“As Nigeria and Nigerians, today, celebrate the 64th independence anniversary from the British colonial masters, it is an occasion that calls sober reflections on the lost Golden Era, the enthronement of gluttonous, locust, self-conceited and self-centered leadership and the pervading Japa Syndrome. It is a moment to ponder on the question, ‘For how long shall we be patient before we reach the Promised Land?’, asked by the late Sunny Okosun in his 1984 song, Which Way Nigeria?”
I was born less than 10 years after Nigeria attained independence from the British colonial masters to become a sovereign country. Growing up through my early years, I was regaled with stories of our past heroic and patriotic leaders (almost all of them now dead). We were told that the leaders of that era were genuinely committed to the growth and development of Nigeria and its people. Nostalgic stories were told of the glorious golden era when the goal of the patriotic leaders was the attainment of a society where there would be equity, justice, peace and unity among the people, irrespective of religion, tribe and ethnic groupings.
The Golden Era
From 1954 into the early 1960s, Nigeria was set on the path of steady national development with the advent of regionalism. That was the era when nationalistic leaders like Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikiwe and Ahmadu Bello, with the support of their teams of dedicated lieutenants, took charge of the affairs of their three respective domains namely, the Western Region, Eastern Region and Northern Region.
There was a healthy competition and good symbiotic relationship among the three regional governments. Leaders of the three regions would seek to replicate what was being done in the other region. Each of the regions was directing its own internal affairs, with a loose central government in charge of external affairs, including the protection of the country’s territorial integrity, currency and external relationship with the outside world. Indeed, the defunct Western Region was once said to be the fastest growing region in any part of the world between 1954 and 1959.
But what went wrong and at what point? What happened to a country that was regarded as the hope of Africa and the Black World? How and where did we missed the golden opportunity to become one of the great nations of the world, in the mold of the Western World and the Asian Tigers?
The Coup And General Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi Mistake
The anticipated hope of Nigeria becoming one of the greatest countries among the comity of nations, in the face of the abundant of opportunities inherent in the golden era, became shattered so soon. There was the January 15, 1966 military coup that shook the young independent country to its foundation. Trust, national cohesion and unity gave way to mutual distrust, ethnic and sectional loyalty. Subsequently, the bubble burst when the late Major General Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi took over the reins of government. Inadvertently or otherwise, the suspension of the 1963 Constitution and the introduction of Unitary System by Aguiyi-Ironsi sounded the death-knell of the once-upon-a-time blossoming country. Since then, things have fallen apart and the centre can no longer hold.
Enthronement of Gluttonous, Locust Leadership
Thenceforth, committed leadership imbued with a vision and sense of mission for national development and patriotic citizenry with deep passion for the common good was gradually but steadily replaced by successive rudderless, individualistic, gluttonous and rapacious leaders whose only mission was to main, kill and steal. Over the years, the commonwealth has become the exclusive preserve of the few by the few. Primitive acquisition and accumulation became the norms, rather than an exception.
Following closely on the heels of these selfish and self-conceited wheeler-dealers are a people who, lacking the right leadership, and without any sense of direction, are more concerned about self first and every other person unto himself. What has been the result?
Descent To Abyss
Descending from the high pedestal of humanity and decency, Nigeria has, over the past 64 years, moved from its glorious height at independence in 1960 and it is now back to the Hobbesian State of Nature where live is Solitary, Nasty, Brutish, Poor and Short. Charles Darwinism namely, survival of the fittest, is the order of the day: We are now in a class war: On one hand, the rich are fighting hard to sustain and flaunt their filthy, ill-gotten wealth in the face of the have-nots. On the other hand, the poor have lost their humanity as they have, in the quest for survival, embraced the dog-eat-dog attitude. Gone is the golden era when it is virtuous to have a good name and pedigree than to seek for material success by all means.
Sustainable national growth, human and human development were jeopardised in the race and quest for individual survival. Nigeria, once reputed to be the greatest and biggest producer of organic agricultural products, has become the largest importer of all sorts of inferior basic food items.
Morality, virtues and ethics were thrown to the wind. The momentous epics and developmental strides of the golden pre-independence and early-independence eras were lost and emplaced in their stead was stunted socio-economic growth, enthronement of greedy, adoption of vices and immorality and other forms of immoral living.
To worsen the precarious situation, successive leaders and administrations held good governance in abeyance. The leadership turned rights to privileges and the hapless Nigerians into beggars. The various leaderships, at all levels, became demigods who must be hero-worshipped before they can half-heartedly do what they were elected to do for public good.
