Nigeria at 62:How the Timidity of Nigerian Intellectuals Exacerbates Our Economic Stagnation. OCTOBER 02, 2022

Let no one be in denial, you cannot move Nigeria forward socio-economically on textbook-based theories and analysis. Can you name one developed country that operates parallel or multiple markets for the conversion of foreign currencies? What about the perversion of the quota system and federal character? Adam Smith and Carl Marx, for instance, couldn't have dreamed of a nation with arbitrary exchange rates or a political system where cronyism and nepotism are celebrated to the detriment of credibility. Our problems defiled every known logic or economic theory and hypothesis. They keep harping on Nigerian problems without identifying the genesis of the problems. Why are we underdeveloped? Why are State Governors indolent? Why is the unconstitutional unitary system we have adopted celebrated in one part of the country, but in another section, it's True Federalism or nothing? American Affirmative Action principle was given life because of the state-enabled setbacks that underscored slavery. Therefore, the extension of social ladders to generations of African slaves who labored for hundreds of years under untold hardship and without compensation is justified. Free education at all levels policy in Nigeria has consistently suffered rejection, not by any shade of orchestrated opposition from the educationally advanced section of the country, but by scholars and stakeholders from the educationally disadvantaged region. How can you explain that and still justify Federal Character and Quota System? Look at our hiring process and recruitment parameters for the Armed Forces and the Police Force. Why do we continue to have a bunch of semi-literate officers dominating the leadership of our Police and Armed Forces when we have thousands of university-educated Nigerians, roaming the streets, unemployed? Why are the Apapa Wharf and Tin Can Island congested with Cargoes when you have thousands of kilometers of coastline from Warri to Calabar without an international standard Sea Port? And how come certain individuals can't be the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory or the DG of the Department of Customs and Exercises? Are we one nation or not? Why do we have a train line to the Niger Republic when there's no road from Mile 2 to the countries in the West African corridor? We have to fix these institutionalized forces of refrigeration that are motivated by greed and ethnic nationality concepts first before we can dream of moving Nigeria forward. Let's deal with our unfounded fear and give equal rights and justice a chance. Thank you and God bless. May God bless the good people of Nigeria and those who are willing to repent. Amen.