The book: “Nigeria: Problems and Solutions, An in depth Study with Realistic Answers to the Challenges of Nigeria,” written by Pastor Sunday Olagunju, a historian and veteran journalist, was published in 2021 by Sabic Publishers, Ibadan. The author, whose journalistic experience spanned stints in administration, served as senior journalist, and later Area Manager (West) at Daily Times of Nigeria. He was the General Manager of the Sketch Newspaper between 2000 and 2001. In 1995, Olagunju received the Who’s Who in the World Journalist of the Year Award.
The author opens the book by tracking back to the colonial times in Nigeria, when the British colonialists introduced the indirect rule to give the impression of joint rulership with the natives. That was when the traditional chiefs were given some sense of autonomy and made to oversee the affairs of the people under the supervision of the whites. The author thinks that this led to the bastardising of the African heritage of the people, causing disaffection amongst the people, and leading to the Aba riot of 1929.
The author laments the incursions of the British on the Nigerian nation, how at the initial stage, the colonialists had run the nation by proxy, essentially through the Royal Niger Company up to 1900, and much later ruling the country directly for another 60 years, promulgating five constitutions during the period. Thus we had the 1922 Hughes Clifford Constitution, the 1947 Arthur Richards Constitution, the 1951 Lyttelton Constitution, the 1954 Macpherson Constitution, and the 1960 independence constitution.
In the book, Nigeria: Problems and Solutions, the author thinks that when Nigeria got her independence in 1960, it was only political and not economic independence. So the question is how much of design and planning did the natives who succeeded the British put into rescuing Nigeria economically? Or who then is to be blamed for Nigeria’s nagging woes? In fact, the author puts his question this way: “But did Britain really pillage or degrade Nigerian resources such that after close to six decades of independence, Nigeria has been grappling with all manners of woes ranging from circumstantial to man-made and situational problems also?”
Here is the crux of the matter. The author intermittently employs the question-discourse in this book to diagnose the problems with Nigeria.
He recalls the prognosis of some analysts that socio-political problems of Nigeria stemmed from the first coup of 1966, and that from then on, Nigeria had been on a descent to rudderless and directionless journey, even till now.
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So continues the author’s quest of interrogating the reason it has been difficult for Nigeria to evolve a unique political system that suits its disparate ethnic and tribal population. Or why it is possible that only eight or nine states in Nigeria are viable, even though the system is patterned after that of the United States of America.
In this book, the author explains that one of the key problems in Nigeria is the lack of peace. He states that a lack of peace is a key barrier to progress and development. He writes: “Anywhere you go in the country, you find restlessness, heightened commotions and unbridled tensions all suggesting an atmosphere of complete absence of peace and quietude among the general rank and file of the people. … Ethnic nationalities and religious bigots have contributed to have field days…” And he asks why stopping this has been impossible for the government and the people.
The author then analyses the factors that threaten the peace of Nigeria with a view to preferring solutions.
In this book, the author highlights the myriads of the problems that beset the Nigerian nation, such as lack of unity, inadequate development, and injustice. He particularly mentions the lack of closure on the Nigerian civil war, which is his focus in the sixth chapter of the book. Here the author discusses the after taste of the civil war of 1966 to 1970 as one of the factors that still haunts the nation.
The author continues his venture in exposing the problems of Nigeria, also making sure to proffer solutions to them. They include, mass poverty, inadequate science and technology know-how, incompetent and clueless leadership with grossly inefficient political system, lack of patriotism and dearth of quality representatives.
In this book, Pastor Sunday Olagunju discusses the inadequacy of the constitution and opines that no nation can function properly and efficiently without a genuine written constitution, which addresses the yearnings and aspirations of the citizens, and answers to the development quests of the people.
In this 59-page book, the author successfully explores the Nigerian conundrum. The book contains 23 intricately developed chapters, in which the author successfully prescribes solutions to them.
. Olatunbosun is a broadcast journalist, fact checker and book reviewer at Splash FM 105.5, Ibadan. He can be reached via 08023517565 (SMS and WhatsApp only) and email molatunbosun@splashfm1055.com.
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