Hakluyt
01-02-2006, 06:41 AM
2005: A brief philosophical survey
DOUGLAS ANELE
Posted to the Web: Sunday, January 01, 2006
http://www.vanguardngr.com/articles/2002/nationalx/nr101012006.html
THE year 2005 is a very interesting, challenging and, for millions of human beings all over the world, traumatizing year. If one considers the escalating violence in Iraq, which has taken a heavy toll on the Iraq people, for example, it is evident that despite the forced political reengineering currently taking place there under the aegis of the United States and its allies, the year has been a traumatizing experience for Iraqis. In Liberia, the election of Johnson Sirleaf as the first female president is considered a revolutionary development in the male-dominated pattern of African political leadership. In various parts of the world, there have been essential tensions and crises in the socio-economic, political and religious dimensions of life, occasioned by the complex dialectical historical processes which structure the activities of human beings in space and time.
If we swing the mirror of our philosophical periscope towards Nigeria, it would reflect a kaleidoscope of events with different degrees of complexity and significance to national development. The number and variety of interesting events that took place in the country in 2005 are legion; and no one can do justice to all of them in a single essay. Therefore, selection is inevitable, and we shall pick out those that typify the present condition of human existence in the so-called “giant of Africa”.
Our point of departure is the National Political Reform Conference or National Dialogue which was inaugurated by President Olusegun Obasanyo on Monday, February 21, 2005. It was Federal Government’s response to the agitations by some prominent Nigerians and civil society groups for a sovereign national conference which would discuss and recommend appropriate solutions to the political problems of the country. After three months of deliberations, the conference failed to reach a broad-based consensus on the most critical issue slated for discussion, that is, the issue of resource control. As a matter of fact, the South-South delegates who had been agitating for the control of their crude oil resources walked out and never returned. Some prominent Nigerians hailed the National Dialogue for providing an avenue for Nigerians from all the six geo-political zones to brainstorm on the hydra-heated problems of the nation. Nevertheless, the event was a failure because it did not generate new and radical ideas that can really transform Nigeria into a true federation.
The bulk of Nigerians that participated in the dialogue were appointed by both the federal and state governments; as a result, they were restrained ab initio from generating radical solutions to the core problems that have militated against the evolution of genuine federation in Nigeria. Also, the National Assembly did not support the confab, and refused to approve the president’s request for funds. The National Dialogue was not even backed by law, raising the question of the legal status of the report that would eventually emerge from the deliberations, and its implementation. In my view, the dialogue was a half-hearted effort by Mr. President to exsiccate the calls for a sovereign national conference. It is an attempt to create the impression that the government is not unmindful of the lingering political inequalities of the nation. The President stated that he was willing to address these inequalities, but unfortunately he made the mistake of taking Nigeria’s unity for granted. Philosophically considered, the unity of Nigeria is not a settled matter, because inter-ethnic suspicions and violence still threaten the very corporate existence of Nigeria. It seems that the lessons of the civil war and the annulment of June 12, 1993 presidential elections have not really been learnt by the leaders.
The haphazard incessant increase in fuel prices reared its ugly head in 2005. It would be recalled that the incumbent president has increased the prices of petroleum products more times than any other head of state. Only the big men and thick madams benefiting from government’s patronage supported the increase; most Nigerians already fed up with persistent fuel price increases criticized it for good reasons. As usual, the government refused to yield. The Nigerian Labour Congress and civil society groups staged rallies in the six geo-political zones to protest the latest increases. On several occasions, the protesters were harassed and brutalized by the Police. A well-known civil rights activist, Chima Ubani, and Deputy Photo editor of the Vanguard Newspapers, Tunji Oyeleru died in a car accident on their way to Abuja from the rally held in Maiduguri.
The responses of key figures in government to the tragedy were ridiculous. Instead of Mr. President reverting to the old prices, he merely promised that there would be no fuel price increase in 2006, thereby exposing the arbitrariness and insincerity of government’s position on the fuel price issue. It is evident that Nigerians are facing unprecedented hardship as a result of the astronomical rise in the prices of petroleum products in 2005. And going by the president’s poor performance in fulfilling his promises, it is highly probable that the Federal Government will invent specious arguments why the prices of petroleum products should be “adjusted” in 2006 to ensure a “bright future for generations yet unborn”.
