Last year, out of 180 countries, Nigeria ranked 144th on the Corruption Perception Index implying that from a global purview, Nigeria is considered a very corrupt country.
Further in the year 2018, another report surfaced which decked a hideous blow on Nigeria's image. It was the declaration that Nigeria had surpassed India to become the poverty capital of the world. According to the report, Nigeria has approximately 87 Million extremely poor people. That is to say, 87 Million Nigerians have no access to basic human needs, like food, safe drinking water, sanitation facilities, health, shelter, education and information. In this regard, it has been stated by renowned Economists like Muhammadu Sanusi II (Emir of Kano) that if things remain the way they are, Nigeria may remain the poverty capital of the world till the year 2050.
As though the above were not enough damage to our already jagged image, Nigeria topped the table few weeks ago as the sixth most miserable country in the world. The parameters of the ranking were said to be the summation of the unemployment, inflation and bank lending rates.
Anyone who has travelled to a country where things work as they should would necessarily agree that Nigeria's latest ranking is well deserved. Of course, this is not to downplay the interplay of international politics and certain preconceived notions about the country which may be informing our consistent poor rankings in international surveys. Aside the above, majority of the surveys and reports are a true reflection of the state of affairs in the country.
The foregoing is beside the political instability, the growing insurgency and the looming immigration crisis.
Clearly, Nigeria's troubles are diverse and multifaceted and the effects are evident in the fortunes of the Nigerian people. An immediate repercussion of the state of things in the country is perhaps the increasing criminality among the youths. For instance, the other day in Court, while trying to wrap my head around a motion I was about to move in a matter which the learned trial Judge had graciously stood down, an accused person was ordered into the dock on a charge of stealing and conduct likely to cause breach of the peace. Although I did not want to be disturbed at the time, I forced myself to look behind to see the folk that had been docked when the Magistrate's questioning as to how he got himself in the mess persisted. I observed the accused was young -say about 20 years of age and spoke terrific Pidgin English. Though he had this innocent look on his face; the scars on his body, tattoos, cigarette-seared lips and general physical appearance sold him out as a hooligan and a criminal. I could not help wondering that this was one of the numerous products of our society.
The veteran professor of Literature and African Studies, Pius Adesanmi rightly highlighted the relationship between
Nigerians and Nigeria when he posited thus:
"I am in an abusive relationship with Nigeria... Nigeria is that malevolent, abusive, beastly husband who is physically violent, beats and hurts you but you remain in that relationship and people wonder why. "
To be continued...
Couldn't agree less with your observations. We're in for a nasty ride with this spouse of ours if nothing changes soon.
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