By Is’haq Babatunde
Nigeria is a country that is pleasantly blessed with both human and natural resources.The enormity of the endowments transcends the human imagination. Nigeria is one of the very few countries in the world with absolute favourable weather condition.
The environment is serene and quite habitable. The interchange nature of the seasons has never been hampered. God is so dear and kind to the inhabitants of this geopolitical zone called Nigeria.
Before the discovery of oil, Nigeria was making waves and experiencing swing in fortune through the revenue accruing from the agricultural sector and the nation was enjoying economic stability and strong foreign exchange relations with other countries of the world.
Upon the discovery of oil in 1958 by the company called Shell-BP with oil stream of 5,100 bpd, the country was super excited that the oil boom would propel accelerated growth and development bearing in mind that the existing countries blessed with oil had already been having every cause to turn around the lives of their populace and advancement of their countries.
The handlers of Nigerian resources and those in the corridors of power at that time were not only convinced but also very optimistic of the great Nigeria ahead that will be heralded with the discovery of oil, thereby diverting concerted efforts and energy towards this highly lucrative sector.
Lo and behold! The oil boom seems to become a doom for the nation. Apart from the natural death of the country’s existing means of revenue as at that time-Agriculture, the stream of funds being realised from the oil sector is unarguably concentrated in the hands of the few who appear to care less about the living condition of the large proportion of the populace.
Going by the current cost of living in Nigeria today, a sensitive and considerate leader shouldn’t need to be told before the ridiculous N18,000 minimum wage is reviewed. Unfortunately, Nigerian citizens have been suffering serial neglects in this aspect by successive administions in the country.
It is morally sound that as the cost of living goes higher in a society, so also the minimum wage for the workforce. Paradoxically, both the poor and the rich patronise the same market and the prices of commodities are clear and open to both the leaders and the led.
It is therefore morally repognant to have one section of children well fed and another wallowing in abject starvation. Besides, the two sections of the children are from the single parent. Let all children, irrespective of status, be treated with principle of justice and equity. This will usher in tremendous love and brotherhood which are necessary ingredients for peaceful co-existence and sustainable development.
Seting up of antigraft agencies is not only the solution to the age long corrupt practices that have pervaded the system, this cancerous monster will continue to eat deep into the fabric of the nation unabated, should certain steps are not given utmost consideation.
The insect that destroys green leaves lives inside the leaves and to isolate this destructive insect from the fauna and flora the following antidotes must be factored in.
Prominent among the solutions is value reorientation. Our value system must change, we must redefine and modify our norms and values. Money or affluence should not be seen as the ultimate but good name and the determination to contribute our quotas towards the advancement of the this nation called Nigeria must be seen as sacroscant.
To be continued next week.
Is’haq is a Journalist, Sociologist, Psychologist, and Criminologist
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