In 2005, some cases of alleged high-profile corruption by top government officials dominated public discussion for sometime. Prominent among these are the indictment and subsequent impeachment of erstwhile Senate President, Adolphus Wabara, former Minister of Education, Professor Fabian Osuji and others, over alleged N55 million bribe; Mrs. Mobolaji Osomo, former Minister for Housing on account of improper sale of Federal Government houses in Ikoyi; Tafa Balogun, for misappropriating N17 billion, and the latest, Dieprieye Alamieyeseigha, ex-governor of Bayelsa State, for money laundering.
It is believed in certain quarters that the Federal Government is selective in its onslaught against corruption. While it is true that there are several corrupt Nigerians who have held, or still hold, top positions in government still outside the dragnets of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), it cannot be denied that the instances cited above have given some hope that the president is really interested in stemming corruption in high places. Of course, President Obasanjo can (and should) take more radical steps against corruption. He needs the encouragement of everyone to achieve results.
Recent air crashes in the country have brought to the front burner the inadequacies of the aviation sector in Nigeria. On October 22, Bellview Flight 210 crashed in Lisa village, Ogun State, killing 117 people. Shortly afterwards, there was another disaster involving a private jet flown by the nephew of Col. Ahmadu Ali, chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). While Nigerians, especially those directly affected by those accidents, were grappling with the problem, another plane which belonged to Sosoliso Airlines crashed in Port-Harcourt on Saturday, December 10. About 108 human beings, including sixty-two children, majority of whom were students of Loyola Jesuit College, Abuja, lost their lives. Only two survived, and are receiving treatment in better equipped hospitals in South Africa.
Some Nigerians have offered superstitious explanations for the air crashes. It has been claimed, for instance, that ritualists looking for human blood, using diabolical occultic means to get it, are responsible for the air disasters. Like all superstitious explanations, it is extremely difficult to provide corroboratory empirical evidence for this theory. A better explanation can be found by investigating thoroughly and critically Nigeria’s aviation sector. Aviation experts generally agree that years of neglect of aviation infrastructure, corruption by both the operators of the airlines and the supervising ministry and parastatals, and the use of out-dated, dilapidated, poorly maintained aircraft have done serious damage to the aviation industry. Late Captain Jerry Agbeyegbe, was at the forefront of the campaign for air safety in Nigeria, but his warnings were ignored.
Apart from appointing quacksalvers to manage the aviation sector, the Federal Government is largely to blame for the inadequacies in that area. It is well known that the top echelon of aviation ministry is riddled with corruption, lack of transparency and accountability. Consequently, the recent disasters are emblematic of the sorry state of aviation business in Nigeria. The looting and eventual liquidation of Nigeria Airways, decaying and obsolete aviation infrastructure as well as lack of maintenance culture by airline operators are some of the leitmotifs in aviation services in Nigeria.
The Nigerian Police has not always performed its functions creditably. Instead of protecting the lives and property of Nigerians, some police officers continuously brutalize people. Old habits, they say, die hard. The Apo Six incident, the controversial death of Mobitel’s boss, and the inhuman treatment of women protesting the last air crash of Sosoliso Plane are some of the stark reminders that the Nigeria Police has not yet evolved democratic values. If one considers critically the response of Mr. Sunday Ehindero to the women who protested against police brutality, the inevitable conclusion is that our police is still operating with jackboot primitive mentality reminiscent of what obtained during the colonial period when the colonial masters used the police to enforce their will on Nigerians.
It is not gainsaid that members of the police work under extremely difficult circumstances. Yet if the Federal Government is serious, the police can be reformed to enhance its efficiency and effectiveness as a partner in progress in the evolution of democratic government in Nigeria. The working conditions of policemen and women must be given priority by the government. Again, efforts should be made to dismiss incompetent and corrupt officers in the system, and the police should be reorganized to harmonise it with the ideals of true federalism.
