WHAT IS, WHAT OUGHT TO BE AND THE NIGERIAN DILEMA

I am one economist who de-emphasizes what is for what ought to be (the unending positive economics vs normative economics debate). A concentration on what is, locks one in a box and limits the ability to reach for the possible. In Nigeria, we know what is and what ought to be but we go for what is.

Having square pegs in round holes in Nigeria is what is, and we prefer it.

Assuming national duties by virtue of state of origin, religion, tribe and/or personal affiliations is what is and is preferred in Nigeria above competence, capacity to deliver and know-how (what ought to be). In fact, we are ready to go on protests to protect “our own” (when s/he’s brought under scrutiny) that has clearly demonstrated incompetence and brazenly looted our commonwealth. This is what is and we love it! The result of this preference is seen on our tattered roads, in a dilapidated educational system, in unsecured security forces and in a broken social structure.

However, it is not unlikely to find exceptions to rules such as this in Nigeria in very unlikely places. One of such places is the position of head coach of Nigeria’s national senior football team (the Super Eagles). On Wednesday, 15^th July, 2015, the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) unveiled former Nigerian player, Sunday Oliseh as the new head coach of the Super Eagles. A position that had in the recent past been held by Austine Egwavoen, Samson Siasia and Stephen Keshi, all from the South-South region of the country. In all the conversations I listened to surrounding the drama of Keshi’s exit and Oliseh’s enthronement, not one Nigerian went for the usual what is, that is, nobody flew the tribal/sectional kite in the selection of Oliseh knowing fully, where his predecessors had come from. Everyone instead was more interested in Oliseh’s capacity to deliver (what ought to be) hence the controversy over his ability judging from his lack of experience managing a football team before now. This deficiency though, I heard Nigerians rallying fellow countrymen around him so he won’t fail. I heard people compare him to other untested coaches who eventually did very well and have pumped themselves high on optimism. Let me repeat that I have not heard anybody complain about a particular region dominating that position (unlike us!).

While I have nothing against football nor any other sport for that matter, I wish to submit here that there is no amount of laurels we win in football that will build our schools, roads, hospitals, improve our living standards nor mend our broken society (I want to see a society where this happened).

Fellow Nigerians, is it possible for us to channel this sense of what ought to be to other (I dare say) more important areas of our national life where it is hugely important to score policy goals because lives practically depend on it. Can we jettison sectionalism, favoritism and nepotism (like we have consciously done in the appointment of a football coach for Nigeria) and rally round our country within the extra time we have before it is game over?