By Rotimi Famakin

The need for citizens and key stakeholders in every sector of Nigeria to live up to their responsibilities in order to make Nigeria a great nation formed the focus of the 595th Inaugural Lecture of the University of Ibadan.

The lecture which was delivered by a Professor of Public and Development Administration and Civil-Military Relations, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ibadan, Dhikrullai Yagboyaju, x-rayed the corruption that has characterized past political dispensations and its effects on the country.

The lecture entitled “Big for Nothing: Nigeria’s Struggle with Paradox,” highlighted the early business sojourn of the lecturer, his academic encounter which wittnessed negative portrayal, disobedience to rules and corruption that manifested in all sector of the country.

Professor Yagboyaju, who explained that despite various seminars and conference attended within and outside Nigeria with themes targeting corruption and Nigeria, noted that the country has not attained it enviable status as a rich nation as it is being perceived despite the rich mineral resources at its disposal.

“Nigeria is the biggest trading nation the USA has in Africa. It is the fifth largest supplier of crude oil to the USA market. Yet it is in the same Nigeria that observers are confronted by the paradox of oil refineries that are coming back to life slowly after more than three decades on sick bed.”

“Also, there is a recently licenced privately owned refinery to support; rail, air and sea services that have performed abysmally for decades as well as roads, electricity and other physical infrastructure in sorry conditions; weak institutions, and for being one of the prominent world’s poorest countries, parading poor statistics as to the population of those who can access basic education, primary health services and other basic good things of life especially among ordinary citizens.”

He argued that while Nigeria as a nation was not the actual cause of its problems, leaders, followers, civil servants, security agencies and families were responsible for the current state of the country.

Professor Yagboyaju, who explained that the nation had been overwhelmed by numerous challenges leading to underperformance, noted that the electoral fraud and corruption that characterized the annulment of the June 12, 1993 election, and lack of good governance had caused widespread decay in the nation’s infrastructure. He added that various institutions and families have vital roles to play in projecting Nigeria positively to the global community rather than portraying it in bad light.

While recommending equality of all before the law, purposeful leadership, adherence to regulations, and restoration of the value system, Professor Yagboyaju maintained that Nigeria could move from being a “big-for-nothing nation” to a “big-for-something nation.”

“An effective policing system, again from the family and community levels, must be formed up. There is hardly a truer or more accurate illustration than the Yoruba aphorism, Ile l’a ti nk’eso r’ode.

“There is hardly any country that has come out of its period of mess without adequate policing. China, Iran and Singapore among others, were in mess at different points in the not too long history of humanity.”

“The time for decisive and diligent action is now. There is no room for delay in realising the promise of a Nigeria that is not just “big” but one that is BIG for SOMETHING productive.”

Emeritus Professors Rasheed Aderinoye of Adult Education, Literacy and Open Distance Learning, Kamil Olosho of Arabic and Islamic Studies and the Orangun of Oke Ila, Oba Adedokun Abolarinwa described the lecture as timely and an eye opener.

They called on all and sundry to work towards restoring the glory of Nigeria.