A call for perceptive governance

By Ayowole Olotupa-Adetona

SIR: The challenges facing Nigeria are mounting by the day. If Chinua Achebe was to be alive, he might have considered writing ‘Things Fall Apart Again’. Many Nigerians are genuinely searching for the way out, while many are outrightly disinterested in the entity called ‘Nigeria’. Who would blame them? Maybe changing the country’s name might appease them though.

With mayhem unleashed on a daily basis in Nigeria, the entire citizenry and government are largely insecure. However, the hysteria of this insecurity seems to bear heavily on the government, such that anybody and anything appears as a threat to them.  This is a government only at ease with their praise drummers; the driving philosophy is, ‘If you’re not for us, you’re against us’.

But can’t we choose just to be for good and progressive governance? There is a dire need for the government at the federal level to re-examine their perception on several issues. The southeast are a threat and menace?

Look again! The internet and social media are majorly disruptive tools? Look properly! Nigerian youths are unpatriotic, lazy and naive? Look carefully!

The peculiarity of diverse groups in Nigeria should be nothing but a strength and advantage. From far back in the country’s history till now, many have clamoured that the Nigerian narrative be retold to the world by Nigerians beyond the circulated negativity. Professor Ndubuisi Ekwekwe has severally proposed that the academia in Nigeria should focus on the inward context rather than outward, as there is still so much to learn and tap from inwards. His piece on Igbo apprenticeship system was published in the Harvard Business Review; he also did an exposition of the whole concept on BBC and Central China TV.

Prof. Ndubuisi has stated that we can draw our solutions inward by examining and integrating frameworks from systems of the Igbos, Hausas, Yorubas, Igalas, etc. Specifically, the professor once discussed how the rebuilding of the northeast, post Boko Haram, can be executed by sending experts to examine how the southeast was rebuilt after civil war, rather than relying on IMF and World Bank postulations. I for one have always marveled at the industry and manufacturing strength of the southeast and how it can generate billions in revenue if properly harnessed.

The internet and social media come with their baggage and garbage but these are largely dependent on the manner of usage. The internet, technology and social media are merely tools that answer to the dexterity of the user (Elon Musk will definitely agree). The better the understanding of this, the more secure the Nigerian government will feel in today’s world.

With the pace at which technological innovations are being birthed, it is understandable that there might be knowledge gaps at different points; gaps that can lead to outrightly dismissing blockchain technology and social media.  However, when there is a perceived gap in knowledge, the wise thing to do is to acquire more knowledge. This is flexibility and adaptability and will result in the realization that social media and technology, in its entirety, can be harnessed to inspire development and boost public confidence in governance.

Yes, social media has it flaws! But where else can a political office holder get access to direct feedback from the people being led? Or what better platform can an ordinary citizen comfortably contribute to the direction of governance without intimidation?

Most Nigerians, particularly the youths, are not for disrupting the government; they are simply concerned about their future and the threat posed to it by insecurity, marginalization, poverty, nepotism, corruption and the inactions of the government on these pressing issues. Rather than focusing on cogent issues, it appears that the government has expended more energy on trivial ones. If the government is truly interested in improved governance and societal progress, then they would be at peace and so increase commitment to ridding our country of the real disruptive vices. This is what Nigerians ever really cared for or is it not?

• Ayowole Olotupa-Adetona

Abuja.

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