Let’s not go there!
There is no basis for comparing Nigeria with Rwanda. No intelligent reason.
The per capita income of Singapore is over USD90,000 compare to USD60,000+ for the United States.
So what?
Does that make Singapore comparable to the United States? In any way at all?
Malaysia is an Asian Tiger, having recorded giant strides under the outstanding leadership of Mohammed Mahathir, a class to whom Paul Kagame belongs. But Malaysia is in no way comparable to India, for example.
Countries like Nigeria, India, even Brazil with their diverse and multicultural nature are in a class all their own. Even very different from monocultural, homogeneous China. Following a markedly different path in the political, constitutional and institutional development which invariably impacts their economic outcomes.
There’s the sterling leadership of Paul Kagame and the massive turnaround and transformation he’s made in Rwanda over the past few decades. Kagame is an icon beyond Africa. With him Rwanda is punching well above its weight. He deserves the credit. Rwanda and it’s people deserves the credit.
But not to take cognizance of the very different natures and makeup of Rwanda and Nigeria, would be simplistic.
Rwanda is a country of under 13 million people, with a GDP of less than USD10billion.
How does Rwanda’s economy rank in Africa. Lagos’ (one of 36 Federal States of Nigeria) ranks 5th:
Rwanda is a country of three tribes (?), compared to Nigeria’s 371; a far more complex context.
The East African country notched an average 8% growth in GDP between 2001 and 2014, making it the fastest growing economy in that period. Nonetheless, the country is still aid-dependent.
Rwanda is fraction of Nigeria; Not up to one of many of the 36 States of the Nigerian Federation.
Nigeria’s GDP (2018) is USD398 billion, the 30th largest economy in the world. Wholly owned Nigerian firms and brands traverses the continent and beyond, with footprints in major world capitals.
Rwanda has come off a genocide with outstanding stride. But can hardly be compared with the struggles of nationhood of the Nigerian State. Rwanda has found its soul and is a country with a national ideology, Nigeria has survived a civil war, and multiple times come off the brink, out of crisis after crisis, rolling with the punches; is well on course in that journey of evolving a lasting identity. Indeed, there’s hardly gainsaying the fact of the foundation Nigeria has made in political and constitutional development in the past few decades.
Corruption festers in Nigeria, a spectre Kagame’s leadership has erased from public life. But we are evolving institutions and processes, instead of fear of any strong man, to deal with. For the first time under civilian democratic government, certain senior politicians have been convicted and cooling their heels behind bars. Certain senior judicial officers have been exposed.
While Rwanda can boast of Kagame’s strong leadership, Nigeria can point to ever evolving formal and informal ways and means, platforms, institutions; political and economic processes, – that vital organ of any true, functional state – independent of any one man and institution, in dealing with the birth pangs of nationhood.
The strength of a state lies in the strength of its institutions, and the strength of its institutions is dependent on its civil society. A free press, professional groups, religious leaders, conscientious even contentious opinion leaders etc., which often times can be a nuisance and distractions, are necessary in the business of building a sane, civil, sustainable society. Nigeria can be proud of this.
Nigeria can boast of a nascent civil society, as against a strong leader able to knock stuffed shirts in place, and marshal resources for the collective good.
And that’s a world of a difference.
Nigeria’s biggest strength is its weakness: that it is bigger than its various constituent parts, numerous financial and political players and institutions, including its military.
Nigeria may be punching well below its potential, no doubt. It has the CRITIQAL MASS to make a world of difference for Africa, for the Black world, if it can put its act together. Nigeria could certainly do with a Paul Kagame, to rouse this giant from slumber; build and wrestle consensus from regional hawks, whip looting fat cats and a raucous body-building corrupt elite in line for the common purpose and good. (And yes! even Paul Kagame would find Nigeria a totally different kettle of fish!).
In its own way, given its dynamics, the lines are falling in pleasant, appropriate places in Nigeria.
For what it’s worth, nothing, no one individual, has been able to dominate Nigeria politically, financially, etc., the way Kagame has been able to dominate Rwanda. And that is not necessarily a bad thing. Indeed in the long-run, that may well be a mighty blessing!