Gbenro Adesina
Thursday November 18, 2021, scholars and educated individuals and some media experts gathered at the historic Trenchard Hall of the University of Ibadan (UI), specifically in search of solution to the myriads of problems, which has pushed Nigeria to almost a point of total destruction. These people were drawn from virtually all the regions of the country. They talked in grand and elevated language, which, many not too educated may not be able to decipher. They argued, they disagreed and agreed, they conceptualised, they theorised and they did other elitist and educated gymnastics. Were they able to find solution to the problems they were eager to exterminate?
This talk show occurred at the book presentation of “Understanding Modern Nigeria”, written by a Nigerian historian and professor of African Studies, who teaches at University of Texas at Austin, United States of America, (USA), Oluwatoyin Omoyeni Falola. It was an event spiced with varieties of activities including Spoken words performance titled, “The Political Blunder” by Adisa Tajudeen, alias Akin the poet and another one by Busayo Fakunle, bata performance and Atilogwu Dance. These performances were brought in intermittently to calm the nerves of education Bourgeoisie, who are not sure whether there is hope for Nigeria.
Understanding Modern Nigeria is a 690-page book, and a magisterial account of postcolonial Nigerian politics and society, centred on the key themes of ethnicity, democracy and development as fulcrum for theorising the past and the future of the country. It is an accessible and definitive textbook that is expected to shape the study of Nigeria by a new generation of scholars. Hence, the book’s public presentation is a veritable vehicle for bringing the discussion to the attention of the relevant audiences.
A session centred on ethnicity had Professor Ayo Olukotun chairing a panel that was moderated by an Ibadan based broadcaster, Edmund Obilo, had the Head of Department, Political Science, Professor Remi Aiyede, Professor Akin Alao, Dr Nathaniel Danjibo, Miss Oluwaseun Sanwo-Olu, a foremost film maker, Kunle Afolayan, and Dr Michael Afolayan. The second session moderated by Seun Akinola and chaired by Professor Tunde Babawale had Professor Francis Egbokaire, Dr Festus Adedayo, Professor Isaac Albert, foremost film maker, Dr Tunde Kelani, Professor Olajumoke Yacob-Haliso, and Precious Ibeh.
Different discussants acknowledged the dynamism and complexity of ethnicity in the country, and opined that a nation that is built on true federalism would put in place a structure that would enhance peaceful cohabitation among different ethnic groups. They argued that what differentiates a democratic country like the United States of America, with ethnic and religious diversities, is a strong political and legal framework that guarantee the treatment of everyone equally, with respect and dignity and the discouragement of any individual or tribe to subjugate and dominate the other.
Speaking specifically on democracy and development, after few postulations, Adedayo concluded that there cannot be a democracy in a country where her democracy is a mere charade or name tag.
Both Agbaje and Albert clearly established that Nigeria is neither a country, nor a republic and it has no democracy. Agbaje emphasised that Nigeria is far from democracy and development. He lamented that the governmental institutions have been turned to mere offices, saying that until organisations are turned into meaningful institutions, with good value, the country cannot smell democracy, not to talk of development.
In the contribution of Kelani, Nigerian democracy has no conscience at all. He justified this position by stressing that both Nigerian democracy and development are not people centred. “Do we have political parties in Nigeria? The political parties that we have are gangs, cults and economic gangs”, Kelani pointed out.
Egbokaire sought for restructuring of Nigeria, making political offices unattractive, changing politics from zero point to what everyone will benefit, industralising the nation, and fashioning out a model of tertiary institution that can support democracy rather than the current oppressive system that is producing anti-democracy as a means of moving Nigeria in the path of sound democracy and development.
Earlier, two speakers bore their minds on the book being presented to the public. The first was theformer Head of Department, Political Science, Professor OBC Nwolise. He pointed out that the book has six parts, with each part devoted to peculiar problem the nation is confronting. For instance, the first two parts dwell on the history of the nation, which helps in understanding the nation’s history and how the nation’s federalism was arrived at, as well as religious and ethnicity issues.
According to Nwolise, the book identifies parts of the problems confronting the nation to include absence of good value, poor political party system, ethnicity, purposeless leadership, exclusionism, government undermining the minority, dysfunctional education, neglect of agriculture, reliance on oil, failure to diversify the economy, failure of leadership, insecurity, lack of respect for knowledge and lack of culture of dialogue and respect for agreement.
Nwolise berated the federal government for using military to solve problems that dialogue would have been appropriate for.
Among the solution suggested in the book which Nwolise interrogated are pursuit of economic security, expected to encompass spiritual security, return to agriculture, economic diversification and use of Africans in diaspora. Nwolise strongly advocated for inculcating the spirit of national interest and death penalty for corrupt people. He also advocated for restructuring of the country, encouraged national dialogue, and creation of a new constitution that will guarantee egalitarian society. He concluded by noting that Nigeria has never been governed by democrats.
The second speaker, Professor Olufunke Adeboye, Dean, Faculty of Arts, University of Lagos (UNILAG), noted that the new book was born out of the author’s passion and concern for Nigeria, pointing out that the book is the author’s contribution to the debate on Nigeria. She said that Falola presented himself as a doctor attempting to treat Nigeria’s intractable illness.
According to her, Falola identified the ailments of Nigeria in the book to include corruption, mismanagement, political environmental challenges and human rights abuse. She noted that the book related the issue of maginalisation of women to patriarchal system, limited access to education, early marriage, media coverage and culture. She sought government intervention in solving women maginalisation problem.
The celebrant of the day, who is the author of the book was conferred with the Degree of Doctor of Letters (D. Litt.) at the recently concluded 2021 Convocation ceremonies of the University of Ibadan.
