National development is a complex and challenging process worldwide. There are two main approaches – revolutionary and evolutionary – each with its own set of complexities and potential of setbacks. These processes are similar to industrial or contructruction production methods and are applicable to virtually every nation on the planet – with an inherent component of a dirty (debris) phase. It is important to remember examples of these dirty phase – that even the entire Europe and Japan, which endured immense devastation during the napoleonic wars, first and second world wars, were able to overcome these challenges and rebuild.
The notion of Nigeria being labelled a failed state is often a result of a lack of understanding and impatience with the evolutionary process of development, which naturally involves various obstacles and grave challenges . It is crucial to acknowledge that no part of the world possesses absolute peace or flawless governance, negating these generalized assertions of a failed or failing state. It must be understood that challenges are an integral part of development, just like how building construction experiences a “dirty stage” with debris during the substructural and superstructure construction phases, and so is the development of nations We must recognize that Nigeria and most of Africa are going through this “dirty phase” of development.
However, what truly makes a difference in development, similar to the construction process, is the quality of expertise and process managers involved in resolving these issues. Admittedly, Nigeria may face challenges and deficiencies in this area in quality of managers of the development process as democracy nor any other process of leadership selection does not guarantee best hands of management, but that does not signify a failure of the state or its development.
The notion of Nigeria’s failures stems from the perceptions of individuals filled with discontent. These are individuals who refuse to engage in the development process with patient rationality but with angst.
Regrettably, in Nigeria, propaganda, ethno-religious rivalry and divisions and limited understanding of the historical challenges to the development process as a result of the clash of civilization and culture induce by colonization has created a citizenry who approach approach national matters with a mindset, focusing on defending their personal or group’s righteousness. Rather than embracing reason, constructive engagement and contribution to national development as development units of the nation state, rather choose to construct their own self-justifying anger towards the development process.
Architect Baba Isimi, FNIA, contributed this piece from Abuja.
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