- The state of Nigerian roads defies comprehension and constitutes not only an inconvenience to commuters, but a death trap for lives. The African Development Bank (ADB) estimates the vehicle operating and road accidents costs of the deplorable level of Nigerian highways to be in the range of N80 billion ($570 million) per annum (allAfrica.com). This picture can be seen in the Nigerian civil aviation industry where the dangerous potential for foreign control of the Nigerian airspace increases with lessening government efforts to producing Nigerian civil pilots. The same can be projected to other civil aspects of the Nigerian society.
- These prevailing conditions in Nigeria have led to mass migration into voluntary economic slavery in Europe, USA and Asia of a new generation of Nigerian citizens and professionals. At best, some may describe themselves as economic and intellectual refugees. History is repeating itself before our very eyes. Much the same way as the experiences of this generation, the slave trading of our ancestors in the 1400s and beyond was driven largely by African rulers, traders and a military aristocracy who all grew wealthy from the sufferings and humiliation of their fellow citizens. “European slave traders saw the advantages of helping African kings and chiefs realise their desire to acquire western culture, if not for themselves then for their children…. They were obsessed with the variety of goods available through the trade. Locally produced equivalents of some merchandise like cloth and jewellery, existed but greater satisfaction and prestige was gotten from having imported varieties. The man with a warehouse filled with goods from abroad was a powerful figure in the community, able to buy favours and influence with his ill-gotten wealth” (TundeObadina). “While Europe invested profits from the trade in laying the foundation of a powerful economic empire, African kings and traders were content with wearing used caps and admiring themselves in worthless mirrors while swigging adulterated brandy bought with the freedom of their kinsmen”.That a citizen could subject his own kind and people into abject poverty by looting and exporting their wealth to prop up the economies of other nations, has made us vulnerable to theories of Black inferiority.
- Immediately after independence, Nigerians were burning with passion and patriotism for the country. Students who read abroad never stayed a day longer once their studies were over. They returned to serve the nation with hope, dignity and pride. Today the reverse is the case. The country is choking with incompetence in every sector of the economy, coupled with half-baked, home grown graduates- a product of out-dated, malnourished and run-down education system. The country’s development continues to be hampered by the relentlessrate of brain drain – a product of economic depression, unchecked political corruption, insecurity of life and assets, primitive infrastructure, the sacrifice of meritocracy on the altar of mediocrity etc. Today, there are many world class Nigerian bankers, business managers, computer scientists, pharmacists, engineers, journalists, lawyers, medical doctors, nurses, professors, and scientists powering the economies of Europe, America and the rest of the world. Time is running out for Nigeria. The Nigerian professionals in diaspora are ageing up in foreign lands and populating those lands with highly intelligent children – an emerging capable and resourceful working class with little reason or motivationto consider returning to Nigeria.
- The reason Openmind Foundation is calling for an all-NigerianCultural, Civil, and Peaceful Revolution is that this is the only and last time that Nigeria has got to repair and reinvent itself.
- THE DOORS OF EUROPE AND THE REST OF THE PROGRESSIVE WORLD ARE CLOSING FAST ON ECONOMIC MIGRATION, REFUGEES AND FOREIGN AID. The citizens and governments of these countries are getting tired and fed-up with endless and fruitless donations and aids to African countries. Protectionism is rearing its ugly head in disguise in the form of continent-sized countries.
- Until recently, never has the entire earth experienced the current level of growthin the formation of continent-sized countries. The existing and emerging continent-sized countries are: the “European Union”, currently made up of 27 states and potentially expanding; “The United States of America” with 50 states including Alaska; “ASEANIC” block with 10 Southeast Asian country members; “SAARC” with 8 South Asian member countries; “UNASUR” comprising 12 south American countries including Brazil;”GCC” made up of six Arab states of the Persian Gulf; and the proposed South Asian Union – comprising 44 countries including China, India, Japan, Singapore and South Korea.
- If Nigeria continues operating without a clear sense of direction, CAN IT COMPARE OR COMPETE IN TOMORROW’S WORLD WITH THESE CONTINENT-SIZED EMERGING ECONOMIES?
- In Europe new technologies for the 22nd century are being contemplated and designed. As you read this press statement, European, Asian and American scientists are testing hybrid energy and green technology automobiles. In a layman’s language, cars are being developed in Europe, America and Asia to run on electricity, gas and recycled waste. There are even pilot-designed solar energy powered aircrafts that have undergone successful maiden flights. If Nigeria remains visionless and dependent on its mainstay oil economy, what hope do we have of the future as these modifications commercialise?
