Unsustainability of Failure: The Office of the Citizen | Dr. Oby Ezekwesili | TEDxMaitama

there’s no doubt that all around the

there’s no doubt that all around the world today citizens are angry it really

world today citizens are angry it really

world today citizens are angry it really doesn’t matter whether the economy is an

doesn’t matter whether the economy is an

doesn’t matter whether the economy is an advanced one or a poorly performing

advanced one or a poorly performing

advanced one or a poorly performing economy somehow citizens are angry and I

economy somehow citizens are angry and I

economy somehow citizens are angry and I think that a lot of the anger is

think that a lot of the anger is

think that a lot of the anger is expressed in a sense of dissatisfaction

expressed in a sense of dissatisfaction

expressed in a sense of dissatisfaction with existing system structures and

with existing system structures and

with existing system structures and procedures and processes and sometimes

procedures and processes and sometimes

procedures and processes and sometimes citizens don’t know how to organize the

citizens don’t know how to organize the

citizens don’t know how to organize the anger and so the anger becomes really

anger and so the anger becomes really

anger and so the anger becomes really dangerous that’s why the anger leads to

dangerous that’s why the anger leads to

dangerous that’s why the anger leads to violence and we see a lot of violence

violence and we see a lot of violence

violence and we see a lot of violence these days especially against children

these days especially against children

these days especially against children girls and women especially we see a lot

girls and women especially we see a lot

girls and women especially we see a lot of frustration and we see a lot of

of frustration and we see a lot of

of frustration and we see a lot of hatefulness that comes out of

hatefulness that comes out of

hatefulness that comes out of desperation to be had and to be

desperation to be had and to be

desperation to be had and to be understood by the other party but

understood by the other party but

understood by the other party but because it’s not properly organized it

because it’s not properly organized it

because it’s not properly organized it is so hateful it becomes toxic we see

is so hateful it becomes toxic we see

is so hateful it becomes toxic we see quite a lot that’s not right in the kind

quite a lot that’s not right in the kind

quite a lot that’s not right in the kind of aggression that comes out of what

of aggression that comes out of what

of aggression that comes out of what could be healthy conversation so

could be healthy conversation so

could be healthy conversation so citizens I need angry I recall that it

citizens I need angry I recall that it

citizens I need angry I recall that it must have been in 2013 or thereabout I

must have been in 2013 or thereabout I

must have been in 2013 or thereabout I was speaking to a group of young people

was speaking to a group of young people

was speaking to a group of young people very much like the kind of demography

very much like the kind of demography

very much like the kind of demography that we have in this room today and I

that we have in this room today and I

that we have in this room today and I talked about the office of the citizen

talked about the office of the citizen

talked about the office of the citizen and I said that the highest office in

and I said that the highest office in

and I said that the highest office in the land is not the office of the

the land is not the office of the

the land is not the office of the president it’s not the office of the

president it’s not the office of the

president it’s not the office of the vice president it’s not the office of

vice president it’s not the office of

vice president it’s not the office of the Senate President or the Speaker of

the Senate President or the Speaker of

the Senate President or the Speaker of the House it’s not the office of the

the House it’s not the office of the

the House it’s not the office of the state governor it’s the office of the

state governor it’s the office of the

state governor it’s the office of the citizen it’s the age of the citizen and

citizen it’s the age of the citizen and

citizen it’s the age of the citizen and so when citizens express their

so when citizens express their

so when citizens express their dissatisfaction in ways that appear to

dissatisfaction in ways that appear to

dissatisfaction in ways that appear to be uncivilized unhealthy toxic it is

be uncivilized unhealthy toxic it is

be uncivilized unhealthy toxic it is because the necessary social capital

because the necessary social capital

because the necessary social capital that would have supported a healthier

that would have supported a healthier

that would have supported a healthier negotiation of the contract does not

negotiation of the contract does not

negotiation of the contract does not exist if you brought this conversation

exist if you brought this conversation

exist if you brought this conversation to Manjeera one country for which you

to Manjeera one country for which you

to Manjeera one country for which you are gathered you see that it tells a

are gathered you see that it tells a

are gathered you see that it tells a story about the dismal failure of

story about the dismal failure of

story about the dismal failure of governance in the 56 years since our

governance in the 56 years since our

governance in the 56 years since our independence governance has produced

independence governance has produced

independence governance has produced less than what it should produce I love

less than what it should produce I love

less than what it should produce I love to look at governance as though it were

to look at governance as though it were

to look at governance as though it were a market so I think of governance and I

a market so I think of governance and I

a market so I think of governance and I say the maquette of governance and when

say the maquette of governance and when

say the maquette of governance and when I think of governance as a market then

I think of governance as a market then

I think of governance as a market then necessarily that market must have the

necessarily that market must have the

necessarily that market must have the forces that demand and the forces that

forces that demand and the forces that

forces that demand and the forces that supply and so when I look at the forces

supply and so when I look at the forces

supply and so when I look at the forces that supply I see

that supply I see

that supply I see some semblance of coherence in the sense

some semblance of coherence in the sense

some semblance of coherence in the sense that when I explain under military rule

that when I explain under military rule

that when I explain under military rule or democracy we’ve had structures of

or democracy we’ve had structures of

or democracy we’ve had structures of government best the supply side but when

government best the supply side but when

government best the supply side but when you look at the other side of that

you look at the other side of that

you look at the other side of that market which is the demand side that’s

market which is the demand side that’s

market which is the demand side that’s about informed active and engaged

about informed active and engaged

about informed active and engaged citizenry but that has not been our lot

citizenry but that has not been our lot

citizenry but that has not been our lot we have not had citizens that organized

we have not had citizens that organized

we have not had citizens that organized on the basis of coherence of what they

on the basis of coherence of what they

on the basis of coherence of what they expect of government and who have not in

expect of government and who have not in

expect of government and who have not in any articulate way expressed the quality

any articulate way expressed the quality

any articulate way expressed the quality of governance below which they would not