As I stated earlier, it is not possible to discuss all the significant events that took place in Nigeria in 2005. The ones highlighted above provide a convenient starting point for a philosophical appraisal of Nigeria’s situation for that year. From the perspective of idealism, Nigeria is still very far from what a country should be. Idealism is the philosophical doctrine that the really real, the ultimate reality is in its nature psychical or spiritual. An idealist may be described as one who loves or searches after the best and highest, someone with a tendency towards the highest conceivable perfection. Thus, from the idealist perspective, Nigeria is in a terrible state.
Acid test of idealism
There is no aspect of life in Nigeria that can pass the acid test of idealism. All the vital sectors of our national life - education, agriculture, energy, and infrastructure - are in a parlous state, and it appears that the leaders are bereft of ideas about how to put these things right.
Although the President has shown some commitment to deal with corruption in high places, a lot still needs to be done to bring the ogre down to a level that will not impair the developmental aspirations of Nigeria. Most of our past leaders, including former Heads of State, former governors, ministers and so on are not in jail where they ought to be, enjoying their ill-gotten wealth. It is widely believed that a significant proportion of Nigerians occupying high positions in the executive, legislative arms of government are neck-deep in corruption. Something needs to be done and expeditiously to bring these people to justice in order to discourage corruption in high and low places.
The deaths of the wife of Mr. President, Stella, other prominent Nigerians, and the victims of the air disasters in 2005, are tragic reminders that we all must be conscious of our mortality, and do the best we can to improve the living conditions of those we come in contact with. Death does not respect gender, age, social status, wealth etc.; it is the ultimate leveller. Consequently, every Nigerian, especially the leaders, must bear in mind that the best form of life is one that is predicated on service.
The good life, the way I see it, is one inspired by love and guided by knowledge. Hence, our leaders should strow more love to the populace by removing greed and the love of primitive accumulation, and provide amenities for the people. It is a big shame, for instance, that electricity supply is still epileptic, contrary to the president’s promise to end it by 2001. Our leaders have too much money in their hands, and this encourages obscene opulence amongst their family members, friends and cronies. Our leaders should reexamine their lifestyles for, as Socrates the epistemological midwife of ancient Greek Philosophy stated, an unexamined life is not worth living. Nigerian leaders must curtail their greed, and focus more on service delivery to Nigerians. Since all of us will die one day and no one can predict the exact moment when it will come, what is the sense in accumulating wealth one will not use? It is insane, a sign of pathological disorder infact, to divert public funds to private use just to satisfy the craving for primitive accumulation.
The “rumour” that the President is interested in running for a third term is disturbing, and Chief Obasanjo has thus far maintained a studied silence about it. It is possible that the president desires to continue in office at the expiration of his second term in 2007. From experience, the president might have been persuaded to consider a third term by sychophants who are more interested in what they can benefit from the system, not in selfless service to Nigerians. Whatever may be the case, I advise Chief Obasanjo not to tamper with the constitution and vacate his office at the end of his current tenure. The reasons for my suggestion are these. First, if he tinkers with the constitution and eventually secures a third term, he would be setting a bad precedent which could lead to full blown dictatorship
Second, even if the President has made some modest achievements in a few areas, he has not performed well enough to justify a third term in office. Third, perpetuating himself in office might open the door to the kind of retrogressive situation in Zimbabwe, with its attendant abuses and dangers. Finally, there are Nigerians who can do the job better, and the essence of democracy is the periodic nonviolent change of power from one group to another. Therefore, President Obasanjo will boost tremendously his democratic credentials, if he has any at all, if he leaves the stage while the ovation has not died out completely.
On a final note, I urge all Nigerians to meditate deeply about the events of 2005 and resolve to shun all the bad habits and attitudes that have almost turned Nigeria into the Hobbiesian state of nature, a condition in which life is solitary, nasty, brutish, and short. There is no short cut to nation building other than productive, intelligent knowledge-guided by hard work. Many Nigerians rely on all kinds of superstitious beliefs to solve the problems of human existence. Genuine solutions cannot be achieved that way. Only hard work, honesty, kindness and love can save this country from perdition. There is hope that the lessons learnt in 2005 will inspire us to make the right choices in 2006.
