Friday, September 30, 2016
Wishing Nigeria more bumpy roads at 56
September 30, 2016
Tayo Ogunbiyi
With the nagging reality of economic recession, it is quite
unlikely that the drums would be rolled out to celebrate Nigeria’s 56th
anniversary on Saturday. Without a doubt, these are hard times for our dear
nation. The signs are, indeed, not palatable. There is hunger in the land. Of
course, once hunger establishes its foothold in any place, anger is bound to
surface. Thus, there is hunger-induced anger in the land. At the home front,
husbands and wives are increasingly getting mad at each other. Palpable tension
is everywhere. At the slightest provocation, people easily flare up. Domestic
violence is on the increase. At major newspaper stands across the country,
members of the “Free Readers Association” engage in animated squabbles that
often lead to free for all. That hunger has given rise to anger in the land is,
thus, not an understatement.
Characteristically, frenzy prayers are being offered across
various religious centres in the country. Mission: For our nation to be free
from its many troubles.
“Oh God, please put an end to the troubles of our nation” has
now become a major prayer point in different worship
centres. Since nothing is impossible with the Almighty God,
Nigerians are, understandably, knocking on the gates of the Most High for an
end to the nation’s many woes.
But then, as our nation turns 56, my wish and prayer for the
nation differ quite sharply from that of my other compatriots. At 56, my
wish for Nigeria is for her troubles to multiply; for her to be embroiled in
tougher challenges and battles. My wish is for the country to be entangled in
additional complicated circumstances, issues and problems. Before one is
accused of all sorts, let me affirm that my stance in this respect stems from a
patriotic standpoint that is stimulated by the stark reality that without
troubles, difficulties, challenges and complicated stuffs, no individual,
nation, or society could really make the needed head start. Troubles, fierce
challenges and perils are the major ingredients required to attain greatness.
In 1964, foremost social activist and educationist, Tai
Solarin (1922-1994), wrote a controversial article titled, “May Your Road Be
Rough”. At the beginning of the contentious piece, Solarin wrote: “I am not
cursing you; I am wishing you what I wish myself every year. I therefore
repeat, may you have a hard time this year; may there be plenty of troubles for
you this year! If you are not so sure what you should say back, why not just
say, ‘Same to you’? I ask for no more”.
While trying to clarify his stand on the subject, Solarin
wrote: “When my sisters and I were young and we slept on our small mats round
our mother, she always woke up at 6a.m. for morning prayers. She always said
prayers on our behalf but always ended with something like this: ‘May we not
enter into any dangers or get into any difficulties this day.’ It took me
almost thirty years to dislodge the canker-worm in our mother’s sentiments. I
found, by hard experience, that all that is noble and laudable was to be
achieved only through difficulties and trials and tears and dangers. There are
no other roads.”
Though many people misinterpreted Solarin’s prayer as a
curse, but the main intent is to bring to the fore the intricate relationship
between the bumpy roads of life and success. The bottom line is that success is
not achieved on a platter of gold. It comes through continuous struggles and
battles on the turbulent waters of life. In Solarin’s words, life, if it is
going to be abundant, must have plenty of hills and valleys. It must have
plenty of sunshine and rough weather. It must be rich in obfuscation and
perspicacity. It must be packed with days of danger and of apprehension.
At 56, it will not be far from the truth if one concludes
that Nigeria remains a crawling toddler. This is largely because we have always
preferred the easy route to greatness. Our Independence was more or less got on
a platter of gold. As if that was not enough, we suddenly struck oil. Thus,
began a life of misplaced allure and grandeur. At the height of our nation’s
stupendous oil wealth, a former Head of State was quoted to have said that:
“Money is not Nigeria’s problem but how to spend it”. Thus, we virtually
squandered our oil wealth. Today, there is trouble in the global oil market.
Thus, unlike what the rookie Head of State had affirmed,
money has now become our nation’s problem. Most states cannot pay salaries. The
Federal Government cannot fund its budget. Companies are downsizing. From all
indications, trouble is here. Yet, at 56, trouble and more troubles are what we
actually need to get our act together. Most of the developed world democracies
thrive under difficult situations and conditions. Ours cannot not be an
exception.
Current trouble times, if well-managed, could, indeed, be a
blessing in disguise. The lull in the international price of oil could be an
opportunity for us to eventually focus on the non-oil sector upon which our
fore fathers built the nation’s prosperity. Now that we are groaning under
severe economic burden is the exact time to pay adequate attention to other
sectors where unlimited opportunities for job and wealth creation as well as accelerated
economic and industrial growth abound.
We could take a cue from the nation of Israel which turned a
huge geographical adversity into gains to become a renowned global
agro-economy. We could also draw huge lessons from China which bounced back from
a great famine that took millions of lives between 1958 and 1961 to become the
world numero uno in food production. The Singaporean model as illustrated
by the late pioneer Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew, has equally shown us that
bumpy roads are crucial necessities for national rebirth.
Going back to Solarin’s postulation, life will be worthless
and unchallenging without rough roads. It is the rough paths of life that
provide the desirable impetus for greatness. Therefore, at 56, here is wishing
Nigeria many rough roads.
God bless Nigeria.
- Ogunbiyi is of the Lagos State Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja
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All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.
My
people, let us have a bit of the taste of joy and comfort at least for
experience sake. Let us not die crying, staggering, stumbling, wobbling and
fumbling on the rough road and die finally. Tie Solarin, one of our greatest
fathers once had a good taste of life. Many graduates in this country may not
have access to some of the good things Tai Solarin enjoyed while alive even at
the starting point in life of the late sage and educationist.Many people cannot
even comment as yours sincerely comment on some of the national issues for fear
of being killed by the mighty, wealthy and most powerful people in this
country. Some newspapers most times drop my articles for probably, fear of
these people and in order to protect themselves and my humble self from their
harassment. Tai Solarin did all of that and lived a long life. I may say more
on this issue later. Let us have a good feel of this country my people. The
journey to this planet earth if just once.