of governance below which they would not

of governance below which they would not engage

engage

engage and so the absence of the demand side of

and so the absence of the demand side of

and so the absence of the demand side of governance has led to dismal failure

governance has led to dismal failure

governance has led to dismal failure because the supply side of governance

because the supply side of governance

because the supply side of governance has behaved exactly the way monopolies

has behaved exactly the way monopolies

has behaved exactly the way monopolies behave the monopolist has no incentive

behave the monopolist has no incentive

behave the monopolist has no incentive for efficiency the monopolist is a price

for efficiency the monopolist is a price

for efficiency the monopolist is a price giver the monopolist

giver the monopolist

giver the monopolist has no interest in what you consider to

has no interest in what you consider to

has no interest in what you consider to be your quality they simply dictate

be your quality they simply dictate

be your quality they simply dictate quality and price is it a surprise that

quality and price is it a surprise that

quality and price is it a surprise that the price of governance in our society

the price of governance in our society

the price of governance in our society can be anything that anyone chooses it

can be anything that anyone chooses it

can be anything that anyone chooses it to be without delivering a product that

to be without delivering a product that

to be without delivering a product that you can recognize

so this absence of this demand side of

so this absence of this demand side of governance acting in perpetuity almost

governance acting in perpetuity almost

governance acting in perpetuity almost because it still doesn’t exist has

because it still doesn’t exist has

because it still doesn’t exist has created an incentive for failure how

created an incentive for failure how

created an incentive for failure how else can you define failure than to

else can you define failure than to

else can you define failure than to think of Nigeria as a country with

think of Nigeria as a country with

think of Nigeria as a country with boundless possibilities a country where

boundless possibilities a country where

boundless possibilities a country where you could imagine that all the variables

you could imagine that all the variables

you could imagine that all the variables that you need for production frontiers

that you need for production frontiers

that you need for production frontiers that are significantly better than many

that are significantly better than many

that are significantly better than many of the countries that we look up to have

of the countries that we look up to have

of the countries that we look up to have amounted to nothing so what does this

amounted to nothing so what does this

amounted to nothing so what does this say this says that the failure is

say this says that the failure is

say this says that the failure is internalized as a way of life and only

internalized as a way of life and only

internalized as a way of life and only those who somehow in a not very

those who somehow in a not very

those who somehow in a not very organized and deliberate intentional way

organized and deliberate intentional way

organized and deliberate intentional way escape the failure and the consequences

escape the failure and the consequences

escape the failure and the consequences of the failure managed to be better than

of the failure managed to be better than

of the failure managed to be better than the others that’s not sustainable that

the others that’s not sustainable that

the others that’s not sustainable that shows an incredible seed of implosion in

shows an incredible seed of implosion in

shows an incredible seed of implosion in any society how else can you define our

any society how else can you define our

any society how else can you define our failure than the fact that

failure than the fact that

failure than the fact that a country which mcvish you of all the

a country which mcvish you of all the

a country which mcvish you of all the factors of economic growth available to

factors of economic growth available to

factors of economic growth available to it could have if not two times or what

it could have if not two times or what

it could have if not two times or what at least three times of its GDP stomps

at least three times of its GDP stomps

at least three times of its GDP stomps around the place being happy that it is

around the place being happy that it is

around the place being happy that it is the largest economy in Africa on the GDP

the largest economy in Africa on the GDP

the largest economy in Africa on the GDP that is less than half a trillion today

that is less than half a trillion today

that is less than half a trillion today it’s now just about four hundred and

it’s now just about four hundred and

it’s now just about four hundred and thirty four billion or so a GDP per

thirty four billion or so a GDP per

thirty four billion or so a GDP per capita of two thousand five hundred

capita of two thousand five hundred

capita of two thousand five hundred dollars poverty population of more than

dollars poverty population of more than