The Japa Syndrome
Of course, with the prevalence of rudderless, individualistic and gluttonous leadership, aided by a largely unpatriotic followership, there is bound to be a backlash on the system, the country and the people as a whole.
Somebody recently did a satire on the social media, asking, “How can rat eat chew my paracetamol”? The response is: “You think you are the only one Nigeria is giving headache?” Virtually every Nigerian were affected by the downward trend, but most affected were the people at the lower wrung of the ladder. The Middle Class has taken a flight; now, it is either you are poor or rich.
The Sage, Awolowo, aptly captured the pervading gloomy national mood when he, several years ago, famously declared: “The pursuit of wealth is not a bad thing in itself because without the food and comforts which wealth provides, life will be penurious and drab. But always remember that any wealth accumulated on a selfish basis, at the expense of the State in defiance of social justice, helps to create a disorganised society in which everybody will eat everybody, and no one person will be safe.”
From time immemorial, Nigerians have been traveling abroad in search of the proverbial golden fleece. However, migration into what has been rightly described in many quarters as voluntary Second Slavery has assumed a more worrisome dimension. The quest for survival has reached an alarming crescendo and almost every single home now sees JAPA as the only way out of the alarming national socio-economic downturn. Japaing is now a new coinage for relocating abroad.
In the face of the national infrastructural collapse and decay, many poor and even average Nigerians, irrespective of age, creed and sex, now see a flight to the countries of the western world as their only means to, at least, a decent living. To them, and rightly so, they would be free lack of access to some basic needs, including assured sense of security, steady power supply, good roads and potable water. Who can blame them for seeking for their earthly salvation in safer havens elsewhere?
The Japa Syndrome is, however, increasingly becoming a more alarming phenomenon. The fever is catching up with all classes of people, except, of course, the politicians and those feeding fat from the endemic corrupt system. We are back in the dreaded era of brain drain at an alarming rate. The aged and the young people, of both sexes, now see Japa as the only way out of the socio-economic malaise. Experts and professionals in all fields and sectors, including medical doctors, nurses, engineers, bankers and university lecturers, among others, are dropping their tools of trade here in Nigeria and embracing Japa as a means to an assured good living.
However, while Japa is not bad in itself, we must exercise some forms of caution here. The Japa Syndrome has both its positive and negative sides. Unarguably, relocating to a more saner clime is a sure guarantee for healthy living, assured good life and an assured leverage for self-development, personal attainment and self-realisation. Many Nigerians are now living abroad and they have good stories to tell about the positive changes in their lives.
On the other hand, however, sad tales abound of many people whose lives have become more miserable in the course of seeking for greener pastures abroad. Though peculiarly applicable to Nigerians alone, many people have turned to become destitutes, living a life more miserable in their adopted countries than what obtained in their home countries.
Japa And Its Unintended Consequences
Above and beyond the economic-related effects of Japaism is the social consequences. Many families are living apart and several home have disintegrated. Couples hitherto faithful to their marriage vows have fallen for the Biblical Apple offered by the temptation of economic freedom. Numerous children, without fatherly control, are now living a wayward life, embracing all forms of trending vices. Gone were the days when an older man would marry a younger lady; now lads as young as 18-year-old are exchanging marital vows with 81-year-old women, ostensibly for the sake of the hard-to-get Visa and Green Card.
A journalist-colleague will always say that Japa is a good means to decent living. He, however, did not fail to add a caveat: whoever that is contemplating relocating abroad should have a sense of purpose and mission. Before japaing, ask yourself these questions: “Why do you want to Japa?”; What do you have in you that can make your life better in your intended adopted country?”; “What can you offer your intended adopted country that make it suitable for you to find fulfillment?” In other words, if you want to Japa, don’t do it just for its sake; Japa with sense to avoid jumping from fry pan to fire.
Which Way Nigeria?
As Nigeria and Nigerians, today, celebrate the 64th anniversary of independence from Britain and British colonial masters, it is an occasion that calls sober reflections on the lost Golden Era, the enthronement of gluttonous, locust, self-conceited and self-centered leadership and the pervading Japa Syndrome. It is a moment to ponder on the question, ‘For how long shall we be patient before we reach the Promised Land?’, asked by the late Sunny Okosun in his 1984 song, “Which Way Nigeria?”
•Falade, a journalist, is the Editor/CEO, Newscoven.com.