DOUGLAS ANELE
Posted to the Web: Sunday, January 01, 2006
http://www.vanguardngr.com/articles/2002/nationalx/nr101012006.html
THE year 2005 is a very interesting, challenging and, for millions of human beings all over the world, traumatizing year. If one considers the escalating violence in Iraq, which has taken a heavy toll on the Iraq people, for example, it is evident that despite the forced political reengineering currently taking place there under the aegis of the United States and its allies, the year has been a traumatizing experience for Iraqis. In Liberia, the election of Johnson Sirleaf as the first female president is considered a revolutionary development in the male-dominated pattern of African political leadership. In various parts of the world, there have been essential tensions and crises in the socio-economic, political and religious dimensions of life, occasioned by the complex dialectical historical processes which structure the activities of human beings in space and time.
If we swing the mirror of our philosophical periscope towards Nigeria, it would reflect a kaleidoscope of events with different degrees of complexity and significance to national development. The number and variety of interesting events that took place in the country in 2005 are legion; and no one can do justice to all of them in a single essay. Therefore, selection is inevitable, and we shall pick out those that typify the present condition of human existence in the so-called “giant of Africa”.
Our point of departure is the National Political Reform Conference or National Dialogue which was inaugurated by President Olusegun Obasanyo on Monday, February 21, 2005. It was Federal Government’s response to the agitations by some prominent Nigerians and civil society groups for a sovereign national conference which would discuss and recommend appropriate solutions to the political problems of the country. After three months of deliberations, the conference failed to reach a broad-based consensus on the most critical issue slated for discussion, that is, the issue of resource control. As a matter of fact, the South-South delegates who had been agitating for the control of their crude oil resources walked out and never returned. Some prominent Nigerians hailed the National Dialogue for providing an avenue for Nigerians from all the six geo-political zones to brainstorm on the hydra-heated problems of the nation. Nevertheless, the event was a failure because it did not generate new and radical ideas that can really transform Nigeria into a true federation.
The bulk of Nigerians that participated in the dialogue were appointed by both the federal and state governments; as a result, they were restrained ab initio from generating radical solutions to the core problems that have militated against the evolution of genuine federation in Nigeria. Also, the National Assembly did not support the confab, and refused to approve the president’s request for funds. The National Dialogue was not even backed by law, raising the question of the legal status of the report that would eventually emerge from the deliberations, and its implementation. In my view, the dialogue was a half-hearted effort by Mr. President to exsiccate the calls for a sovereign national conference. It is an attempt to create the impression that the government is not unmindful of the lingering political inequalities of the nation. The President stated that he was willing to address these inequalities, but unfortunately he made the mistake of taking Nigeria’s unity for granted. Philosophically considered, the unity of Nigeria is not a settled matter, because inter-ethnic suspicions and violence still threaten the very corporate existence of Nigeria. It seems that the lessons of the civil war and the annulment of June 12, 1993 presidential elections have not really been learnt by the leaders.
The haphazard incessant increase in fuel prices reared its ugly head in 2005. It would be recalled that the incumbent president has increased the prices of petroleum products more times than any other head of state. Only the big men and thick madams benefiting from government’s patronage supported the increase; most Nigerians already fed up with persistent fuel price increases criticized it for good reasons. As usual, the government refused to yield. The Nigerian Labour Congress and civil society groups staged rallies in the six geo-political zones to protest the latest increases. On several occasions, the protesters were harassed and brutalized by the Police. A well-known civil rights activist, Chima Ubani, and Deputy Photo editor of the Vanguard Newspapers, Tunji Oyeleru died in a car accident on their way to Abuja from the rally held in Maiduguri.
The responses of key figures in government to the tragedy were ridiculous. Instead of Mr. President reverting to the old prices, he merely promised that there would be no fuel price increase in 2006, thereby exposing the arbitrariness and insincerity of government’s position on the fuel price issue. It is evident that Nigerians are facing unprecedented hardship as a result of the astronomical rise in the prices of petroleum products in 2005. And going by the president’s poor performance in fulfilling his promises, it is highly probable that the Federal Government will invent specious arguments why the prices of petroleum products should be “adjusted” in 2006 to ensure a “bright future for generations yet unborn”.