dollars poverty population of more than a hundred million at sixty-one percent

a hundred million at sixty-one percent

a hundred million at sixty-one percent based on the Guru for Statistics data of

based on the Guru for Statistics data of

based on the Guru for Statistics data of two thousand last household survey of

two thousand last household survey of

two thousand last household survey of 2010 2011 but what’s amazing about all

2010 2011 but what’s amazing about all

2010 2011 but what’s amazing about all of these is that this is sitting class

of these is that this is sitting class

of these is that this is sitting class that does not recognize the failure

there’s a class that actually thinks

there’s a class that actually thinks we’re doing okay is just that we have

we’re doing okay is just that we have

we’re doing okay is just that we have little problems here and there how can

little problems here and there how can

little problems here and there how can we be comfortable in a society where by

we be comfortable in a society where by

we be comfortable in a society where by 2050 were going to be the tenth largest

2050 were going to be the tenth largest

2050 were going to be the tenth largest population in the world overtaking

population in the world overtaking

population in the world overtaking countries like the United States and

countries like the United States and

countries like the United States and already at a population that is just

already at a population that is just

already at a population that is just about half of the over three hundred

about half of the over three hundred

about half of the over three hundred million that way projected to become

million that way projected to become

million that way projected to become we’ve got some 14 million children who

we’ve got some 14 million children who

we’ve got some 14 million children who our school-age were out of school we’ve

our school-age were out of school we’ve

our school-age were out of school we’ve got certain states in this country where

got certain states in this country where

got certain states in this country where the enrollment rate

the enrollment rate

the enrollment rate is less than 20%

is less than 20%

is less than 20% we’ve got disparity in education access

we’ve got disparity in education access

we’ve got disparity in education access and completion and completion that is

and completion and completion that is

and completion and completion that is sometimes for every one person in a

sometimes for every one person in a

sometimes for every one person in a state there’s another state that

state there’s another state that

state there’s another state that probably has about five people you’re

probably has about five people you’re

probably has about five people you’re going to build an inclusive society that

going to build an inclusive society that

going to build an inclusive society that way it’s almost impossible so here’s my

way it’s almost impossible so here’s my

way it’s almost impossible so here’s my idea I love the word disruption I have

idea I love the word disruption I have

idea I love the word disruption I have been so fascinated by disruption as a

been so fascinated by disruption as a

been so fascinated by disruption as a concept that radically challenges the

concept that radically challenges the

concept that radically challenges the prevalent thinking because at the place

prevalent thinking because at the place

prevalent thinking because at the place we are going what my father used to call

we are going what my father used to call

we are going what my father used to call they I think he says it is the

they I think he says it is the

they I think he says it is the tranquilizing drug of gradualism it’s

tranquilizing drug of gradualism it’s

tranquilizing drug of gradualism it’s not going to get as far it’s going to

not going to get as far it’s going to

not going to get as far it’s going to it’s going to going to destroy us the

it’s going to going to destroy us the

it’s going to going to destroy us the tranquilizing drug of gradualism cannot

tranquilizing drug of gradualism cannot

tranquilizing drug of gradualism cannot fix what we’ve got so we have to

fix what we’ve got so we have to

fix what we’ve got so we have to radically change what we have as a

radically change what we have as a

radically change what we have as a supply demand gap so is thinking is it

supply demand gap so is thinking is it

supply demand gap so is thinking is it possible that there are people here who

possible that there are people here who

possible that there are people here who could become the arbiters of citizens

could become the arbiters of citizens

could become the arbiters of citizens governance a citizen governance that

buys out the existing class of people

buys out the existing class of people that provide governance simply say to

that provide governance simply say to

that provide governance simply say to them thank you for your failure we pay

them thank you for your failure we pay

them thank you for your failure we pay you for it now

you for it now

you for it now and we’re ready to underwrite the

and we’re ready to underwrite the

and we’re ready to underwrite the failure that would have continued to

