BY ROSEMARY NWAEBUNI
What we need now is a nation of great people who live to positively impact others and build enduring legacies. Stay with us please; remain in this country and constitute a nation based on national unity.’’
The above statements by Fela Durotoye and Robert Mugabe respectively, underscore the imperative for Nigerian citizens to have enduring faith in its potential to achieve greatness and the need for them to cultivate resilient spirit in contributing their quota against all odds, towards making it a truly great nation, the present and future generation can be proud of.
The phrase ‘Awakening of a sleeping giant’ depicts the rousing of a powerful entity such as a nation, group or individual, that was previously inactive or unaware of its own potential, jolting it to consciousness and causing it to become a formidable force.
Our country Nigeria, despite possessing significant potential for growth, appeared reluctant over the years to aggressively leverage her enormous strength in several areas to engender significant socio-economic and political transformation to enable it truly live up to her name as the Giant of Africa.
At 65, one can boldly say that Nigeria is beginning to experience an awakening under the present administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu through audacious and result-oriented policies.
A cursory reflection on Nigeria’s tortuous socio-economic and political journey from her first Independence celebration in 1960 till now, may provide a better insight on the reasons to celebrate her 65-year anniversary of nationhood.
The coalition government of NCNC and NPC was in power when Nigeria attained independence in 1960 with Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa as Prime Minister and Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe as Senate President.
When Nigeria transformed into a Republic in 1963 (First Republic), Nnamdi Azikiwe became the President of Nigeria with Abubakar Tafawa Balewa as the Prime Minister. Their administration was governed by the 1963 Republican Constitution which came into effect on 1st October, 1963. This Constitution, tailored to the Westminster system remained in operation till the Military coup of 1966 overthrew Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
Between 1966 and 1979, spanning a 12-year period, the Military ruled the country through decrees with a prosecution of a devastating civil war that lasted from July 6, 1967 to January 15, 1970.
The 1979 Constitution which was midwifed by the Military regime of General Olusegun Obasanjo to guide socio-economic and political activities under the envisioned Second Republic, abandoned the Westminster system of governance in favour of an American Style Presidential system.
Prior to the birthing of the Second Republic (1979 to 1983), there were six registered political parties, namely, National Party of Nigeria (NPN), United Party of Nigeria (UPN), Greater Nigeria Peoples’ Party (GNPP), Nigeria Advance Party (NAP) and Peoples’ Redemption Party (PRP).
For the first time since 1964, Parliamentary elections were held in Nigeria to elect members of the Senate and House of Representatives. While elections to the Senate were held on 7 July, 1979, those of the House of Representatives were held on 14 July, 1979. The NPN won 36 seats out of 95 Senate seats and 168 of the 449 House of Representatives seats. Shehu Shagari of NPN also won the Presidential election that held on 11 August, 1979. The UPN came second in that election followed by NPN.
The Second Republic was truncated by a Military coup d’état on December 31, 1983, which led to the ousting of the democratically elected government of President Shehu Shagari and the installation of Major General Mohammadu Buhari as Head of State.
August 27, 1985, the Military Government of General Mohammadu Buhari was overthrown through a bloodless coup and General Ibrahim Babangida (IBB) became the Military Head of State who ruled the country for eight years during which period he subjected the country to a democratic experiment while holding sway as a Military President.
The 1989 Constitution midwifed by the Military Government of IBB was meant to be operational under the planned Third Republic (1993), which did not sail before it was truncated. In that same year, IBB lifted the ban on political activities which had been in place since the Buhari/Idiagbo seizure of power in 1983. IBB initially promised the nation that Military rule would give way to Civil rule in 1990 but he later reneged on that promise, shifting the handover date to 1993.
To further lay credence to his earlier promise of returning the country to civilian rule in 1990, IBB now downing the toga of President, appointed Professor Eme Awa as Chairman of the newly created National Electoral Commission (NECON) in 1987. Professor Awa remained the head of the electoral body till 1989 without conducting any national elections. Professor Awa was replaced with Professor Humphrey Nwosu who served as the Chairman of NECON from 1989 to 1993.
