MUSA-ODODO ABDULRAHAMAN
A National Enlightenment Through the Lens of History
There is a simple but powerful truth about nations:
Starting the journey of development is difficult.
But staying on that journey is far more difficult.
Many countries have begun reforms. Few have sustained them long enough to achieve transformation. What separates success from failure is not just leadership – but continuity, belief, and collective discipline.
Today, as Nigeria navigates its reform path under the leadership of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, history offers us a powerful mirror – one found in the experience of China under Deng Xiaoping.
This is not just a comparison. It is a lesson.
- WHEN A NATION DECIDES TO CHANGE COURSE
In the late 1970s, China was a broken system.
After years of ideological upheaval, especially following the Cultural Revolution, the economy was weak, institutions were fragile, and the people were weary. It was a nation in need of direction.
Then came Deng Xiaoping.
He did not shout. He did not rely on slogans. He did something more powerful – he changed the system quietly but decisively.
He introduced what became known as “Reform and Opening Up.”
Farmers were allowed to profit from their labor
Markets were gradually introduced
Foreign investors were welcomed
Special zones like Shenzhen were created
The results were extraordinary. Growth began. Poverty declined. Cities transformed.
- THE INEVITABLE CRISIS OF REFORMS
But here is where many people misunderstand development:
Reforms do not produce only progress. They also produce tension.
As China reformed:
Inflation increased
Inequality became visible
Corruption surfaced
Citizens began demanding faster change
These tensions exploded in 1989 at Tiananmen Square protests.
The aftermath shook China to its core:
Global condemnation
Economic sanctions
Decline in foreign investment
Internal political fear
At that moment, China stood at a dangerous crossroads.
Many powerful voices said:
“Stop the Reforms. They are too Risky.”
- THE DEFINING MOMENT: RETREAT OR RESOLVE
This is where history separates strong nations from struggling ones.
Deng Xiaoping understood something fundamental:
If a country retreats at the first major crisis, it may never recover momentum.
So in 1992, despite his age and retirement, he took a bold step.
He embarked on what is now known as the Southern Tour.
He traveled across reform-driven regions, speaking directly to officials and citizens. His message was simple and unwavering:
“Development is the Hard Truth.”
He made it clear:
China would not turn back
Reforms would not be abandoned
Progress must continue, even through uncertainty
That single act reignited confidence across the system.
Officials aligned. Investors returned. Growth accelerated.
And China went on to become one of the fastest-growing economies in human history.
- THE LESSON FOR NIGERIA TODAY
Now let us bring this home.
Nigeria today is undergoing difficult but necessary reforms:
Fuel subsidy removal
Exchange rate unification
Fiscal restructuring
Efforts toward security reforms
Institutional recalibration
These are not easy decisions. They come with pain. They create pressure. They test patience.
And just like China in the 1980s, Nigeria is experiencing:
Economic discomfort
Public skepticism
Political resistance
This is normal.
Every serious reform produces discomfort before it produces results.
- WHY NIGERIA IS ON THE RIGHT PATH
The direction matters more than the moment.
Nigeria today is:
Moving toward economic realism
Reducing systemic distortions
Building a more transparent financial structure
Laying the foundation for long-term growth
These are the same kinds of structural shifts that countries like China undertook before their transformation.
So the question is not:
“Is the journey hard?”
The question is:
“Will we stay on the road?”
- THE REAL KEY: COLLECTIVE BELIEF
Here lies the most important lesson of all.
Development is not sustained by one leader alone.
Even a strong leader like Deng Xiaoping needed:
Party officials who believed
Local leaders who acted
Institutions that aligned
Citizens who endured
For Nigeria to succeed, we must build the same ecosystem of belief.
This means:
Government must stay consistent
Institutions must remain committed
Political actors must act responsibly
Citizens must understand the long-term vision
Because:
Without shared belief, every challenge will look like a reason to quit.
- A MESSAGE TO NIGERIANS
Nigeria is not failing.
Nigeria is transitioning.
And transitions are never comfortable.
The mistake many nations make is abandoning reforms just when they begin to test their strength.
China did not make that mistake.
Nigeria must not make it either.
- THE FINAL TRUTH
Let this be clearly understood:
Reform is not the problem
Inconsistency is the problem
Fear is the problem
Lack of collective conviction is the problem
Nigeria has begun the journey.
The leadership has pointed the direction.
Now the responsibility is national.
CONCLUSION
History speaks clearly:
Nations that stay the course – despite difficulty – rise.
Nations that retreat – at the first sign of hardship – remain stagnant.
Nigeria today stands where China once stood.
The path is not easy. But it is correct.
If we sustain it, strengthen it, and believe in it –
Nigeria will not just develop.
Nigeria will transform.
Humanity is Life.
And a nation that believes in its future can reshape its Destiny.
Musa-Ododo Abdulrahaman
Chairman, National Policy Dialogue – a Dialogue with Wisdom.
National Steward, The Renewed Hope Intelligentsia.
www.nationalpolicydialogue.org