Lessons for Nigerians from Singapore By Bolaji Tunji

jonathan buhariA few days ago, precisely March 23, the death of former Singaporean leader, Lee Kuan Yew was announced. Days after his death, newspapers in Nigeria and most of the popular international news channels were awashed with the news and how he transformed  Singapore from a relatively obscure country with a-not-so-well-known seaport to an industrial giant. Born in September 1923, the late Singaporean leader was Prime Minister from 1959 to 1990. At the end of his tenure, he made history as the longest serving Prime Minister. Before becoming his country’s PM, he rose through the ranks of his country’s political history. At that time he assumed power, Singapore was a British colony and shortly after he came into office, he introduced a five-year plan which encompassed urban renewal and construction of new public housing, greater rights for women, educational reform and industrialization.

As at 1990 when he resigned, he had left a country that is efficiently run, bringing prosperity unheard of, before his tenure, to his country. Under His guidance, Singapore  had a per capita income second only to Japan’s in East Asia while the country had become a chief financial center of Southeast Asia.
Daniel Bell, a professor who had lived in Singapore during the years of Yew said this after his death, “Yes, Mr. Lee was an inspiring and charismatic leader, but that wasn’t his greatest contribution. Most important, he recognized and rewarded talent in other great leaders, such as Goh Keng Swee, and built up a meritocratic system designed to select and promote political leaders of superior ability and virtue: a system designed to outlive Mr. Lee himself. That is Mr. Lee’s greatest legacy”.
But his style of leadership was described as being ‘mildly authoritarian’. Actually, he had an iron-clad hold on power and his administration or should I say ‘dictatorship’ was intolerant of opposition.
During his ‘reign’, he was roundly criticized by the west due to his leadership style, but when he died, the west sang a different song. American President, Barack Obama described him as a visionary leader whose remarkable leadership helped build one of the most prosperous countries in the world. “His views and insights on Asian dynamics and economic management were respected by many around the world, no small number of this and past generations of world leaders have sought his advice on governance and development”, Obama said.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he, “…will be remembered as one of the most inspiring Asian leaders.” I have taken the time to narrate briefly the inspiring legacy left by the Singaporean late PM in order for Nigeria to learn a few things especially with the presidential election tomorrow.
Yew, from the above, was acknowledged as the greatest leader of Singapore, whose vision and courage helped to mould his country to become one of the world’s industrial hub. He encouraged homegrown solution to some of his country’s problems and he ruthlessly fought against corruption.

All the above were  not achieved overnight, it took over three decades. This is where Nigeria as a nation differs. Development does not come within a day or few years, more so in our country that has been battered over the years. Nigeria or Nigerians are not known for being patient. It is quite difficult to give a leader the required time to correct some of the ills in the society  or right the wrongs of the past. Jonathan has spent six years as president, his term of four years, while he completed the two remaining years  of late President Musa Yar’Adua. It is still a short period to access him. The question we should be asking is whether he has laid the frame work for the country’s transformation which I think he has done.
Let me quote from one of my previous articles on Jonathan’s performance. ‘Under his watch the government established 125 almajiri or Tsangaya Model schools, as it is now called, in 13 northern states. This is a way of coping with the almajiri problem in the north, as majority of out-of-school children in Nigeria are from the northern part of the country. Indeed, one can even argue that the north fare much better under a southern presidency than when a northerner leads the country.

In tertiary education, the government has established 14 universities as at last count. In the area of transportation, the administration should be applauded especially when one considers what it has been able to achieve. One of the busiest roads in the country which has been neglected over the years, the Lagos-Ibadan expressway is now under construction. Most people especially from the southwest zone felt the road would have been constructed during the General Olusegun Obasanjo tenure, they were sorely disappointed. The Ilorin-Ibadan expressway which was started by the Obasanjo administration is incomplete with the the Ogbomosho- Oyo axis, believed to be one of the most dangerous, unattended to. Benin-Lokoja-Abuja road is ongoing with some sections being expanded to 10 lanes. Onitsha-Owerri road is complete while the Onitsha- Portharcourt road is nearing completion, just to touch on a few of the administration’s effort in that area.

What about the rail transportation? It is on record that the Jonathan administration has done very well. I was especially happy one evening on my way home.  Vehicles had been stopped, in the usual manner around Fagba area in Lagos, because a train was about to pass. Within a few minutes, the coaches started coming. Apart from the front coach which had the technical crew, all the other coaches were flatbeds with containers on which were inscribed MAERSK.  There were more than 30 of such containers. The development further brought home to me the effort of this administration in bringing back the train services. I have always believed that to reduce carnage on our roads and also ensure a longer lifespan for the roads, some of the heavy duty vehicles carrying containers and heavy duty goods should go to wherever they are being taken by rail. Before the Jonathan administration, we know the efforts made by previous administrations in rail transportation. There was nothing to show for it.

In the area of electricity, I am quick to agree with majority of Nigerians that much still has to be done. But the foundation had been laid. Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) has been unbundled with the privatization of that sector. It is now left for the managers of the power generating and transmitting companies to recoup their investment in this area. Though Nigerians would say they are yet to see the effect of the unbundling, I am convinced this would come. The problem of power did not come in a day, and it would take more than a day to fix. New power plants have equally been commissioned.’

My stance on the above work by the Jonathan administration has not changed. I am convinced that the foundation has been laid. We may not see the result immediately but the results would come. But it is important that he consolidates on this. This should be a major consideration as Nigerians cast their votes tomorrow.

SUN

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