Benjamin Disraeli once said, "there are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics." How apt and pertinent this statement has proved to be in contemporary Nigerian context. It is not so often that one, no matter how incurable their optimism, finds an acorn in a desert of hopelessness. It is in the context of the aforesaid that I wish to bring a few salient facts to the attention of the reader. My hope is that the seemingly eternal gloom that descended on Nigeria may be put into perspective. It is not an attempt to raise false hopes, but rather, to raise the level of optimism in the future of our country. It is a hard-sell, and I don't take for granted the obvious fact that most of us have little or no faith in the path we have taken in recent times. For the avoidance of doubt, let me state right from the off that Jonathan and his ilk are not, and cannot, be players in the very near future of our country if our potential as a country and a people are to be fully realized and harnessed for the betterment of all.
Disraeli, in his classification of lies, as far as statistics was concerned, was actually indicating the propensity of individuals to spin the figures to suit their own purposes, political or otherwise. It is an especially dastard enterprise when such spins totally disregard the devastating impact of such on ordinary human lives.
According to Rand Merchant Bank's annual "Where To Invest In Africa: A guide to corporate investment" report (BusinessDay Live, 11 October 2013), Nigeria has advanced from the 73rd to 35th position in the past decade in the World Index, with South Africa declining to 33rd. The elements driving this upward trajectory, for the most part, are the twin advantages of high population and rich endowments of natural resources. If anything, had corruption not been the main staple of our political economy, Nigeria would have long developed into a veritable tiger economy without a shadow of a doubt. In spite of the thieving political class, Nigeria is even forecast to overtake South Africa as early as early 2014 as the largest economy in Africa. All we need is to harness all the comparative advantages we have and defenestrate the destroyers of our commonwealth.
Another set of statistics that may gladden the heart point to the fact that our GDP is expected to be within the 6-7% range for the next half decade despite the preventable continued loss of oil revenue due to theft and the current security challenges. In due course we could see BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) transmuted into BRINCS (adding Nigeria to the mix). What a mouth-watering prospect! With Nigeria's GDP put at $268.7bn (according to the WEF, World Economic Forum), our economy is nothing to be sniffed at, but the translation of such huge national income into social advancement and improved well-being of Nigerians remains the biggest challenge of all. Feeling cool? There's more.
Nigeria is currently 120th (out of 148 countries) on the WEF global competitiveness list with South Africa in 53rd place. All we need to launch an assault up the scale is to invest massively in our infrastructure like never before. The carrot is being dangled in our face but it takes political courage, will and dedication to do what it takes. The ineptitude, corruption, myopia and cowardice of the current crop of politicians are what need to be fought to the ground. In the end, it is a question of the state of readiness of Nigerians that will decide whether we grab the carrot or snub it.
It is now quite clear that we have a big fight on our hands. Are we going to maintain the status quo or smash it? Are we brave enough to dismantle this wasteful and corrupt political edifice or help prop it up through our acquiescence? Are we going to continue wringing our hands and hope for the best? Are we so badly bruised that all we are content with now is palliative treatment rather than fashion out a cure?
There should be no brevity of braveness. The bulldog spirit must come to the fore. 2015 beckons. We decide, not them. It's our call, not theirs.
Disraeli, in his classification of lies, as far as statistics was concerned, was actually indicating the propensity of individuals to spin the figures to suit their own purposes, political or otherwise. It is an especially dastard enterprise when such spins totally disregard the devastating impact of such on ordinary human lives.
According to Rand Merchant Bank's annual "Where To Invest In Africa: A guide to corporate investment" report (BusinessDay Live, 11 October 2013), Nigeria has advanced from the 73rd to 35th position in the past decade in the World Index, with South Africa declining to 33rd. The elements driving this upward trajectory, for the most part, are the twin advantages of high population and rich endowments of natural resources. If anything, had corruption not been the main staple of our political economy, Nigeria would have long developed into a veritable tiger economy without a shadow of a doubt. In spite of the thieving political class, Nigeria is even forecast to overtake South Africa as early as early 2014 as the largest economy in Africa. All we need is to harness all the comparative advantages we have and defenestrate the destroyers of our commonwealth.
Another set of statistics that may gladden the heart point to the fact that our GDP is expected to be within the 6-7% range for the next half decade despite the preventable continued loss of oil revenue due to theft and the current security challenges. In due course we could see BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) transmuted into BRINCS (adding Nigeria to the mix). What a mouth-watering prospect! With Nigeria's GDP put at $268.7bn (according to the WEF, World Economic Forum), our economy is nothing to be sniffed at, but the translation of such huge national income into social advancement and improved well-being of Nigerians remains the biggest challenge of all. Feeling cool? There's more.
Nigeria is currently 120th (out of 148 countries) on the WEF global competitiveness list with South Africa in 53rd place. All we need to launch an assault up the scale is to invest massively in our infrastructure like never before. The carrot is being dangled in our face but it takes political courage, will and dedication to do what it takes. The ineptitude, corruption, myopia and cowardice of the current crop of politicians are what need to be fought to the ground. In the end, it is a question of the state of readiness of Nigerians that will decide whether we grab the carrot or snub it.
It is now quite clear that we have a big fight on our hands. Are we going to maintain the status quo or smash it? Are we brave enough to dismantle this wasteful and corrupt political edifice or help prop it up through our acquiescence? Are we going to continue wringing our hands and hope for the best? Are we so badly bruised that all we are content with now is palliative treatment rather than fashion out a cure?
There should be no brevity of braveness. The bulldog spirit must come to the fore. 2015 beckons. We decide, not them. It's our call, not theirs.
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