Mr. President must read this SEPTEMBER 22, 2013 BY Sunday Nyityo Leave a Comment I recently visited Toronto (not to collect a certificate like some politicians that made the city popular in Nigeria). On our way from the airport, I engaged my host in a discussion about the country in general. These are some of the insights: First was the deliberate plan of the Canadian government to discourage excessive wealth acquisition. How is it done? I probed. Due to the transparency in the system, all monies earned are traceable. Therefore, the more money you make, the more tax you pay. This made a lot of sense to me. Wealth can easily be spread and too much affluence will not reside with few as we have in Nigeria. As each day progressed, I learnt new things. I discovered they have a well-structured housing system. My host enlightened me on their mortgage system. One deposits about 30 per cent of the house value with interest rate of not more than five per cent, with credit receivable after five years. What that means is that you could sell the house after five years and use the credit to buy a bigger house if one desires. To my chagrin, I discovered that cars are leased to buyers at interest-free loan payable within 78 months. I also learnt that people pay heavy tax but enjoy the value in the provisions of good road, free health care and education. Government pays for all students. There is legislation for students to attend schools within the geographical areas they reside. My host told me that, the choice of their children’s school informed where they live. The road network is super. All roads tarred were to the inner streets. I was informed that routes are reconstructed if they have too much traffic. Obedience to traffic law is sacrosanct as heavy penalties are paid or licence may be withdrawn. Water and electricity work without any hitch. Let me not talk about their tourism and farming. But you can Google Niagara Falls to have a feel of what tourism can do to a nation. The few days spent in Canada set me thinking about the real essence of leadership and why our own leaders don’t see all these when they travel or refuse to implement them in our nation. On my way back to Nigeria, the problem started from the airport as the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria officials could not set bars for passengers to queue in a straight line. With the air conditioners not working, chaos started. Anyway, we grumbled our way through immigration and waited again endlessly for our baggage to roll out of the conveyor belt. The customs men also harassed what was left of the tolerance in some of us. By the time I got to the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, the state of the road had become worse due to rain and usage. I thought the contract for this road was awarded? I asked myself. On getting home, there was no electricity, we had to start the generator to first pump water and enjoy electricity by polluting the environment. I was seriously depressed and felt like selling all I had acquired and relocate. The 2015 distraction is too much. It looks like a deliberate ploy for Mr. President to fail. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo gave us Global System for Mobile Communications, President Goodluck Jonathan should give us electricity. Remember, all you have is today. Tomorrow is in God’s hand. Sunday Nyityo, Benue state,
Posted on: Sun, 22 Sep 2013 10:11:24 +0000
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