Defending Nigeria
Sir: 1 read those two or three articles of Mr Palmer, in which he
claimed to have found a most undesirable state of affairs in Nigeria, considering how much he believed the colonial administrators left behind for us to build en. But rather than find excuses to justify Mr Palmer's observations, Sir Miles Clifford (November 27) could have argued that they were all 'cooked up.'
Swedish buses with non-starting engines? But no Nigerian disputes the truth of this incident. Only the amount of fraud involved could have varied as news passed from hand to hand to get to Mr Palmer. And why should an 'extended family' system lean to corruption on the scale we have been enduring for so long? If so much misappropriated under the civilian regime, and now being misused (according to reports) in the military administration were used as it should, consequently there should be enough jobs around to make reliance on any richer relatives unnecessary.
There are indeed slums in Lagos. It is no comfort to us that London, Stockholm and New York also have slums, The simple belief is that our governments could have got rid of ours if ever they wanted to. And what really is Sir Miles's suggestion about our bad roads? That we all become senior army officers and ride about in Mercedes cars, or that better roads be built?
General Gowon certainly deserves a lot of the adulation being accorded him. The tragedy however is that while we have known him to detest any sort of heroworship, he has not done much to stop his name going to streets and buildings all over the country. It may also be remembered that a special postage stamp was issued to marl e his ' private ' wedding some two years ago. Before we seek sympathy and understanding from outsiders, our own leaders may care to extend a bit of either to the rest of us.
S. Adefayo 17 Perth Road, High Wycombe, Bucks
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