In 2005, some cases of alleged high-profile corruption by top government officials dominated public discussion for sometime. Prominent among these are the indictment and subsequent impeachment of erstwhile Senate President, Adolphus Wabara, former Minister of Education, Professor Fabian Osuji and others, over alleged N55 million bribe; Mrs. Mobolaji Osomo, former Minister for Housing on account of improper sale of Federal Government houses in Ikoyi; Tafa Balogun, for misappropriating N17 billion, and the latest, Dieprieye Alamieyeseigha, ex-governor of Bayelsa State, for money laundering.
It is believed in certain quarters that the Federal Government is selective in its onslaught against corruption. While it is true that there are several corrupt Nigerians who have held, or still hold, top positions in government still outside the dragnets of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), it cannot be denied that the instances cited above have given some hope that the president is really interested in stemming corruption in high places. Of course, President Obasanjo can (and should) take more radical steps against corruption. He needs the encouragement of everyone to achieve results.
Recent air crashes in the country have brought to the front burner the inadequacies of the aviation sector in Nigeria. On October 22, Bellview Flight 210 crashed in Lisa village, Ogun State, killing 117 people. Shortly afterwards, there was another disaster involving a private jet flown by the nephew of Col. Ahmadu Ali, chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). While Nigerians, especially those directly affected by those accidents, were grappling with the problem, another plane which belonged to Sosoliso Airlines crashed in Port-Harcourt on Saturday, December 10. About 108 human beings, including sixty-two children, majority of whom were students of Loyola Jesuit College, Abuja, lost their lives. Only two survived, and are receiving treatment in better equipped hospitals in South Africa.
Some Nigerians have offered superstitious explanations for the air crashes. It has been claimed, for instance, that ritualists looking for human blood, using diabolical occultic means to get it, are responsible for the air disasters. Like all superstitious explanations, it is extremely difficult to provide corroboratory empirical evidence for this theory. A better explanation can be found by investigating thoroughly and critically Nigeria’s aviation sector. Aviation experts generally agree that years of neglect of aviation infrastructure, corruption by both the operators of the airlines and the supervising ministry and parastatals, and the use of out-dated, dilapidated, poorly maintained aircraft have done serious damage to the aviation industry. Late Captain Jerry Agbeyegbe, was at the forefront of the campaign for air safety in Nigeria, but his warnings were ignored.
Apart from appointing quacksalvers to manage the aviation sector, the Federal Government is largely to blame for the inadequacies in that area. It is well known that the top echelon of aviation ministry is riddled with corruption, lack of transparency and accountability. Consequently, the recent disasters are emblematic of the sorry state of aviation business in Nigeria. The looting and eventual liquidation of Nigeria Airways, decaying and obsolete aviation infrastructure as well as lack of maintenance culture by airline operators are some of the leitmotifs in aviation services in Nigeria.
The Nigerian Police has not always performed its functions creditably. Instead of protecting the lives and property of Nigerians, some police officers continuously brutalize people. Old habits, they say, die hard. The Apo Six incident, the controversial death of Mobitel’s boss, and the inhuman treatment of women protesting the last air crash of Sosoliso Plane are some of the stark reminders that the Nigeria Police has not yet evolved democratic values. If one considers critically the response of Mr. Sunday Ehindero to the women who protested against police brutality, the inevitable conclusion is that our police is still operating with jackboot primitive mentality reminiscent of what obtained during the colonial period when the colonial masters used the police to enforce their will on Nigerians.
It is not gainsaid that members of the police work under extremely difficult circumstances. Yet if the Federal Government is serious, the police can be reformed to enhance its efficiency and effectiveness as a partner in progress in the evolution of democratic government in Nigeria. The working conditions of policemen and women must be given priority by the government. Again, efforts should be made to dismiss incompetent and corrupt officers in the system, and the police should be reorganized to harmonise it with the ideals of true federalism.
