NIGERIA: THE DIAGNOSIS AND THE PROGNOSIS

Just like every normal human being in the world, nations also fall sick. Every nation in the world, at one time or the other has fallen sick in one area or another either economically, socially, politically and what have you. But while some countries quickly seek for diagnosis of their illnesses and after which give room for treatments, some do not move for diagnosis of their illness and such are not ready for treatments while the last group get diagnosed but are not ready for

treatment. Nigeria as a country falls into this last group. Undoubtedly, the whole world knows that Nigeria is sick and the present situation of her economy substantiates the truism but the good news is that her illness has been diagnosed. The diagnosis of her illness doesn’t automatically translate into her readiness for treatment. Unfortunately she is presently not ready for treatment.

THE DIAGNOSIS

Political and economic experts, after series of critical and objective observations and concise analysis, have diagnosed that Nigeria is suffering from bad governance and corruption, which beget symptoms like dilapidated roads, decayed economy, deteriorated infrastructures, poorly equipped hospitals, poor standard of living, increasing rate of unemployment only to mention a few. Corruption abounds greatly in the country and a visibly concrete example can be drawn from the administration of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.  During his tenure, a very huge amount of money was allocated to the power sector just to make sure that power becomes stable and readily available for everybody (common man) in the country but at the end, corruption and bad governance pounced on the project and it went down the drain. So many projects in the country have been pronounced with billions of naira but at the end the billions are only heard and not seen in action. Our budget every year has been bastardised with corruption and at the end of the fiscal year, nothing is shown for the huge money approved for different projects.

It is not a big deal that the country is sick, neither is it an issue that she has been diagnosed of her ailment. Infact, most of the great countries in the world we see and talk about today, have one time or the other fallen sick but the difference between Nigeria and these countries is, they do not only diagnosed their illness they also match  it up with the required treatment and today they are  better countries. On the other hand, Nigeria has only diagnosed her illness but there is no sign that we are ready to give in for treatment. How then do we expect haleness to our country that is richly endowed with human, minerals and natural resources, a country that has all the qualities and resources of becoming the greatest in the history of mankind. We know our problems but we are not showing any interest in tackling it. Our leaders are so corrupt that just one man can embezzle all the money meant for a large group of people; a good example is the former Governor of Delta state. Chief James Onanafe Ibori

THE PROGNOSIS

If only and only if, we can give room for treatment, I do not have any element of doubt that Nigeria will become a better and a great country. I do not have any element of doubt that if we give in for treatment, that Nigeria will be the true giant of Africa again and assumes her commanding height in the history of the world. I do not have any element of doubt that if we give in room for treatment that Nigeria will compete positively with any country of the world in all ramifications. I do not have any element of doubt that if we give in room for treatment that Nigeria can take the position of the number one country in the world. Nigeria is blessed, she’s got all the potentials and everything needed to rule the world but the only thing she demands at this point in time is just the treatment. In a bid to achieve the required treatment, a good point of departure greatly lies in the sanitization of the country from corruption and bad governance that has infiltrated her system. Treatment of the already diagnosed ailment is the only requirement for the achievement of unprecedented development in Nigeria.

GOD BLESS NIGERIA!