On August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King standing on the marble steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C, before a crowd of more than 200,000 people, used the phrase "THE FIERCE URGENCY OF NOW" in his famous speech "I HAVE A DREAM."
Nigeria, sixty-two (62) years after her independence from her exploiters and sixty (60) years after Martin Luther King's "I have a Dream" speech at the Lincoln Memorial, has remained an exile in her own land, living on an island of inequality, poverty and insecurity, surrounded by an ocean of peace and material prosperity.
It is for this reason, that last year's 'National Economic Summit,' which had President Muhammadu Buhari represented by Vice President, Yemi Osibanjo, and other important stakeholders in attendance at Abuja, was held in order to remind Nigerians of the "Fierce Urgency of Now." In Martin Luther's words, "This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism."
The phrase, 'The fierce urgency of now,' is an urgent call for leaders, policymakers, stakeholders and other working systems of the country to see the need to stop wasting time and get down to the business of eradicating the country's numerous, compounding problems with all deliberate speed.
The fierce urgency of now is a reminder that Nigeria, in the hands of "complacent optimists," won't reach the zenith of her potentials. This is the time to turn into reality the promise of democracy. It is the time to stop activity without results. We have no more time to waste, we need to produce results!
The years [democratic era] following the transition of the military era has been bamboozled by slow economic growth which has led to a decline in the standard of living, increasing insecurity which has led to the loss of lives and properties and the gradual movement into the digital age with little productivity.
It will be fatal for the country to take with levity, the urgency for the need to save Nigeria from the brink of economic collapse. The phrase, "The fierce urgency of now" is a double-edged sword which means that no one is left out as it regards building the economy. Everyone is intrinsically linked to each other whether it is the system that makes the policies or the other half of the system affected by such policies.
The rate of the economic growth in Nigeria is lower than that of the population increase. Nigeria needs to understand that her economic potentials can be tapped by investing more in human capital, agriculture, technology and industrialization.
If Nigeria is to gain much from agriculture, then Nigeria should practice more of scientific agriculture. The wealth of developed countries come more from industry, technology and agriculture. The agricultural part of the economy of the developed countries contributes immensely to their wealth despite the fact that their agricultural lands cannot be compared to what the developing countries really have. This is because the developed countries' agricultural economic system is scientific. They see agriculture as an industry.
The investment in scientific agriculture and industry such as mines and factories will help Nigeria produce more goods which can be used to boost local and international trade helping in the economic growth of the country.
Also, the investment in human capital is one of the ways we can use to develop our economy. Take for instance the increase in the number of "brain drains" by developed countries --- They invest in the skilled workers of third world countries for their own economic growth and development. This is becoming more frequent among the "world power" countries. For instance, Nigeria medical doctors are becoming sought after in countries such as the United States and Saudi Arabia. This is because these countries understand that the services rendered by skilled individuals from countries such as Nigeria can help boost their economy and increase the standard of living of their citizens. The government needs to understand that it takes a large number of skilled workers to make an industrial economy work.
The ongoing ASUU strike has, even more, made lecturers to consider giving their services to countries they would be better appreciated and has led them to accept "tempting" and better offers from developed countries.
Pertaining the quality of life or the standard of living of Nigerians, we first have to look at how the economic growth and the national income influences the quality of life of Nigeria's citizens. The per capita income of Nigeria can be gotten by dividing the National Income of the country by the number of people living in Nigeria. If this is done with a sense of balance, we would discover Nigerians are being shortchanged as it pertains towards enjoying the wealth that belongs to them.
New ideas and innovations that will improve the quality of life of Nigerians should be encouraged irrespective of the status of the individual who needs it. As earlier stated, the fierce urgency of now is a double-edged sword as whatever decision made in respect to economy, security and quality of life affects both the government and the governed.
The duality of the fierce urgency of now means the working systems of the country are linked to each other. For example, more goods should be produced which will lead to future growth. Agriculture should be efficient in order to produce resources for industry, uninterrupted power supply will help in developing capacity to build machineries in industry to help maximize the output of other sectors of the economy.
Revenues or the country's income should be redirected towards productive purposes, people or sectors that produce wealth. Taxes do not produce wealth, the exploration and exploitation of our natural resources through human labour helps produce wealth.
Insecurity on the other hand is another issue that Nigeria needs to deal with. The alarming rampage of homes, killings of innocent Nigerians and the destruction of properties is gradually crippling the economy of the country.
Farmers are afraid to go to their farms which would help in producing goods for trade because they are afraid of being killed, foreign investors are skeptical about investing in Nigeria as they are not sure their investment can be secured.
The government needs to equip the Police and work with local and international bodies to help combat crime and terrorism. Old ideas should be tested and innovations should be encouraged.
Government should not just make policies without power backing them up, but ensure to see that Nigerians can enjoy the full benefits of why they are called Nigerians. Without compromise, we all ought to hold ourselves accountable for making progress now.
We must consistently demand for results now and ensure that the employment of innovations be applicable in all sectors of the economy in that every sector of the economy yields output. We must share a sense of urgency with the mindset that what works for one will as well work for all.
Let us make our present productive while doing all we can to preserve the future of Nigeria. Nigeria can be great again.
© John Great Oluwatobi Ogah
Editor, MacNews
Writing Coach and Communication expert.
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