failure that would have continued to

failure that would have continued to happen throughout the ages by

happen throughout the ages by

happen throughout the ages by guaranteeing you the quality of income

guaranteeing you the quality of income

guaranteeing you the quality of income that you could even index to what would

that you could even index to what would

that you could even index to what would have been finished from the public

have been finished from the public

have been finished from the public treasury is it possible that such a

treasury is it possible that such a

treasury is it possible that such a buyout option would be an approach that

buyout option would be an approach that

buyout option would be an approach that the redefines governance from the

the redefines governance from the

the redefines governance from the premise of what the demand side should

premise of what the demand side should

premise of what the demand side should have been asking for all along that it

have been asking for all along that it

have been asking for all along that it fails to do just imagine a situation

fails to do just imagine a situation

fails to do just imagine a situation where Nigeria becomes the country that

where Nigeria becomes the country that

where Nigeria becomes the country that truly practices that would whom grown

truly practices that would whom grown

truly practices that would whom grown democracy where it is about citizens

competing in sports to say we have the

competing in sports to say we have the best set of teams that are

best set of teams that are

best set of teams that are representative of what this country

representative of what this country

representative of what this country really is

and we’ve got the ideas of how to supply

and we’ve got the ideas of how to supply governance based on our demand for

governance based on our demand for

governance based on our demand for governance wouldn’t it be something

governance wouldn’t it be something

governance wouldn’t it be something worthy to try because I’m afraid that at

worthy to try because I’m afraid that at

worthy to try because I’m afraid that at the rate we are going we don’t want the

the rate we are going we don’t want the

the rate we are going we don’t want the peace of the graveyard

there are too many people that are not

there are too many people that are not like you if you think you’re angry you

like you if you think you’re angry you

like you if you think you’re angry you have another thing coming

have another thing coming

have another thing coming they’re not angry at anybody they are

they’re not angry at anybody they are

they’re not angry at anybody they are angry at you and I it is of utmost

angry at you and I it is of utmost

angry at you and I it is of utmost urgency that there be a way to disrupt

urgency that there be a way to disrupt

urgency that there be a way to disrupt the idea that we have all the time to

the idea that we have all the time to

the idea that we have all the time to fix all that is broken the fiercest

fix all that is broken the fiercest

fix all that is broken the fiercest urgency is now and it has to take a

urgency is now and it has to take a

urgency is now and it has to take a thinking process that challenges the

thinking process that challenges the

thinking process that challenges the status quo I think it’s the French

status quo I think it’s the French

status quo I think it’s the French philosopher also Montesquieu that said

philosopher also Montesquieu that said

philosopher also Montesquieu that said that that wishes worse than 1808 a

that that wishes worse than 1808 a

that that wishes worse than 1808 a tyrannical illegally is apathetic

tyrannical illegally is apathetic

tyrannical illegally is apathetic citizenship

this level of apathy in the face of this

this level of apathy in the face of this profound failure cannot in any way be

profound failure cannot in any way be

profound failure cannot in any way be sustainable so the unsustainability

sustainable so the unsustainability

sustainable so the unsustainability offices is space in world malcolm

offices is space in world malcolm

offices is space in world malcolm gladwell called a tipping point it’s the

gladwell called a tipping point it’s the

gladwell called a tipping point it’s the fact that a remnant would say we don’t

fact that a remnant would say we don’t

fact that a remnant would say we don’t want to think in the direction of a

want to think in the direction of a

want to think in the direction of a Humpty Dumpty we have to tip in the

Humpty Dumpty we have to tip in the

Humpty Dumpty we have to tip in the direction of a viable entity let the

direction of a viable entity let the

direction of a viable entity let the challenge begin

challenge begin

challenge begin amongst your generation it shouldn’t

amongst your generation it shouldn’t

amongst your generation it shouldn’t just be talking about not too young to

just be talking about not too young to

just be talking about not too young to run

run

run what is the package for making the

what is the package for making the

what is the package for making the society not become a Humpty Dumpty

let the challenge of nation-building

let the challenge of nation-building begin thank you