THERE were two separate but somewhat related events that caught my interest recently in Abuja, Nigeria’s seat of governance. One was the naming of roads after Prof Chinua Achebe and J P Clark in the capital City while the other was the President’s symbolic trip and worrisome fall on a most historic day and what that is indicative of especially as it has to do with our 25 years experience in democracy .Nigeria’s President was reported to have ,penultimate Saturday, named roads in the Guzape District Lot II of the Federal Capital Territory after two literary giants of all times— Chinua Achebe and John Pepper Clark Brekedemo.
With particular reference to Prof Chinua Achebe who had turned down a couple of national honours before exiting this earthly plane on March 21, 2013 there was no sense of honour in that Tinubu’s gesture as communicated through Nyesom Wike. The Albert Chinualumogu Achebe that I knew must have been deeply troubled even in the spirit world concerning the filthy root and foundation of the Abuja road naming honour. It was not much of a surprise that in less than 48 hours, Tinubu’s swagger resulted in a trip and public fall which says so much about the decadent and unhealthy state of both our nation and its democracy. Next time we feel like honouring the memories of patriots and Statesmen like Achebe, we should duly consider to what extent we are upholding the sublime values and noble ideals these men and women lived and died for.
As far back as 1983, Achebe x-rayed the trouble with Nigeria in a book form Fortyone years down the line, instead of addressing the issues and identified problems by proffering workable solutions to take the nation off the wood we are adding to the existing problems through our actions and inactions. Of what use then is the naming of roads after them?
The Trouble with Nigeria by Chinua Achebe is a book that defines the struggles Nigeria has been facing and the underlying problems that drive some of the outrageous and condemnable actions we see in society on a day to day basis. The sad part indeed for us as a nation is that today, instead of a change in the situation, the trend is on a worsening path.
One can be sure that the actions and decisions that play out in Abuja on a daily basis make the spirit of patriots like Achebe to be restless in their graves because of the state of degeneracy being witnessed across the country.
The Trouble with Nigeria was published 41 years ago by Heinemann. It is divided into ten chapters and about a hundred pages, concise and powerful.
In the first chapter titled Where the Problem Lies, Achebe has this to say about where the problem lies: “The Nigerian problem is the unwillingness or inability of its leaders to rise to the responsibility, to the challenge of personal example which are the hallmarks of true leadership.”
The second chapter is on Tribalism and its devastating effect on the nation. The Literary Icon had this to say “We may not be able to legislate prejudice and bigotry out of the hearts and minds of individual citizens, but the state itself and all its institutions must not practice endorse or condone such habits.”
In the third chapter False image of ourselves in Nigeria , he dwells on the cargo-cut mentality that Anthropologists sometimes speak about a belief by backward people that someday without any exertion whatsoever on their part, a fairy ship will dock in their harbour laden with every good they have always dreamed of possessing. He says in his own words: “I know enough history to realize that civilization does not fall down from the sky; it has always been the result of people’s toil and sweat. Nigeria therefore needs to consciously work out its development trajectory.
The following chapter, Leadership Nigerian- Style. In addressing the nation’s motto, Achebe insists that, “Virtues like faith and unity are not absolute but conditional on their satisfaction of other persons.” He further questions why we did not think, for example, concepts such as justice and honesty, which cannot be so easily directed to undesirable ends?
On Patriotism, Achebe states that patriotism being part of an unwritten contract between a citizen and the state cannot exist where the state reneges on the agreement. He defines a patriot as: “A person who loves his country. He is not a person who says he loves his country. He is one who cares deeply about the happiness and wellbeing of his country and his people. Patriotism is an emotion of love directed by critical intelligence. A true patriot will always demand the highest standards of his country and accept nothing but the best for and from his people.” From this Achebian definition, most of the occupants of our public offices cannot be truly described as patriots. On Social Injustice and The Cult of Mediocrity Achebe leaves us with this all-time true and tested marxim to the effect that “Whenever merit is set aside by prejudice of whatever origin, individual citizens, as well as the nation itself, are victimized.”
On Indiscipline he maintains that “the goal of indiscipline is self-interest, its action is the abandonment of self-restraint in pursuit of the goal.” Yet more profound is his thoughts on discipline as he maintains that “discipline does not invite supervision by an external force but is imposed by the individuals from within. Discipline is either self-discipline, or it’s nothing at all.”
On Corruption, he states that “Nigerians are corrupt because the system under which they live today makes corruption easy and profitable adding that they will cease to be corrupt when corruption is made difficult and inconvenient.”
Concerning what he tagged the Igbo Problem, it remains instructive that because this problem has remained unaddressed the restiveness and sustained agitations from the South Eastern part of the country still play out even today. He pays deserved tribute to Aminu Kano as a leader with the welfare of the people in mind. Forty one years down the line and with 25 years of unbroken democracy the citizens are confronted with democratic dispensations that empower only a few players while poverty is ravaging unabated in the land. With all the allure, clamor and glamour for democracy, the citizens are beginning to remember the years of military rule with some sense of nostalgia. Of a truth, the trouble with Nigeria is not abating. We are face to face with another hope deferred which makes the heart wane.
