Monday, August 03, 2009   

Culture and discipline, pathways for Nigeria's development
By Anote Ajeluorou

Nigeria's current democratic experiment and the image problem will continue to generate intellectual discourse. Several writers and commentators have continued to offer advice on how to move the nation forward. One such effort that will be unveiled on October 29, 2009 is a book titled Face of a Nation. It is the three years of research efforts of Dr. Zimako O. Zimako, a lawyer, a political analyst and motivation speaker.

While commenting on the timeliness of his forthcoming book, Dr. Zimako said his book was an "analysis of Nigeria's past, a diagnosis of the present, where we are and a possible prognosis into the future, where we are headed as a nation in terms of proffering solutions" to Nigeria's nagging problems of development. He also stated that the uniqueness of his book arose from the fact "most people have failed, refused and neglected to speak through books about national image", noting that the book dwells much on Nigeria's image and expresses concerns about image management.

Face of a Nation has three major segments, which examine Nigeria's problems from the perspective of the author. Part one deals with 'Democracy in Nigeria'; part two is on 'Foreign Relations', while the lastl part is on 'National Image'. Intended also as an image builder for the nation, Dr. Zimako noted that rebranding as currently being canvassed "is meant to make us look beautiful, how we are in terms of the way we conduct our affairs". His book, he stressed, takes a critical look at the image problem and the national challenges and how to move forward.

He, however, said all the aspects of the book have something for readers of all clases. The political aspect, he said, was not only promising but appetizing while the other aspects were equally enticing and rich.

On whether Nigeria has truly democratised, Dr. Zimako conceded that what was certain was that Nigeria is under a civilian rule but whether she was truly democratized as yet was arguable, noting that it was difficult to describe Nigeria in true democratic terms. He assured, however, that Nigeria was in a process of getting things right, and wished with all his heart that the nation truly succeeded in her current efforts to get things right. But Dr. Zimako shied away from scoring President Musa Yar'Adua, saying that the President was doing his best but that "he has the opportunity to do better than he was doing".

Problems of university teachers' strike, Niger Delta, insecurity and several others, he said, were issues that currently bedevil the nation, which his book will address. He said there was no small problem in Nigeria as each one was itself big depending on which side of the divide you belong. However, Dr. Zimako stressed that leadership as a political problem seemed to resonate more because it was a coordinating point amongst all the other problems.

He said, "Most people prefer to look more at the coordinating point - leadership. Is it political leadership or traditional leadership? You find out that things are not really what they ought to be. We want to look at leadership from the father's position as head of the family. How is he behaving to the kids? Is he responsible or responsive enough? Leadership has to do with family value, too, not just political leadership. I'm concerned. If things are properly organised like the book is trying to advocate, we will get there".

Dr. Zimako particularly bemoaned the educational sector that has fallen into desperate times with successive inept administrations. He argued that Nigerian education used to be the envy of the world at a point in time but that it was no longer so. Reading culture, he said, has dimmed.

"The system we are growing is not healthy," he stressed. "Research must seriously be encouraged. All countries in world today give great attention to education and research. Allocation to education is currently at 13 per cent whereas UNESCO prescribes 26 per cent. With that kind of allocation, how can research flourish? It's part of what we are saying. The funds made available determine the level of research.

Nigeria's resurgence could only come through imbibing a new culture, where the ephemeral and transient nature of political power should not be lost on those in quest for it. So, a new culture hinged on discipline, the motivational speaker canvassed, was what would define a new era for Nigeria. It was also what his coming book advocates, he noted.

Dr. Zimako said, "We need vibrant politics, politics of cheerfulness. Even those going to government should appreciate that power expansion is ephemeral and while it lasts, it should be used for the greatest good of the greatest number. These days what you see is the struggle to make money. The book is advocating a new culture and a new discipline".

On the possible impact his book would make in view of the plethora of such efforts in the past that led nowhere, Dr. Zimako affirmed otherwise. "There is this saying that if you want to hide anything from a Nigerian, put it inside a book. It is not just by publishing a book. We also intend to complement the effort of well meaning Nigerians within government circles and outside the government to join hands together and move the country forward.

"We plan that after the book launch, we would hold a town hall meeting for Nigerians to appreciate the need for a new culture and discipline, the new way of doing things. The old way of doing things in a positive manner is also inevitable. These days getting rich appears to be the main thing to most people. We want to get back to the good old days when integrity was the hallmark for all."

While leadership appears to the major victim in Nigeria's quest for development, Dr. Zimako is also of the view that the led has responsibility too. Such responsibility included making leaders accountable for their deeds. However, he does not believe that Nigeria is static on account of a docile led and non-performing leadership.

"No society is actually static," he offered. "We are all moving. Either way, you move forward or backward. You cannot say that overall, nothing good has been done but the expectations are very high. It is part of the process within our yearnings and aspirations to move the country forward."

Face of a Nation will be launched on October 29, 2009.

for more info click : http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/arts/article01//indexn2_html?pdate=030809&ptitle=Culture%20and%20discipline,%20pathways%20for%20Nigeria's%20development