“I
just spoke with Governor Romney and I congratulated him and Paul Ryan
on a hard-fought campaign.We may have battled fiercely, but it’s only
because we love this country deeply and we care so strongly about its
future. From George to Lenore to their son Mitt, the Romney family has
chosen to give back to America through public service and that is the
legacy that we honor and applaud tonight.”
Barack Obama-November 7, 2012
Most young Nigerians stayed awake, everybody wanted to be a part of
the unraveling of history. This was a showpiece event. This is history
coming alive before our very eyes. For the past few months, the entire
world had, with a keen interest, followed the American Presidential
elections. There had been series of campaigns and debates. The major
contenders have done everything humanly possible and within acceptable
limits to sell their candidature to the American public and by
extension, the world at large.
One thing that was obvious to everyone, critics inclusive, is that the
electioneering campaign was focused mainly on issues. Each candidate
listed known problems and gave clear manifestoes as to how best he hoped
to tackle the problems. And the election proper was devoid of rancor,
violence and gangsterism. This was another feather to the American cap.
They are truly the leaders of the free world.
Coming back to Nigeria, you are confronted with something that
appears or looks like a democracy. Campaigns are a jamboree, with
plethora of lies and empty promises, most of which had been forgotten
ever before they were even pronounced. Major candidates shun debates,
mainly because they have no substance or intellect to articulate their
muddled up thoughts. Elections are marred by serious malpractices such
as ballot stuffing, stealing of ballot boxes, street urchins threatening
voters and generally making a nuisance of themselves, security men
harassing the opposition, outright inflation of votes after counting and
a myriad of other inglorious but serious infractions. Elections in
Nigeria are usually so raucous that the integrity of the process is
perpetually in doubt and that is partly responsible for candidates not
conceding victory to, or congratulating, their opponents.
Another reason for the lack of sportsmanship is the fact that all
contenders generally rig but the best rigger wins, therefore the losers
are loathe to extend hands of fellowship to the winners. In fact the
immediate past President, Musa Yar’adua confessed that the election that
brought him to office was fraught with so much malpractice.
But how did we get here?
Nigerians are hardworking and ebullient people. But one very huge and
noticeable problem is selfishness. A Nigerian will, rather than demand
for his legitimate rights, look for an alternative. For a typical or
average Nigerian, the deal is, as long as I am okay and my family and
loved ones are fine, screw the world. Although what most people in
Nigeria fail to realize is that those screwed fellows, always mostly end
up as the bane of the “very okay” fellows.
Let me illustrate. Few years back, an international polling agency
ranked Nigerians as the happiest people in the world and you want to ask
yourself, why? With debilitating illiteracy and poverty at an all-time
high, poor infrastructure, such as roads, communication, power, etc. why
are Nigerians such a happy people? It is simple, ask a Nigerian how are
you, even if he hasn’t eaten in two days, the reply you get is,”I am
wonderful”.
We have been so conditioned to accept our fate without question. It
is only in Nigeria that you see people carry multiple mobile phones.
Since the telephone services are crappy, Nigerians have simply
“adjusted” by getting multiple sim cards and phones, so they can
constantly be in touch. Most homes in the urban areas have about two
power generating sets, and your building isn’t complete without the
luxury of a mechanized borehole, to provide potable water. Nigerians are
indeed a happy people.
Last year, Zamfara had the lowest JAMB registration, making it one of
the most poorly educated states. Yet the state has this year budgeted a
paltry N5.7billion for education, while the religious affairs budget,
which covers the Hisbah Commission, Hajj, and Religious Preaching
Commission, are to receive about N1.7 billion for recurrent expenditure.
A monstrous N2 billion is dedicated for Sallah activities for 2012.
These are not only misplaced spending priorities, but the implication is
very clear. These children that are either not educated or poorly
educated are going to form the bulk of tomorrow miscreants and available
recruits for Boko Haram and other undesirable elements. You may ask how
those concern me. I will tell you.
While you are comfortable, or pretending to be comfortable, you are
never at ease. Those dregs of the society and never-do-wells are going
to make life uncomfortable for your children that have been educated
abroad with stolen wealth.
Another major problem is that while most of us pretend to be fine,
the reality on ground is very grim. Let us look at it this way. The
civil service is the major engine upon which the government is run, but
who makes up the bulk of that sector, rejects and frustrated beings. The
best and most qualified have all gone into the private sector, the
banks, telecoms, oil and gas sectors have taken all the first class
candidates, leaving the “also rans” as those to be absorbed into the
core of the civil service. Not only is the civil service made up of
mainly failures, rejects and the frustrated, they are also poorly
trained or not even trained at all. Their remuneration is abject at
best, leaving them at the mercy of the elements. No wonder the Nigerian
civil service is not only one of the most corrupt in the world, it is
also the laziest, most cumbersome and inefficient service in the world.
Don’t forget that the civil service also consists of parastatals such as
INEC, NCC, NBC etc. While the police and other paramilitary agencies
are not left out of the bulk of the civil service.
Nigerians must arise from their docility. The days of ‘me and my
household’ are past. We must get our hands dirty and be ready to make
necessary sacrifices. Our best cannot continually be governed by our
worst. It must start from me and from you. We must begin to demand for
change in all facets of live. The civil service must no longer be
peopled by those who have nothing to offer. Our bright youths must be
encouraged to work in the civil service as it was the practice in time
past. Also, our politics must no longer be left in the hands of
criminals and petty thieves. Expired and over recycled AGIP(any
government in power) men should be sent to where they truly belong, old
people’s retirement homes. Younger, fresher and brighter elements should
not only rant on twitter, but they must put their money where their
mouth is, by throwing their various hats into the ring. Politics should
never again be left in the hands of men without integrity, devoid of
character. Politics is serious business, Mitt Romney is a successful
businessman, not a government contractor or an economic scavenger.
Transparency, probity and accountability must be the watchword in
every facet of our various individual and public lives. Budgets must be
scrutinized for performance. A budget is a document that can either make
or mar a person, an organization, a state or an entire country. Not
only is our budgeting process less than transparent, it is actually a
compilation of sad and pathetic jokes. You can immediately diagnose the
health of any corporation from their budget. Nigeria is a sick note,
where over 60% of the budget is stolen and not one person has ever been
docked let alone jailed.
We must also begin to seek the collectives and less of the personal
gratification. It should no longer be “cool” to put on your generator
while your neighbours battle with heat and darkness. We should begin to
probe sudden and immediate wealth. Voting process must be cleaned up and
the next generation of leaders groomed in a deliberate mentoring
program. The past and outgoing generations have failed. The
irresponsibility we currently see in today’s youth is a direct result of
the training and mentoring received. Before we call for a physical
revolution, there must be a mental and attitudinal revolution. A rebirth
is a necessity if we must get to the desirable. America is celebrated
and respected worldwide today, Nigeria is the beacon and hope that the
entire Africa looks up to for succor.
We either live up to the tag “giant of Africa” or we continue to wallow in the mire of idiocy.
The choice truly is ours.
DailyPost
