By Ayuba Yilgak'ha
Plateau State is miniature Nigeria. It is a centre of attraction where virtually all ethnic nationalities and religious groups are fairly represented including foreign nationals. This unique mix or configuration ought to be a great source of strength, innovation and holistic development but, unfortunately, that is not the case.
Despite all the advantages arising from demographic, geographical and geological make up of Plateau State, it has continued to lag behind due to intermittent ethno-religious and political conflicts. Since 2001, two years after the return to democratic rule (Fourth Republic), Plateau State went through series of violent conflicts especially in the Northern and Southern parts of state which has claimed countless lives with properties worth trillions destroyed.
Basically, Plateau State is regarded as civil service state. Therefore, a hand full of Plateau indigenes who are doing relatively well in terms of economic power are mostly serving or retired public servants and, in addition, political office holders who often returned to the former status - poverty after serving their constitutional tenure of office. Hardly can one find a Plateau indigene who made great economic fortune through business ventures.
The dogmatic civil service orientation the state is known for has not help matters because most of the state's indigenous youth often depend on government to secure jobs in already saturated labour markets. Until recently, only a few indigenes of the state have passion for business and entrepreneurship as a means of livelihood.
Whether for economic or political expedition, it seems unfashionable for most Plateau indigenes to step out of the state frontiers to hussle for sustainable means of survival. After school, the youth would rather prefer to keep safe under their relatives' or parents' roofs, hoping to be fixed in white collar jobs that are not readily available. Most of us have been victims of this dosile disposition which has caused so much time and opportunity wastage. Also, the political space in the state have been saturated by older political actors who hardly venture into national politics thereby creating a vacuum. For instance, since the demise of Late Chief Solomon Daushep Lar of blessed memory, the state has lost its pride in national politics. Our own respected elder statesman, former Nigerian Head of State and founder, Nigeria Prays, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, is there but practically apolitical.
Aside being a civil service state, it is important to note that Plateau has gained the reputation of a unique citadel for incubation and breeding of professional artisans, mechanics, educationists and intertainers, etc. which perhaps is made possible due to its hospitality, cultural diversity and the exchange of ideas/ experiences which have resulted in cheering advantage for the state and ought be sustained. The indigenous people of Plateau state have been found industrious when engaged in any work schedule but substantially lacking in frugality, the critical culture of saving and investing. The drive for pleasure and intertainment is responsible for this cultural weakness.
Even with the fragile security situation in the State, the drive for pleasure has continued to sustain clubbing activities, beer parlours, viewing and gambling centres, etc. These social centres bubble even during work hours. This development is not good in terms of productivity and security considerations. For effective and efficient productivity and security, good time management, mental alertness and social restraint are key. These could not be guaranteed at social centres where people indulge in orgies and pleasure.
Pleasure has to do with emotional sense of satisfaction in one's life. it can be seen as a utopian or deluded sense of relaxation from the cares and worries of life. Pleasure can also be described as a mental sense of fulfillment backed by celebration which could graduate into orgies and the culture of waste. That is why it is not out of place to concieve the drive for pleasure as a wild goose chase for untamed enjoyment!
It is important to note that leisure which has to do with activities done during rest hours is an important part of the rhythm of life but the pursuit of pleasure is not. Leisure is a strategic period for refreshment and renewing of strength for future work but the pursuit of pleasure is a distraction.The idea that pleasure is distraction is contained in view held by Viktor (1992) that "when a person can't find a deep sense of meaning, they distract themselves with pleasure." Plateau sons and daughters, though morally cultured, love the easy life which has become one of their greatest sources of distraction.
Hardwork and frugality pays but the pursuit of pleasure/orgies have brought down great nations on their knees. For example, Great Britain lost her hegemonic power to one of its former colonies, the United States of America (USA), due to the pursuit of pleasure. History has it that during the industrial revolution in western Europe, industry workers who started earning fat salaries began to crave for time to enjoy the fruit of their labour. This eventually began to affect industrial production in the continent even as America paid greater attention to hard work, thereby, fortifying it economic base which, amongst other factors, enabled her to clinch hegemonic power from Britain.
At present, Britain is so humaliated in world economy that it cannot measure up even in European Union (EU) which it took part in establishing as the country continues to lag behind Germany and France in terms of economic performance. Out of deep frustration, Britain has opted to exit from the union (Brexit). Also, the country has since become 'America's puppet', a humiliating status considering that America was once it''s colony!
It is equally curious to note that America is at the verge of losing its hegemonic power to China due to the latter's hard work and frugality. America seems to be deviating from the magic wand that gave her the leverage to displace Britain as the world power in the past. The economy of the country is dwindling due to the pursuit of maximum freedom and pleasure even as China is strategically and purposefully dabbling into the murky waters of wealth creation and is spreading it tentacles everywhere including Africa and Nigeria in particular.
The main theses of the expository essay are four fold. First is that, to be successful in life one has to keep the life that he must live and not one that he cannot sustain. The second being that there is still much that can be made out of Plateau potentials in tourism, agriculture, commerce, solid minerals, agriculture and, above all, human resource endowment but this cannot be realised without cognitive knowledge and strategic planning. Thirdly, hardwork and frugality are a compulsory mix required to put an individual or nation on the path of economic breakthrough. Finally, the pursuit of pleasure caused many nations to nose - dive and individuals to Kiss the earth or become social liabilities (living in abject poverty and sometimes mental derailment).
In Plateau State, the youth have been overtaken by the drive for pleasure and fashion. Most of the youth in the state love being trendy and tried to shy away from any job opportunity or schedule that is not office based. The youth are either ignorant or forgot the fact that there is no easier way to be overwhelmed by the burden of abject poverty than to be selective about jobs, in difficult times, where survival is at stake.
