By: Charles Ikedikwa Soeze.
The next attempt of democratic structure under Alhaji Aliyu Shehu Shagari, grassroots teacher and politician, first executive president of Nigeria ended after four years between 1979 and 1983. As a result, Nigerians waited for sixteen more years before democracy returned. Democracy is "a government of the people by the people and for the people". It is a truism to say that this definition has become a cliché, but it nonetheless encapsulated the very essence of democracy. It may be appropriate to say that there is hardly one commonly accepted and agreed meaning of the term. This is so because it means one thing to one person and quite another to someone else depending on each person's point, circumstances, economic and social positions. It is appropriate to say that this differing meaning of democracy is a 100 meters dash. In other words, it is a long distance race with different hurdles. The race demands stamina, sacrifice, skills and determination. We are to make sure that our democracy is well-guided so that it will not be controlled by individuals and groups who are bent on promoting their own selfish ideas and agenda. With the high level of corruption in Nigeria, bombings, maimings and killings, a popular musician (the late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti) definition of democracy may apply here that is "dem all crazy". Are we really not crazy? A situation where an individual will want to be richer than the country as a whole. Is this not greed of the highest order?
However, dubious human beings can do anything to get whatever they want. They do not mind embarking on people's destruction programme to achieve their aims. This is very common in the public service especially the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). Realizing this fact, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, a one-time military head of state and eight years as an executive president wrote in his book, The Animal called Man "man is insatiable animal as far as quest for position, power, possession, popularity and pleasure are concerned". This is absolutely true especially in the MDAs.
In any democratic structure, the press must be free and responsible. This is because it must not be organ for the articulation of the interest of only those in power but should be advocates of higher national interests. The press need to be responsible in the sense that it should not articulate interest that retard, undermine or regress the social weal and the unifying bond that holds society together and guarantees its solidarity, integrity and sovereignty. I think and believe that was why in 1787, Thomas Jefferson, years before he became the third president of the United States preferred newspapers to government. When in 1901 Lenin might have preferred newspapers to the communist party having seen them as not only a collective propagandist and a collective agitator but a collective organizer; when the 39th USA Vice President called journalists “nattering nabobs of negativism”, it was to the power of these gentlemen and women of the press that they were referring.
Surprisingly and disappointing to many Nigerians is that when some of these politicians get elected, they always feel that they are in office to amass wealth. In this direction, I wish to boldly and proudly quote a sage and elder statesman, Chief Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo (of blessed memory) for the guidance of our politicians when he said “I must say, however, that in all conscience, I felt and still feel that a truly public-spirit person should accept public service not for what he can get for himself such as profit and glamour of office, but for the opportunity which it offers him of serving his people to the best of his ability, by promoting their welfare and happiness”. Recall the late sage’s free education in the defunct western region that produced a lot of intellectuals from that area. This could be termed “talk na do”. To this end therefore, the welfare of the masses need to be adequately addressed. In other words, our politicians should imbued with Mandela’s stoicism and Caesar’s bravery in services to the people.
It is no denting and denigrating image locally, nationally and internationally to say that corruption has eaten deep into the fabric of our nation and finally it is now endemic and epidemic. This, I think and believe our striking doctors in some parts of the country based their strike on improved conditions of service which is the main thing and on the surface, items of equipment to work with for the sake of excellence. It is the prerogative of all Nigerians to fight against the massive ongoing corruption in the country not only financially but other things like employments, promotions and postings that is about killing and maiming MDAs. This is a dangerous dichotomy.
It is sad and flabbergasting that in December 2011, Nigeria was ranked 143rd out of 183 surveyed countries in terms of public perception on corruption. This was widely reported on in a full assessment carried by global watchdog, Transparency International (TI). In 2010, Nigeria was 134th and astonishingly maintained its score of 2.4 out of a possible 10 marks for the 2011.
Furthermore, I know that Nigerians were flabbergasted when the Nigerian Compass newspaper in its front page of Sunday, March 6, 2011 carried on “=N= 12 bn fraud in pension office, Director General, deputy arrested”. What about the latest as published in National Mirror newspaper front page, permanent secretary, five others remanded in prison custody over =N= 32.8bn police pension fund. This is also surprising because most retirees who would have benefitted from such funds were out rightly denied because of the massive corruption of designated desk officers.
Nodoubt, Nigerian workers have been faced with series of problems, many of which arose from the oppressive and obnoxious policies of previous administrations. Happily, the current democratic administration, under the able and agile leadership of Dr. Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, GCFR popularly known as “GEJ” has looked into many issues including solving the problems of massive corruption.
On the massive rate of corruption, do we agree with the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah who described Nigerian leaders as accidental leaders as reported in the Businessday newspaper of Friday 11 – Sunday, 13th May 2012 P. 24. He blamed the challenges currently facing Nigeria on the leadership of the country calling them “accidental toys” wielding power without legitimacy. Bishop Kukah made the disclosure recently at the Leadership forum organized by the First Bank of Nigeria (FBN) in collaboration with the Nigerian Leadership Initiative (NLI). In the words of the outspoken and versatile Bishop, “Our leaders are like accidental toys. This is a country where we have never had a president that had what we call name recognition”.
Continuing, he stated and I quote “with almost every president of Nigeria, we only hear them through television. Apart from its accidental nature, there is also something reluctant (about those chosen to be leaders)”. According to the Bishop, who is also a senior fellow of the NLI, the leaders who have ruled Nigeria starting from independence have usually come to power through accidental means as opposed to an organized and established process as with other countries.
