David Odey|13 November 2015|14:20pm
The late Professor Walter Rodney is credited with a revolutionary master piece on European Imperialism in Africa, with which he brilliantly portrayed the horrible exploitation of Africa and Africans by the European imperialist leading to the underdevelopment of the continent.
Sadly, after 43years of the publication of his book ‘How Europe Underdeveloped Africa’, and after more than 50years of nationhood under self-rule, Nigeria and indeed most of Africa is still underdeveloped.
Although the professor had x-rayed the challenges of the young independent African states to be connected with the rape of our material and human wealth by Europe, it is folly to continuously blame our woes on external influence because the future of our country and continent from independence is what we had crafted, and continue to sustain with little change whatsoever. Similarly, the self-acclaimed ‘Giant of Africa’, Nigeria, with all the human and material resources at her disposal has nothing tangible in terms of development to show for.
In April of year 2014, both local and international media houses were agog with how Nigeria had become Africa’s largest economy with a total GDP of $509.9 billion, over South Africa’s $307.6billion. As if to conjure this new unpalatable realization into more cash at hand or in the bank for the average Nigerian, or a general improvement in the standard of living, the local media presumably prodded by the then ruling political party at the center (the PDP) for obvious reason, kept at singing this stale song to a deafening degree.
The substantial reality however was that the political class continued milking the treasury for personal gain; news on the purchase of private jets, and bullet proof SUVs with state funds were rife was met with little investigation or appropriate sanctions so much so that the public were made to understand that stealing was no corruption. Alas! The rape of our material wealth and it laundering to foreign banks by fellow Nigerians became the order of the day.
Meanwhile the ordinary Nigerian was condemned to lavish in abject poverty, employment scam, victims of unresolved pension fraud, work without salary, and helplessness in a society with an institutionalized corruption and failed government policies. These and many more was the fuel that powered the vehicle of ‘Change’ during the last national election.
Our new found political culture in democracy though consistent in practice for one decade now is yet to be considered developed. In the absence of clear political ideologies and the non-implementation of constitutional provisions, we have been regular witnesses to political prostitution by the political elites, who out of greed for a swelling pocket, obsessive thirst for the enthronement of impunity and a total disregard for the plight of the masses jump ship from one political party to another when their personal ambition do not tally with whichever cabal called the shot at any particular time. Of particular interest is the ‘Distinguished’ Senator Victor Ndoma Egba’s recent formal desertion of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), from whence he had until now benefited immensely. For it was on the platform of the PDP he rose to become the Senate Leader. A position that guaranteed his membership of the PDP National Caucus, and as such one of the most influential persons in the country.
Though a large section of the citizenry may agree to the statement credited to him that the “PDP created a large pool of IDPs (Internally Displaced Politicians), and that the PDP gave “a template of what should not be done, that impunity is not sustainable”. Many however will not absolve him of these very sins and rightly so because he is believed to have enjoyed the impunity until his fourth term ambition and fortune was drowned by other interests.
Sovereignty in a democracy truly resides with the people and with the power of their votes. The change mantra of the APC couldn’t have resonated so much to capture the interest of Nigerians if the PDP for instance weren’t politicizing almost everything, including our developmental needs especially the provision of basic amenities like water, housing, power and roads.
But is the PDP truly learning from its pitfalls? These will be better demonstrated to a large extent by sitting secured-after-tribunal-judgment Governors of the party and this must be seen in tangible terms.
A case in point to be addressed is the poor state of both federal and state roads crisscrossing the country. It is no gainsaying that Nigerian road users have had it rough for most part of our national life. A situation made worst by total neglect, fielding of inexistent companies to divert funds, or ill contractors who are answerable to no one or having some corrupt collaborators in high places; even though these roads play an important role in the socio-economic wellbeing of the nation based on our collective agricultural potential.
The deplorable state of the Calabar-Itu federal highway comes to mind. Although the Ex-Senate Leader had divulged to a cross section of Cross River State Council of Chiefs in 2012 of the award of contract for the repair of that section of the road, among other assurances of it been captured in the appropriation budget of 2014, nothing had been concretely done, leading to untold hardship by road commuters.
Several other examples of contracts awarded for the maintenance and repair of federal roads in the state abound with little or nothing to show for it. There include, but not limited to, the Calabar–Ikom highway allegedly assigned partly to the Chinese Civil Engineering Construction Corporation(CCECC), and Sermatec, to the Ikom, Obudu road abandoned during the Sen. Liyel Imoke’s administration. Of equal importance to the economic development of our state is the Akpabuyo-Calabar road for which many will be fast to describe as miraculous if a successful journey is made from that part of the State to the capital.
However, the Cross River State government on Tuesday 10th of November issued a press release expressing it readiness to carry out maintenance work on the Calabar-Itu road to alleviate the suffering of the masses. This is most probably to address the public clamor by concerned Cross Riverian online and on the ground. Although commendable the intention of the State government to seeing that road users have some comfort while going about their business, proper steps must be taken to ensure that whatever work carried out will be enduring. Whatever is worth doing is worth doing well, so goes a saying.
Now to other matters of concern regarding the flooding city of Calabar that has become a recurring annual phenomenon due to the absence of sufficient water channels or the blockage of drainages by waste washed off by flowing water from residential houses, and businesses operating in the metropolis.
Again the theme of this year’s carnival “Climate Change” is apt to say the least. Research have showed that coastal cities world over will be worst hit by the adverse effect of Climate change especially as regards the rise of the sea water level and how floods are managed.
Last year alone, one Judex Okoro of the Sun newspaper had reported that over 350 houses were destroyed, and 1000 persons displaced as a result of flood in Calabar. We must not tarry for a repeat of the same or even worst. We have witnessed landslides in other part of the country occasioned by floods. This makes it imperative that the obstruction of mobility for instance among other inconveniences caused by the recent flooding serve as an early warning signal. Imagine what a Carnival we may package for the world if the city coincidentally gets flooded! Efforts must be made therefore to clear existing water ways of debris causing blockages and most importantly embark on the construction of more water Channels to properly drain our streets and road of flood water.
In conclusion, we must continue to congratulate ourselves and our dear Governor, Sen. Ben Ayade for having conceived the 260KM super highway to link Calabar to Northern Nigeria, the ongoing work for the garment factory is likewise a source of hope to Cross Riverians for increased opportunities. But as it is said in public circles, we hope the much talked about developmental initiative of the present administration isn’t another white elephant project like the Tinapa business resort that had been politically strangled.
The people are cautiously watching, and hoping that development will henceforth not be politicized or robbed off from corrupt practices. It is in that light that the Cross River State government must ensure that construction firms handling the ongoing projects and those yet to kick off adhere strictly to the terms of contract and proper supervision made to guard against a situation where there will exist a wide gap between design and execution.
David Odey
Is a Public Affairs Analyst & Social Commentator