A wheel barrow pusher, sugar cane seller, corn roaster, cola nut trader, food or 'suya' vendor, shoemaker, waste collector ('Yan bola'), tricyclist, taxi driver, fairly used or second hand goods seller, in short, menial jobber who goes out there tracking chicken change (N10, N50, N100) which drops from the wallets of directors, permanent secretaries, etc could end up becoming wealthy as the buyers who invest in nothing but depend solely on monthly salaries stagnant or get poor, especially, after retirement when such earning ceases to flow. No economy, even in ancient times, can be created and sustained by buying and 'conspicuous consumption' alone. Even in 'Banana Republics', some value has to be created before it is carted away by intruders and free riders!
In the 21st century too, no vibrant economy could be built and sustained on the basis of monthly salaries. A situation where Banks/ATMs queues become 'ghost towns' until salaries of civil and public servants are paid is a classical sign of an ailing economy. Salaries are not sustainable lubricants for economic prosperity; only investment and production of goods and services sustained by effective and efficient application of labour hours and, technical know-how could last in any given circumstances. In other words, wealth built on the basis of productivity, competitiveness and innovativeness are critical in the post - modern world.
Unfortunately, low level of productivity and competitiveness; poor saving and investment culture are some of the greatest undoings of most Plateau indigenes. Plateau people hardly saves and even the few that managed to do so hardly take any entrepreneurial initiative and risk to promptly invest their savings towards higher productivity. Those who care to invest, at all, want quick returns, a situation that has made many vulnerable to swindlers. We are living witnesses to the sad experiences of many Plateau sons and daughters who fell victims to 'ponzhi' schemers who came under catchy but fraudulent names such as 'Mywise', 'Blue Goal', Fadama, etc.
The combined effect of this narrative is that Plateau State is under utilising it Production Possibility Curve (PPC) and has continued to witness the escalation of dynasty of poverty. With an estimated 55.1% living in abject poverty, the state is ranked 15th poorest in Nigeria (Statista, 2019). The poverty situation must have been worsen given the current Covid-19 lock down and the attendant job losses that follow across the globe. Other economic indicators have not shown promising outcomes too, despite efforts made by successive admistrations. This has to be stemmed to set the state on the path of inclusive growth and sustainable development.
The Plateau socio - economic, political and cultural buttons have to be resetted. By 'button', this discourse means direction or proccess of doing things. In an attempt to holistically change the way of doing things, a caveat has to be introduced: No blame game but the will to be objective and delibrate in words and actions is necessary. That is the way to go about it because the attention and urgency the issues at stake demand will not allow room for such mundane distraction.
As part of the process of revamping the state's economy, the civil service orientation has to be changed. This is achievable through entrepreneurship campaigns and massive investment in infrastructure to be championed by government. An expansion in the state's infrastructure will open up the economic space to accommodate more economic agents such as individual producers, firms and industries than politically sourced job opportunities which are not based on practical economic principles but political expediency.
The citizens, especially, the indigenous people who are grossly lagging behind are encouraged to back their hardworking disposition with frugality. This could be attained through simple tithing principle (saving and investing one-tenth of all earnings) or by way of eliminating or cutting down expenditure on the pursuit of pleasure and investing same on profit yielding ventures. It is not easy but when attempts are made and the ventures start yielding results, the attempted investor(s) will be motivated to do more and, gradually, the drive for vain pleasure will be curtailed, thereby, giving room for more investments.
The Indigenous people of Plateau are encouraged to cultivate the culture of stepping out from their comfort zones, especially, their home state to experience the 'warm from other suns' when the need arises. Or better still, those who insist staying home are to learn the art of doing business, at least, mennial one where cash constantly trickles into their purse.
More matured and experienced members of the political class from the state needs to be more engaging in national politics to free up the local political space and allow emerging political actors opportunity to explore and grow with due respect to the older ones. Plateau urgently needs a pragmatic and influential political father figure to fill the political vacuum left by our departed heroes. A handful of the citizenry have shown great potentials but who the cap fits to be the anticipated national political leader from the state is a matter of conjecture!
The need to intensify dialogue and peace advocacy as a means to prevent or mitigate the reoccurrence of violent conflict (s) in the state is another way forward. In the foreseeable future, the need to reorganise and resettle residents to make, at least, Jos matropolis to be more integrated as against its presently polarised places of residence between Christians and Muslims. This policy proposal might be very difficult but not impossible though. With greater pragmatism and commitment, the artificial fault lines that that have been created Plateau state could be deconstructed, first, from the mind of all residents to allow for the full and unhindered expression of our common brotherhood.
Let me conclude this expository - cum - rationalists discourse with the following excerpt from Clason's (1955) classic, "The Richest Man in Babylon". It reads: "The riches of the Babylon were the result of the wisdom of its people. They first had to learn how to become wealthy." This means that to build a functional economy, the economics and politics of wealth creation have to be diligently learnt and mastered by all well meaning citizens who are passionate about adding value to the system. The idea is to increase the number of active contributors and reduce the number of free riders in the economy of the state.
*(Modest Thoughts with Ayuba Yilgak'ha, December 7, 2021; SMS: 08116181263; Email: loisayuba420@gmail.com)*
*References*
Clason, S. G. (1955). The richest man in Babylon. New York: The signet books.
Viktor, E. F. (1992). Man's search for meaning: An introduction to logotherapy (fourth Edition). Massachusetts: Beacon Press.
Statista (2019). Nigeria: Poverty rate by state. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1121438/poverty-headcount-rate-in-nigeria-by-state/
