There is a common idiom that a chain is as strong as its weakest link. This means that development process does not allow a vacuum, one-sidedness or the existence of gaps that would require some re-visitation in the future. This analysis of the process of development becomes necessary in view of the recent celebration of Nigeria\u2019s 59th independence anniversary.
\nWise nations never sit and wail their woes, but sit up to prevent the ways to wail. In nation-building, distortion means allowing pretentiousness, meretrciousness, verity and loquaciousness to give a misleading meaning to existing achievement.
\nIt is as bad to disparage and undermine abilities and achievement, as it is to blow one\u2019s own trumpet, or magnify efforts still in the embryonic stage, wise men would remind us that pride goes before a fall.
\nA common cause of distortion in development process is an expression known as jumping the gun\u201d. This is a process of running before the appropriate time. Experts in development studies would emphasise reaching a state of readiness before embarking on any project. This pitfall of jumping the gun usually goes along with over-ambition, whereby things are done at a magnitude beyond available resources. A wise man advised that our business is not to see what lies dimly at a distance, but to do what lies clearly at hand.
\nEvery society or nation usually has people who are progressive as well as those who are retrogressive, usually known as conservative people. Thus, there are forces of retrogression, looking back and longing for an illusory condition and advantages which ignore current realities and the good of the wider whole. Conservation in nation-building goes along with influence peddling, lobbying to have or control of power and the polity . The consequence is the emergence of a monstrous power structure which becomes a \u201cSapiental authority\u201d, cabal, etc.
\nEmergence of a sapiental authority power structure or a formidable cabal makes it difficult for the popular will of the masses to become the basis of a democratic process. Rather, what comes into play would be internal contradictions which create wide gaps between government and the governed. There would also emerge an unbridgeable gap between the haves and have-nots, bringing about divisions, animosities, instability and crimes in society.
\nObviously, there would be members of society who would benefit from and would encourage a continuation of intractable chaos in a policy that puts the interests of the masses in jeopardy. Patriotism in governance involves bridging the dangerous gaps which foster instability, which na\u00efve analysts attribute to corruption. In reality, corruption is a symptom of in-built structural defects. The great pity is that many people rarely recognize the mechanism and intractable nature of the phenomenon of corruption.
\nThe enigma in the Nigerian development process is the existence of in-built distortions which came into being through political shenanigans and the monopoly of power by faceless sapiental authorities.
\nThe armed and security forces were instrumental in the installation of a power-structure which discounts the masses. The situation is more apathetic in the sense that it has become difficult to dismantle the institutions which would hardly allow best leaders\u2019 to make any meaningful change or difference, even with the best intentions and plans. Therein lies the real corruption\u201d
\nIncorporated into the power-structure which has held the nation to ransom is the element of religion, whereby there is no separation of religion from politics. This enigma brings elements of sacrilege as a clever weapon of the custody of power. Na\u00efve Nigerians may not know the modus operandi of this clever line of distortion in Nigeria\u2019s development process. Let it suffice to say that a nation where the minds of the people are held to ransom by religious dogmas, would have serious distortions in its development process..
\nAn obvious disadvantage in non-separation of religion from politics is the injection of imperialistic culture in a nation\u2019s development process, development is supposed to be indigenous, rooted in people\u2019s culture, world view and mindset. Genuine nation-builders see the necessity of applying the policy of local contents, whereby available indigenous talents and abilities are utilized rather than borrow what is alien to the people.
\nThus, one serious distortion in a nation\u2019s development is what can be called \u201ccopy cat syndrome\u201d, which can be facilitated by all forms of imperialism, including religion. Therefore, in the process of national development, decision-making with regards to identifying and sing sentiments what we call quota-system\u201d in Nigeria has become so distorted that abilities, expertise and integrity that embrace patriotism can be thrown to the wind in various appointments. The nation suffers!
\nThis pitfall brings along with it the use of people without adequate experiences and wide exposures to man strategic decision-making positions. What arises from placing wrong persons in strategic positions can easily be imagined in a nation\u2019s development process. Much of the in-fighting, inefficiencies and corrupt practices common in public, establishments can be traced to distortions in man power placements and deployments.
\nOccupational or career misfits often exhibit elements of vanity and vaulting ambitions as self-preservation strategies in public services. The fear of their deficiencies and hollowness being known by their collegues makes them to become tyrants and terror to those who can be intimidated. With the above mentioned distortions existing as fundamental structures, development process in Nigeria would be a pipe-dream until such distortions are resolved. Where anti-democratic conservatism predominates, the masses are discounted and discountenanced.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Bright Amirize<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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