Date: 2017-01-14

As Nigeria sails towards six decades of independence, the enormity of challenges facing it has not abated, and consequently it is an issue of discourse in many fora. It was not a different ball game at the 56th Birthday ceremony of labour leader, Comrade Issa Obalowu Aremu, held in Ilorin last Sunday. AHMED captures the mood of the event.

When in 1960 Nigeria became an independent nation, the atmosphere was all adorned with hopes. The period birthed with it new ray of expectations with confidence that the country referred to as most populous nation, was to be governed by own people and no longer under vassal rule as was the case prior to the independence.

Political leaders and elites from major and minor ethnic groups saw the autonomy to rule self without external influence as a respite, which would not only rewrite the history of the country but also develop it at expeditious pace. Those who championed the cause for Nigeria to be a nation on its own, such as Herbert Macauly, Tafawa Balewa, Ahmadu Bello, Obafemi Awolowo and Nnamdi Azikwe among others were with conviction that it was better to rule self because only "he who wears shoe knows where it pinches".

Their conviction was not oblivious of the multitudes of challenges bedeviling the country but political will and determination added fillip to the philosophy behind the driving force. Almost all these revered sages had gone to the world beyond but their selfless service and personal sacrifice to sail Nigeria to the desired harbour was not in doubt.

It was during the reign of the past heroes that Nigeria relied largely and harnessed resources from three dominant zones of North, West and East. For the North, ground nut pyramid was known to be major source of revenue, cocoa was for the West while coal was for the East. Earnings from these three economic fortunes were utilized for the common good of all. This manifested in the educational and infrastructural development in the regions at that time.

Similarly, proceeds realized from the economic fortunes of each region were also used in attending to capital and recurrent expenditures for the people of the regions. But all these appeared to have gone into oblivion upon the discovery of oil in the South otherwise known as Niger Delta region.

With the discovery of oil, which had since become lone economic source and abysmally made Nigeria a mono-economic nation, the challenges rather than abate, assumed an alarming situation.

Despite the development of information and communication technology in the present day scenario, Nigerians are still surprised that the avenue, which should ordinarily provided opportunity for the country to make appreciable progress, had not been fully utilized. Rather, the economy had snowballed into recession, thereby tossing economic experts and technocrats into thinking corner.

Among the problems presently afflicting the country are economic downturn, unemployment, decayed infrastructures, some of which include energy crisis and deplorable condition of Highways. While erratic power supply had forced many investors to close shops and workers thrown to labour market, the current state of the Highways has dashed hope with the level of carnage and avoidable crashes.

Like every society, Nigeria is also not immune from corruption. And presently, some Nigerians who allegedly helped themselves with the nation's scarce resources are facing charges of corruption in various courts of law. In spite of the war against the canker worm, believed to have eaten deep into the fabric of the nation, prompting creation of anti-graft agencies, some citizens were sceptical about the capability of the government to nip it in the bud.

All these scenarios formed the crux of discussion at the celebration of 56th birthday anniversary of the Vice President, Industriall Global Union, Comrade Issa Aremu, held in Ilorin at the weekend. The occasion also coincided with the launching of a book titled "Reflections on Good Governance and Development", which the celebrant authored.

Speaker after speaker also used the ceremony to eulogize the selfless service and contribution of Issa Aremu to provide solutions to the challenges facing Nigeria.

The Chairman of the occasion and former President, Court of Appeal, Justice Mustapha Akanbi (rtd), urged participants at the event to reflect deeply about the country and individual contribution to nation building.

Akanbi, who was represented by the Registrar, Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Ishaq Olanrewaju Oloyede, however, described Issa Aremu as a great man whose friendship will not becloud telling the truth.

He said the country was not ailing but her human content was defective and thus became difficult to quickly fix the problems confronting it.

"What I know about Issa Aremu is that his friendship will not becloud telling the truth whenever it matters. We must thank God for giving us a great man. He has been in the struggle with his head up, and this gathering showed him as a model for those who want to live a decent and progressive life. He is a man of integrity. Let me say that a life without impact is lifeless, it is better not to live than be alive and become useless", Oloyede said.

In his remark, Issa Aremu challenged the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to roll out economic blueprint to revive the ailing economy.

He said the policy should be designed in such a way that some factories that were closed down were reopened with a view to providing jobs for teeming populace.

Aremu, who dissected the ongoing anti-graft battle in the country, said the crusade was bereft of appropriate strategy.

He stated that although President Muhammadu Buhari has exhibited commitment to end the monster in nation's public life but the war still lacked policy framework, which could serve as a fall back when the need arises.

He observed that corruption was thriving in the country due to neglect of primary purpose of governance among top office holders, adding that "the more you fight corruption, the more it fights back".

The labour activist also challenged President Buhari to combat the menace holistically and ensure that those indicted for corrupt practices were made to face justice.

"We must support the President in his anti-corruption war, he has put it on the front burner of his government. But what seems to be lacking in this crusade is appropriate strategy. I asked sometime ago about the strategy of this government to fight corruption and up till now, there has not been a clear cut direction on which way it is tailored.

"There must be an appropriate strategy on how to fight corruption if you planned to succeed, because the more you fight it, the more it fights back. Corruption thrives because we have abandoned the primary purpose of governance", he said.

Speaking on the division in the organised labour, Aremu distanced self from the newly formed United Labour Congress (ULC) and pledged loyalty with Nigeria Labour Congress led by Ayuba Wabba.

He, however, said it was not too late to return to a formidable labour movement and urged leaders with grievances to embrace dialogue and resolve the differences.

Aremu noted that the labour union will not make significant progress if the current crisis in the union continues unabated.

On the rift among some leaders, the labour leaders warned that Nigerian cannot develop with the elite class engaging in war of attrition on personal ground.

Aremu, who made reference to the verbal attacks between former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, and Governor El-Rufai of Kaduna State and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, said such scenario was not healthy for nation's development

He said leaders should instead use their position to offer advise that will pull the country out of the challenges confronting it.

Speaking on the crisis in the oil industry, Aremu urged the government to work out modality to turn around refineries in order to end frequent fuel importation, adding that it does not speak well of Nigeria as a nation blessed with human and material resources.

The Mustapha Akanbi Foundation Hall where the ceremony was held in Ilorin filled to capacity with eminent Nigerians from all walks in attendance.