"The way forward is for Nigeria to become strategic in her foreign and international trade policy by actively pursuing an economic diversification policy that will redirect its attention away from oil to other significant national products. This will have to go hand in hand with a focus on the stimulation of the agricultural and manufacturing sectors in ways that will facilitate Nigeria's growing visibility in trade, especially with the US. . .We all seem to know this already. What is lacking is the political will to see it through. However, while we wait and ponder our options, Donald Trump might win a second term in the White House, and the international world order founded on multilateralism might just get the last nail hammered into its coffin. We do not want to be left floundering while the wise states who have anticipated these incidences keep moving forward unscathed." (Prof. T.O.)
Thanks, again, Professor Olaopa; as always, you did well. There is indeed nothing else to add to your submissions here. I just have two brief observations:
First, this call for a paradigm shift for our nation, Nigeria, to redirect its attention away from oil to a focus on other significant national products is an appeal that has long been hollered in the ears of the leadership of the nation a million and one times. I pray this your yet another of such hollering would be heeded. Our leaders do not have a history of understanding the salience of that paradigm shift. Do we, or any nation for that matter, in the 21st century need rocket science to inform us that this is not the age when any people should base its economy on extractive economy? We need to know that a nation which economy is oil-driven will (and should) someday drawn in the dangerous pool of oil. And unlike water, drowning in oil is always terminal! Seriously, a lack of this knowledge puts us in the kingdom of political and economic illiterates, and that is so sad!
Second, I believe those of us who did not vote for Donald Trump or wished the likes of him to rule over us or over our people are the only ones still entertaining and dreaming the prospect of Donald Trump as a one-term president of the United States. Those who brought him in are not winking in their formidable support for their hero! With more than half of my lifetime hanging out on that side of the Atlantic, I can comfortably say that he is a winner of a second term. I have placed a bet on that fact with so many people and I am reasonably sure I cannot lose that bet. However, I have always added a caveat to my bet: a miracle can happen, and none of us is in control of that, and besides, something cataclysmic could also happen, and I am not counting the impeachment prospect to it, since impeachment does not imply removal. Our friend, Bill Clinton, was impeached but was never removed and he left the office (the second term) more popular than all those who voted to impeach him. Contrary to the prayers of many of us, this man might still be coming back.Listserv moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin
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