Nigeria not a failed state

Niyi Akinnaso

HONESTLY, it is beyond me how Nigeria’s political elite, especially politicians in power and those aspiring to grab power from them, interpret information, including critical advice. Ever since the Financial Times used the words “failed state” in its advice last week to the Nigerian leadership to reset priorities in order to avert failure, politicians have been rolling over themselves, either in condemning the FT or in supporting it over its statement on Nigeria.

Unfortunately, however, neither side appears to have thoroughly grasped the full import of the FT statement. Defenders of the ruling All Progressives Congress have been quick in condemning the FT for describing Nigeria as a failed state. Members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party quickly jumped on the statement to declare that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC government has failed.

The truth really is that there is nothing to condemn in what the FT said about Nigeria in the statement, just as there is nothing there to make the opposition trigger-happy against Buhari.

In fact, the FT does not describe Nigeria as a failed state. Not at all. Beginning with the title of the statement and running into what could be regarded as a subtitle, the focus is on advising the Nigerian government to avert failure.