil and gas producers. Petroleum resources changed the economic scene as the major foreign exchange earner; and at the same time changed the energy scene, displacing coal as a cleaner and more efficient and available energy resource. Locally Nigeria could usher in petroleum products with the establishment of an indigenous oil refinery in 1965 in Alasa Eleme [PH refinery] by its pioneer international oil company, Shell BP. A decade later, more refineries were built in Warri and Kaduna and an additional one to the PH refinery, giving the country four refineries with a total capacity of 445,000bpd. But in the past decade these refineries have gone comatose, irrespective of humongous amounts devoted to their rehabilitation. In addition successive governments had found it more expedient to continue to import petroleum products, with the concomitant gaping dent on the national economy. Is this value addition? Is this governance with a sincerity of purpose?
As successive governments have rendered the overall national economy in shambles, what is our attitude towards accepting this reality and ensuring transparent recovery measures? Leadership is about trust, it is not a popularity contest. Will you be trusted when you request the citizenry to tighten their belts and you flaunt financial recklessness?
Take a look at the convoys of very expensive SUVs accompanying these leaders. Consider the extremely mysterious security votes cornered by state governors, not to talk of their emasculation of Local Government governance and funds. Yet they are trying to tamper with the Supreme Court ruling on LG autonomy. As we are lamenting all these, the revelation by a courageous senator of the monthly take-home of Senators is hitting us unashamedly in the face. Yet all the institutions involved have kept deaf, blind and dumb. Is that how economic stress is handled?
Nigerians, why do all these not bother us, as a richly endowed nation?
•Sir Jonas writes from Abuja.
