VISION! PANAECIA FOR NATION BUILDING

Where do we go from here? This is a fundamental question every well-meaning Nigerian would ask when faced with a prevailing reality. 

It is needful to mention from outset that the purport for this article is not set to undermine any political office, personality or party. Neither is it to recount the menace that permeates the socio-political setting of our dear nation- Nigeria. This however is not a gloss over them or a pretence as though they never existed. But it is important to reiterate that the aim of this write up is not to focus on our “pastful” errors, but in little capacity proffer answer to the question “Where do we go from here?”       

Notable is the agreeable fact that there wouldn’t have been a today if yesterday never came and had to go. So would tomorrow never come until today is done with and over, and similarly is the adoption of the truism that the decisions of yesterday are ultimately responsible for our state of today. 

Nigeria, although have been claimed to have been the making of the British imperialism, is a nation for diverse culture, traditions cum languages which makes it to be identified or described as heterogeneous. However, if we take into retrospect the forbearers of this nation who sprang up from different ideologies but laid their differences aside and strived together having one goal and purpose which was to give a free nation to their descendants and a land of possibility to their posterity. 

It was obvious to a large extent that they were driven by vision and not emotion, anchored by vision and undeterred by their present throes. The vision consumed them and their tongues and actions were guided by the self-same dream. Hence, the birth of the nation Nigeria. 

A nation full of vigour, potential and strength, premised on unity and founded on faith and peace, compacted on the idea of possibility enunciated with the symbol of the eagle. Among the virtues of the eagle is the ability to see far and ahead. Hence, the need or basis for which the nation needs vision and not constantly looking down to resources.

Agreeably, the dreams of the heroes past was faulted at the corridor of differences harboured by inordinate ambition for power which consequently destroyed the tender plant of a vision driven state that just started to have its root in the soil. The nascent bud of hope was nipped. And ever since then, the waves of uncertainty has tossed the nation back and forth. And wherever the tides went we followed helplessly. What then is the way forward?

As the portion of the nation’s anthem resoundingly echoes “The labour of our heroes past, shall never be in vain” it is important to underscore that the attainment of the prophecy is dependent on the labour and Conscious Corporation of heroes present, aligning with the ideology of heroes past. Any break in the circle of chain brings about jeopardy for everyone. Both past and present as the matter nation building is concerned.

A proper delve into the heart of this write up would require a semantic elucidation of the word vision. Many definitions have been proffered and therefore a single definition cannot be viewed or taken to be holistic enough to capture the diverse perspective of the subject. However, whichever way the concept is defined it has to do with “something that is imagined by a person, a picture that you see in your mind”

We could then see vision to mean foresight. A translational requirement that a person is moved by what tomorrow holds, and thus directed by the conception of his mind. His thoughts, actions and principles are determined by what he had imagined. What a great power this phenomenon wields.

One of the greatest speakers of all time, a person whose words have shaped the trajectory of national and institutional growth, Dr. Myles Munroe says “ Eyes that look are common but eyes that sees are rare…” No civilization existed without the particular vision of specific persons.

Therefore, the concept of vision can be viewed as the pillar upon which any lasting change and development of a nation can be built. An instance of vision is the conviction of Awolowo on the need for education which is couched in his word as saying, “Education makes a people to be easily governed and difficult to be enslaved”

This made him to go all out to provide quality education at all levels as a way to prepare and consolidate the herald of good governance. However, it is no longer news that Nigeria have for the last five and half decades being paying dearly for the consequence of visionless polity which results have been grievously unfortunate leading to poverty, devastation, and ultimately our greatness subsumed in mediocrity. It can then be agreed that the greatest plague that can beset any nation is not economic depression or recession but lack of the element called vision. Ultimately, where there is no vision, the people perish owing to the aforementioned consequences.

Delving into the realities of history, it is thus proven to Nigeria that vision outshines resources. Where any resource of a nation is not geared towards serving as a tool of birthing a conceived vision, its mismanagement is inevitable. A glimpse at a fraction of Nigeria’s resources reveals that the proven Nigerian oil reserves are 23 billion barrels, and the gas reserves are 160 trillion cubic meters. Yet with all of these acclaimed wealth and resources, the poverty line experienced in Nigeria deepens as compared to the period or eras where the nation’s primarily focus of revenue was in agricultural produce such as cocoa, rubber etc. but rich in its ideological goal for the nation.

The achievements of that period remain. With the great citadels of knowledge at different regions of the nation as living testimony among others.

It would be incontrovertible to say that even the vision 2020 which seemingly appeared to be one is a long forgotten dream. It was the dream statement that hopes to make Nigeria one of the top 20 countries in the world with buoyant GDP by the year 2020. This was to provide proper leadership and a structured map to galvanise the country. As at 2010, Nigeria was ranked 30th in terms of economic growth and by 2016 was ranked 26th. But where are we today? 

Several administrations have taken the mantle of leadership flowing from Goodluck Jonathan to President Buhari, with each having their different schemes and agendas. But it is worthy of note to state that true vision of any nation should transcend generations and administrations. This implies that such vision would be held by succeeding generation of leaders irrespective of their different ideologies or party politics.

For instance, the American often reaffirm the principles upon which their nation is founded as stated in their declaration of independence far back as 1776 in the solemn words “we hold this truth to be self-evident that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and pursuit of happiness- That to secure these rights, government are instituted among men”

Wow! Through their goal or vision, the essence of government is identified. It is on this ground I would like to ask a question which does not aim to hold with contempt any dignified office or person, what is the vision for Nigeria? What are we running for?

As the 2019 election approaches, and we all are expected to decide on who leads the sail, it is important to ask, what is the conceived image for Nigeria before the next four years?

If we have no vision we consciously pursue, it is inevitable to keep making erroneous choices premised on sentiments or affiliation. Hence, my humble submission that a time has come when Nigeria should identify a vision beyond manifesto, and also look out for true leaders rather than mere politicians. While it is obvious that politicians are merely concerned about next election, true leaders would give anything for the sustenance of the next generation.

God Bless Nigeria

E. OLALEKAN ADEYANJU