Giving a chronology of Nigeria leaders, Kukah said the accidental nature of leadership was glaring. “When you start from Tafawa Balewa and you go to Aguiyi-Ironsi. You come to Yakubu Gowon, who had just returned from London. He had not even settled down. “Murtala in a book written by Joe Garba said (to the plotters of the coup that brought him into power), I may protect you but I am not interested in the coup. According to Bishop Kukah, “Obasanjo has not forgiven him for literary saying he cried his way to power… (I think this must be February 13, 1976 my own words when a one-time military head of state General Murtala Ramat Mohammed was assassinated in an abortive coup led by Lt. Col. Buka Suwa Dimka) like a sheep being led to the slaughter. Shagari said all he wanted to be was a senator. Buhari was sometime in Jos. Abacha comes along. Then Abdusalami Abubakar came and was penciled for retirement. Obasanjo was sitting in prison. The Catholic Bishop further opined that Nigerian leaders are not groomed. They attain power “just because they happen to have connections”. However, whatever the case may be, I think our current president, an academic, administrator, politician of the highest level, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, GCFR, will be able to move Nigeria to the next level for the admiration of the international community. He needs the support of all of us which include members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
It seems to me that Nigerians’ should be congratulated as lovers of democracy since May 29, 1999 and for an uninterrupted democratic structure for further thirteen years. To this end therefore, one can boldly and proudly say that democracy can efficiently and effectively be practiced in Nigeria. Unfortunately, the past thirteen years has been characterized by desperation for power, political parties without identifiable ideologies, electoral violence, killings, bombings, kidnappings, prolonged and incessant electoral litigations and upturning of election results through judicial process.
Whatever the case may be, it is a truism to say that thirteen years is enough duration for a nation for effective administration. One of the biggest gains during this political dispensation is the true rebirth of the rule of law, with a freer judicial system that has restored confidence of the people in the Nigerian judiciary. Also, it is true to say that Nigeria’s democracy is still not perfect, though there is no perfection in humanity. However, one can happily say that the nation has suffered the imperfection for the past thirteen years having survived the imperfection so far and finding our ways on the road of imperfection. However, it seems to me that there is hope for democracy in Nigeria, especially if and when the political elites learn to use power for service not for destruction and respect strictly the opinions and views of the electorate as demonstrated or shared through the ballot box.
Furthermore, it is a sad commentary and abomination on our national affairs that the problem of corruption remains intractable. It has now been elevated to a prime position of a national culture. Astonishingly, corrupt officials direct our affairs and successive government appear incapable of arresting the free fall to the abyss of infamy. It is unfortunate that key functionaries, especially those under whose offices the burden rest to address the situation are its promoters. As a result, it is therefore no exaggeration to say that the key sectors of the economy have been run aground. For example, refineries are in abysmal state. Petroleum Minister, Mrs. Alison-Madueke cites mismanagement. Refer to the National Daily newspaper of May 7-11, 2012 front page. I think the issue of our refineries is not following professionalism. Federal character syndrome is a major factor in this direction, wa-oh! What about other sectors, if one may ask? Service delivery in the health sector is silly and laughable. Our trap and unpardonable mortality after the appropriation of trillions of Naira acts of criminality in different directions thrive while the issue of security weighs down Nigeria to the extent that some “big guys” in our society provide their own security.
Truly speaking, Chief Obasanjo proved his worth during his second coming, which many Nigerians saw as a cleansing operation. This is because Nigeria was seriously indebted to the Paris club and others. OBJ (Baba Iyabo) faced and tackled boldly the issue of Nigeria’s indebtedness to the Paris Club and others with a much determined vigour. He did succeed in a lot of them. He tried to fight against corruption through the establishment of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). These two organs, I am sure, have instilled some discipline into our system, we still have rooms for improvement. It is no longer the issue of the winner takes all. It is the view of some Nigerians that our democracy is steadily evolving and compared with other democracies around the world. I would add that there are a lot of prospects, too. However, at the leadership or top echelon, there is the need for additional work and proper interaction with the mass audience if not the talakawas.
What baffles one is that many Nigerian politicians believe that political power is a road to wealth and security in Nigeria, the struggle for control has been problematic seeing political power as warfare instead of translating into welfare economics for the electorates. It is therefore appropriate to say that the political elites should forget about selfishness and the quest for power through “do or die” politics and go through the democratic process that is the ballot box in a most transparent, intelligent and articulate manner. In conclusion, let all of us join hands, in fact, all hands must be on the pumps with the President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan. GCFR to make Nigeria better and comparable to other developed nations. Nigeria will not continue to remain a developing nation after over fifty (50) years of independence. Like the Christians will say, “we reject it in Jesus name, Amen”.
Furthermore, President Jonathan has accepted to improve on the workings of the public service of the federation hence he declared during the Presidential Award Ceremony (PAC) for the first batch of winners of the National Youth Enterprise With Innovation in Nigeria (YOUWIN) business plan competition on April 12, 2012 in Abuja. Consequently, he announced that all appointments to fill the leadership of tenured public agencies shall henceforth be based on merit. This is a welcome development to avoid inefficiency and ineffectiveness at the top echelon in the public sector. This is so because once the head is rotten, all other parts of the body will follow. In view of the arrangement, we should make it a sustained standard policy and be enshrined in the Public Service Rules (PSRs) for proper guidance and appropriate follow-up.
No comments:
Post a Comment