The Archbishop of the Enugu Anglican Ecclesiastical Province, Most Rev. Emmanuel Chukwuma has expressed dismay that Nigeria’s democracy is becoming more of materialism.
Speaking on Nigeria at 58, the cleric told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Sunday that the nation’s democracy would have gone down the drain if not by the grace of God.
“Our democracy is becoming more of materialism which is a total deviation from what was obtainable before.
“This materialism has brought about corruption, self-centeredness, inequality, diversion of justice and sentiments into all areas of governance in Nigeria.
“Nigeria’s democracy is going down the drain and it would have been worse than it is now if not for the grace of God,’’ he said.
Chukwuma said although Nigeria had fared well in some areas, however, it was unfortunate that she could still be celebrating lack of good roads, unemployment, unstable government, epileptic power supply.
According to him, Nigeria, at 58, seems to be more divided, experiencing bad governance and lacks visionary leaders.
Chukwuma said the way forward was to ensure that equity and justice was deeply rooted adding that Nigerians should learn to be sacrificial, selfless and sincere.
He said the work of development was the work of all Nigerians who could only set the country on the right part by eschewing bitterness, sentiments and tribalism.
“Leaders should serve with sincerity and love and also share resources without discrimination,’’ the cleric said.
In his reaction, the Director General of Enugu Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture,(ECCIMA) Mr Emeka Okereke, said that Nigeria was still struggling at 58.
“What is there to celebrate at 58, Nigeria is still struggling?
“Nigeria’s environment at 58 is still not favourable for industrialization which is supposed to be the main stay of our economy,’’ Okereke said.
The DG noted that the lack of power supply had made so many businesses to wound up and some others to relocate.
He said the period had been a very challenging one and there seemed to be no end in sight soon.
“Do we, then, continue to celebrate backwardness and celebrate nothing in particular?’’ he asked.
The industrialist said the solution to Nigeria’s problem is leadership noting that countries that were doing well today achieved it because of their focuses and foresighted leaders.
“You cannot compare the times of Azikiwe, Obafemi and Ahmadu Bello with what we are witnessing now because while some are foresighted, others are clueless and pursue personal interest.”
Meanwhile, a medical practitioner, Dr Jessica Onuoha, said the present government should not be blamed for the country’s present situation but that everyone should play his/her expected roles in the scheme of things.
Onuoha believed the current government can fix the country if Nigerians could be patient with them and repose some level of trust in them.
The doctor said most Nigerians knew that things were gradually falling in place, but they just shy away from the truth.
The Executive Director of an NGO, Association for a Better Society (ASBESO), Mr Chibuike Igwe, said Nigeria was still a crawling society at 58 because it had failed to practice true federalism.
According to him, the system of government we practice now is one that has made governance juicy, enticing and a quick way to legally enrich oneself.
Igwe noted that if true federalism and decentralisation was made to take place, it would deter unserious and irresponsible leaders from venturing into politics.
He said when this was done; everyone would put on his or her thinking caps and see how to develop their locality to match that of others because it will encourage healthy competition and even development of each region.
Igwe opined that entrenching true federalism not only in books but in practice and action was the way out of Nigeria’s problem and set it on the right course.