As I stated earlier, it is not possible to discuss all the significant events that took place in Nigeria in 2005. The ones highlighted above provide a convenient starting point for a philosophical appraisal of Nigeria’s situation for that year. From the perspective of idealism, Nigeria is still very far from what a country should be. Idealism is the philosophical doctrine that the really real, the ultimate reality is in its nature psychical or spiritual. An idealist may be described as one who loves or searches after the best and highest, someone with a tendency towards the highest conceivable perfection. Thus, from the idealist perspective, Nigeria is in a terrible state.
Acid test of idealism
There is no aspect of life in Nigeria that can pass the acid test of idealism. All the vital sectors of our national life - education, agriculture, energy, and infrastructure - are in a parlous state, and it appears that the leaders are bereft of ideas about how to put these things right.
Although the President has shown some commitment to deal with corruption in high places, a lot still needs to be done to bring the ogre down to a level that will not impair the developmental aspirations of Nigeria. Most of our past leaders, including former Heads of State, former governors, ministers and so on are not in jail where they ought to be, enjoying their ill-gotten wealth. It is widely believed that a significant proportion of Nigerians occupying high positions in the executive, legislative arms of government are neck-deep in corruption. Something needs to be done and expeditiously to bring these people to justice in order to discourage corruption in high and low places.
The deaths of the wife of Mr. President, Stella, other prominent Nigerians, and the victims of the air disasters in 2005, are tragic reminders that we all must be conscious of our mortality, and do the best we can to improve the living conditions of those we come in contact with. Death does not respect gender, age, social status, wealth etc.; it is the ultimate leveller. Consequently, every Nigerian, especially the leaders, must bear in mind that the best form of life is one that is predicated on service.
The good life, the way I see it, is one inspired by love and guided by knowledge. Hence, our leaders should strow more love to the populace by removing greed and the love of primitive accumulation, and provide amenities for the people. It is a big shame, for instance, that electricity supply is still epileptic, contrary to the president’s promise to end it by 2001. Our leaders have too much money in their hands, and this encourages obscene opulence amongst their family members, friends and cronies. Our leaders should reexamine their lifestyles for, as Socrates the epistemological midwife of ancient Greek Philosophy stated, an unexamined life is not worth living. Nigerian leaders must curtail their greed, and focus more on service delivery to Nigerians. Since all of us will die one day and no one can predict the exact moment when it will come, what is the sense in accumulating wealth one will not use? It is insane, a sign of pathological disorder infact, to divert public funds to private use just to satisfy the craving for primitive accumulation.
The “rumour” that the President is interested in running for a third term is disturbing, and Chief Obasanjo has thus far maintained a studied silence about it. It is possible that the president desires to continue in office at the expiration of his second term in 2007. From experience, the president might have been persuaded to consider a third term by sychophants who are more interested in what they can benefit from the system, not in selfless service to Nigerians. Whatever may be the case, I advise Chief Obasanjo not to tamper with the constitution and vacate his office at the end of his current tenure. The reasons for my suggestion are these. First, if he tinkers with the constitution and eventually secures a third term, he would be setting a bad precedent which could lead to full blown dictatorship
Second, even if the President has made some modest achievements in a few areas, he has not performed well enough to justify a third term in office. Third, perpetuating himself in office might open the door to the kind of retrogressive situation in Zimbabwe, with its attendant abuses and dangers. Finally, there are Nigerians who can do the job better, and the essence of democracy is the periodic nonviolent change of power from one group to another. Therefore, President Obasanjo will boost tremendously his democratic credentials, if he has any at all, if he leaves the stage while the ovation has not died out completely.
On a final note, I urge all Nigerians to meditate deeply about the events of 2005 and resolve to shun all the bad habits and attitudes that have almost turned Nigeria into the Hobbiesian state of nature, a condition in which life is solitary, nasty, brutish, and short. There is no short cut to nation building other than productive, intelligent knowledge-guided by hard work. Many Nigerians rely on all kinds of superstitious beliefs to solve the problems of human existence. Genuine solutions cannot be achieved that way. Only hard work, honesty, kindness and love can save this country from perdition. There is hope that the lessons learnt in 2005 will inspire us to make the right choices in 2006.