Governance is a people
driven process to attain predetermined goals, which, primarily is promoting the
good of the greatest number of people. People and process must work
harmoniously, optimally for these preconceived goals to be achieved and if at
any point in time either the wrong people or the wrong process is put in place,
the wheels of governance will be moving in fits and starts and eventually grind
to a halt.
Our dear country is
setting new records with the wrong people managing the wrong processes;
socioeconomic growth has remained confined to the minds of the rulers and
the pages of newspapers
The only way we can get
out of this quagmire and start registering actual growth/ progress is by
dismantling the prevalent culture of mediocracy in Nigeria.
Dear John, let us look at two influential and realistic causal explanation of good governance in many nations. Mancur (1982) postulates poor governance and corruption is due to the presence deeply embedded interest groups that serve their narrow interests at the expense of the rest of the economy fostering mediocrity, under-productivity and inefficiency. (This looks like Nigeria.) These interest groups can only dislodge from their power base by bloody cataclysmic revolution or severe defeat at war at the hands of conquering enemy, thus, enabling prosperity for all because encompassing interests are now the priority of governance e.g. Japan & Germany after WW2. Conversely, Robert Nield (2006) contends that governance in north-western European nations became increasingly efficient and much less mediocre and corrupt due to the governments’ fear of rampant invasion from neighbours. Taxation, fiscal activity, investment, production, trade, education, welfare, health services, legal system etc. necessarily have become efficient activities / priorities in order to strengthen the internal and external capabilities of the nation. National pride and fear of servitude at the hands of a hostile enemy is evident in explanation. (Do Nigerians really have an overarching pride in their nation?) Empirically, almost all prosperous nations and nations observed to have consistent good governance have had experience of one or both these phenomena. If these two arguments are true is there any hope good governance in Nigeria? Maybe we have to look to Switzerland that does not have a standing army and defies the logic of both arguments. Singapore, Bhutan and Barbados are also exception but these are all very small nations. Onwa, thinking…
ReplyDeleteDear Grimotnane, Yes. The authorities and principles you advanced as foundation for your discourse succinctly captures our developmental predicament as a nation. As is, a not too discerning reader could (mis)construe it to mean an excuse or justification for our failure of leadership.
ReplyDeleteWith regard to your question on whether Nigerians possess an overarching pride in their nation, I wish to point out the fact that "national pride" goes well beyond a love for the brilliant colors of ones national flag. It is an emotion, a commitment that crystallizes from the sum of the principles that permeate the entire national psyche. And patriotism is directly proportional to the level of commitment of both the leaders and followers to these principles. On a personal level, I've learnt to quote authorities neither as an embellishment my beliefs nor as a validation for my convictions but for the purpose of sharing experiences with kindred spirits who have drunk from the universal cups of injustice and bad governance. Taking this course guarantees the uniqueness of my experiences and ensures the integrity of my thoughts and actions.
To exorcise the demons of mediocracy and under development we cannot afford to sit by the sidelines, we must ceaselessly seek for opportunities to make our skills available to the system, and at the highest levels.
This break-in would not be easy giving the moral burden we already bear. But... It's either there's a way or we make a way.
Dear John, for those who are willing, ready, equipped and qualified to take the necessary steps to make governance good in Nigeria regardless of the costs, burdens and sacrifices the most important initial factors are "tools" i.e. the opportunities to create, develop and use the tools in the most effective and efficient ways to smash or subvert the moribund ways in dominance. I am not reducing the solution to Nigeria's perennial misrule to toolcraft, I present it as an initial condition in conjunction with a tight package of moral responsibility. But it must be said change does not happen without tools, volition needs practical expression. And I have always incomparably preferred constructive tools to destructive ones. Onwa, any chance to meet, learn from and work with tool makers and/users at all?
ReplyDeleteDear Grimotnane, there is always room for collaboration but first, there has to be a meeting of minds. Kindly avail me of your contact details via...john.oke@docsave.net
ReplyDelete