To further give the transition to Democratic governance a human face, the Government of IBB established two political parties with national spread, ensuring that all the infrastructure and logistics for their effective take off were provided by government to fastball the possibility of an individual or group of individuals claiming ownership of any of the parties.
The two political parties were the National Republican Convention (NRC) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP). Governorship and State Assembly Elections were conducted in December 1991, with candidates running on the platforms of either the NRC or SDP. The civilian Governors elected in that election were sworn into office in January, 1992.
IBB’s Government postponed the Presidential Elections to June 12, 1993 under the excuse of political upheavals. When the Presidential election eventually held on June 12, MKO Abiola won overwhelmingly on the platform of the Social Democratic Party, defeating the Presidential candidate of the National Republican Convention, Bashir Tofa.
In defiance to a restraining order from President Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB), Professor Nwosu, Chairman of NECON went ahead to announce the results of that election and promptly resigned thereafter.
On June 1993, IBB announced the annulment of that election adjudged freest, fairest and most credible in the history of elections in the country. This development triggered a chain of problems in Nigeria ranging from protests to clampdowns, assassinations and mysterious deaths.
August 29, 1993, IBB bowed to unrelenting internal and external pressure by resigning from office, making way for the head of his Transition Team, Ernest Shonekan to assume office as the Head of the Interim National Government. In less than three months in office, Shonekan was removed in a most peaceful manner by the then Minister of Defence, General Sani Abacha in November 17, 1993.
Abacha held sway as Nigeria’s Military Head of State until his death on June 8, 1998. Under General Abacha, Parliamentary elections were conducted on April 25, 1998. All Political Parties running for the elections were affiliated with the Abacha Military Regime. All opposition Parties were banned from participating in the elections. Voters turnout was very low and the election results were annulled by the Government. Before the next elections could hold, Abacha died.
In a dramatic turn of events, MKO Abiola, winner of the June 12, Presidential elections declared himself President in June 11, 1994 and went into hiding. The Abacha government hunted him down and arrested him on charges of treason. He remained in prison custody until he died mysteriously July 7, 1998; at the time when Abdul Salami Abubakar was the Military Head of State.
Determined to stabilize the country by enthroning civil rule in Nigeria in line with the clamour of the people and international community, General Addul Salami Abubakar reorganized the Electoral institution and created the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in 1998. He appointed Ephraim Akpata as its first Chairman to conduct the forthcoming elections.
The Abdul Salami Military Government also rejigged the Constitution which came into effect in 1999 in view of the return to Democratic Governance. Ephraim Akpata was responsible for the General Elections in 1999 that ushered in a Democratic Government, May 29, 1999.
Under General Abdul Salami Abubakar as Military Head of State, Parliamentary General elections were held February 20, 1999. The Peoples’ Democratic Party emerged victorious in the elections winning 59 out of the 109 Senate seats and 206 out of the 360 House of Representatives Seats. The Presidential Elections that held two weeks later in February 27, 1999 saw Olusegun Obasanjo emerging winner, defeating OluFalae who ran under a joint ticket of Alliance for Democracy and All Peoples’ Party.
Between 2000 and 2005, Abel Guobadia served as the second Chairman of INEC. From 2005 to 2010, Professor Maurice Iwu was on the saddle as INEC Chairman. He conducted the General Elections of April 21, 2007 that brought in Umaru Musa Ya’Adua who was Nigeria’s President between 2007 to 2010. Ya’Adua was adjudged by many as the most peaceful and credible President Nigeria ever had. However, his health challenge could not avail him the opportunity to do much before he died May 5, 2010.
AttahiruJega (2010 to 2015) supervised the General elections in 2011 which enthroned Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan as Nigeria’s President and also conducted the 2015 General Elections that saw Goodluck Jonathan out of office, paving way for the winner, Muhammadu Buhari to take over the seat of Power at Aso Villa as Nigeria’s Precedent.
Following the Presidential election held on February 25, 2023 Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the former Governor of Lagos State and nominee of the All Progressive Congress, APC, won the election with 36.61% of the votes.
