was our painful conclusion, which makes a debate about Nigeria's image abroad an exciting topic of inexhaustible dimension and interest.
"Nigeria's image abroad" was one important and interesting topic of discussion by a panel of knowledgeable Nigerians hosted recently by Professor Pat Utomi. Even when each of the participants, in the typical Nigerian manner, tried to prevail on the occasion by insisting that his or her argument solely explains the negative image of Nigeria abroad, one still finds out that all the arguments put together are important and inseparable. Ranging from Pini Jason's insistence on systemic flaws to other arguments which centre on the economy and poverty, the explanations for Nigeria's image abroad is as complex as the society itself.
"Nigeria's image abroad" is but two topics rolled into one. It is about how the Nigerian nation is perceived abroad and how Nigerians living abroad are perceived in their respective host nations. One rubs off on the other. The negative image of Nigerians living abroad, as it has been in the past 20 years, was brought upon them mainly by the activities of miscreants in the Nigerian nation itself. Ranging from drug peddling to the "magic" Nigerians call "419", they were activities which originated from home and tarnished the image of every Nigerian abroad.
What is notoriously known in the Western media as 'the Nigerian scam" has proved to be more damaging to Nigeria's image than the now renowned female prostitution in Italy and the isolated Nigerian credit card frauds here and there. One believes that the current Nigerian democratic government is doing a good job in limiting the damage done to Nigeria's image by fraudsters. Dr. Christopher Kolade, the Nigerian High Commissioner in London, has been a great envoy in this regard.
One tends to sympathise with Pini Jason's assertion that the greater blame to our disrepute mast go to the various flaws in our political system. Not so long ago, this writer had to tell an audience of Nigerians that ours is one nation where certain individuals have become so powerful that they could literally commit murder in the glaring view of television and still get away with it. The British colonialists, to their credit, did give us a system of justice but its values have eroded over the years.
We were once governed by the rule of law! Let us remember that a traditional ruler was sentenced to die by hanging in the 1950s for his part in the ritual murder of a toddler. Today, cult crimes are committed in our higher institutions by the sons and daughters of Nigeria's untouchables, and we are unable to deal with it. Members of our judiciary cannot pronounce judgements with great confidence because "their hands are tied!"
Nigeria is neither the poorest nor the least-endowed economic nation of the world but our external image is that of a big Africa nation whose progress is crippled by the corruption of the elite. Twelve billion dollars is a lot of money in the economy of most nations but with impunity and effortlessly, the same sum could disappear into the private bank accounts of a few. How can the economy of a nation develop with so much corruption in the system and how can massive poverty be prevented if the nation's money is not being channeled towards the provision of jobs and opportunities for our people
There was this young Nigerian who was planning to visit home for a funeral ceremony. To one's utter disgust, one thing which made much impression on him was about how much money he was going to "spray" when the ceremony commences. One can see from this vain and shallow aspiration that ours is a nation of misplaced values. The corruption of the elite and the flaunting of wealth by drug peddlers and fraudsters, explains the aspiration of pick-pockets and armed robbers to also want to excel in their own chosen trade.
With the exception of those Zimbabwean farmers who had to flee from Robert Mugabe's den, how many foreign investors did Obasanjo's globe-trotting bring to Nigeria Obasanjo did not need to beg investors to come to Nigeria. These investors are the most crafty human beings, selfish and perpetually in pursuit of profit. They would listen to the propaganda of a foreign dignitary out of courtesy, while their respect is for the view of those knowledgeable economic advisers in their nation's embassies who can document how a flair for religious dispute in some corner of Nigeria can turn a wealthy businessman into a sombre beggar!
We must return to basics. Let us be prepared to fight corruption and other societal ills to a standstill. Let our nation be governed by the rule of law, where no one, irrespective of his or her station in life, is above the law of the land. Let us create educated men and women and not mere holders of certificates. Truly educated men and women would rather appear before the magistrates and pay their fines and penalties than bribe police officials to escape justice. If a campaigner solicits the support of a genuinely educated man or woman in support of a "generous" politician, he or she must be equipped enough to ask if the politician's monetary generosity is from his or her pension or parental inheritance.
Right from the primary schools to the universities and right from Ise-Ekiti to Abuja, our children must be taught that the present and future of Nigeria is their inheritance which they must defend and protect. When the Nigerian nation itself is ordered, respect for it will vibrate in all the corners of the world.
Dr. Akinola lives in Oxford, England