The trajectory of Nigeria’s political journey to greatness since 1960 clearly reveals that the Military disrupted her democratic process intermittently, dismantling each time, all democratic structure, institutions and ethos; like a toddler whose knees got viciously dislocated each time he tried to transit from crawling to walking. The Military which training is not in sync with democratic traditions, ruled the country for 30 years out of her 65-year existence as an independent State.
Perhaps Nigeria would have been counted among the most developed nations of the world if it took advantage of its economic, cultural, demographic and market potentials right from independence in 1960 by harnessing the abundance of natural and human capital, including raw talents with which our youths are endowed.
Nigeria is rich in natural resources, including oil, natural gas, minerals and fertile agricultural land. It has one of the largest economies in Africa and significant human capital, with a large youthful population. With a population of over 230 million people, Nigeria represents one of the largest consumer markets in Africa. This provides opportunities for various sectors, including technology, retail and health.
Nigeria parades a vibrant culture, with a rich history in art, music, and literature. Its cultural exports have gained international recognition, heightening Nigeria’s potential to influence global cultural trends. While Nigeria has faced political stability challenges, it possesses a democratic framework that, if strengthened, could enhance governance and attractiveness for investments
The country faces significant infrastructural deficits but ongoing improvements by the Tinubu administration in the fiscal, energy and telecommunications spheres, could unlock further economic activities and growth.
The present administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has done reasonably much to re-engineer the Nigerian socio-economic and political architecture through audacious and daring policy initiatives that have yielded significant dividends for the country and its citizenry.
On assumption of office in May 2023, Tinubu ended the costly subsidy of fuel that had previously existed in Nigeria, bringing privatization to Nigeria’s petroleum industry. The subsidy had cost the Nigerian government approximately 10 billion US Dollars annually at the time it was finally ended by Tinubu.
In his 2 years in office broadcast, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu revealed that his administration had cleared over $10 billion in foreign exchange liabilities, a move that helped restore confidence and stabilized the naira.
The BAT administration’s massive infrastructure drive crystalized in 440 ongoing road projects nationwide, including the construction of more than 2,700 kilometres of superhighways.
Theadministration has also recorded some legislative milestones, including the passage of four landmark Tax Bills and the establishment of five new Regional Development Commissions to spur growth in underdeveloped zones.
on social welfare, over 900,000 Nigerians have benefited from the Presidential Loan and Grant Scheme, while another 300,000 students have accessed the Student’s Loan Scheme, aimed at widening access to higher education and entrepreneurship funding.
Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government also implemented a new foreign exchange policy that includes the floating of the naira, aimed at enhancing currency stability; cleared over $10 billion in foreign exchange debt and improved allocation from the Federation Account to States by 60%; and strengthening Nigeria’s foreign relations, including humanitarian assistance, like the delivery of 300 trucks of petroleum products to Niger Republic.
The above achievements notwithstanding, there are still a lot to be done, especially in the areas of youth employment, education funding, health facility upgrade, electricity and insecurity, made worse by the activities of Boko Haram, bandits and Fulani herdsmen.
The role of Delta State Government in awakening the previously sleeping giant, with cannot be overlooked.
Nigeria’s speedy path to greatness at 65 is an aggregation of the efforts of its component state. greatness of a country is an aggregation of the developmental inputs of its component states. Not only will Delta State be mentioned when the list is read but its name will certainly come topmost for obvious reasons.
Since inception of his administration more than two years ago, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori stands out as the only Governor among those elected the same time with him, who has not borrowed money to fund any of the state’s legacy projects. While other states governments were borrowing to fund projects and increasing their debt profile, Delta state government is busy reducing inherited debts.
Through aggressive and sustainable debt servicing initiative, it has been able to reduce its debt profile from N465 billion to N200 billion, representing a reduction of almost 60 percent. Not only are workers’ salaries paid promptly, outstanding pension liabilities are being offset. Massive road constructions and other infrastructural development are ongoing in all parts of the state.
Thus, Deltans have enough reasons to celebrate this year’s Independence Anniversary of Nigeria at 65.
