As chairman of the Bayelsa State chapter of Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON) and later chairman of the board of Bayelsa United football club of Yenagoa, I had met Alhaji Sani Lulu Abdulahi a number of times. In fact, I voted for him during the 2006 election that crowned him as chairman of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA)- as it was known then. I did so because I was convinced about his personality. I was therefore taken aback when news started filtering out of the Glass House about the near absence of transparency and accountability in the running of the nation’s football governiy others, I had warned him about the dangers of allowing himself to be blinded and used by members of his kitchen cabinet. I had also warned him that Nigerians would soon get tired of him. With certainty, I equally told him that members of his kitchen cabinet would deny him as soon as their boat starts sinking. This is exactly what happened when the just impeached first vice president of the NFF, Mr. Amanze Uchegbulam cried out that he was only a victim of institutional loyalty. He tried to convince those that had enough patience to listen that he was invited by the Economic and Financial Commission (EFCC) simply because he was loyal to Sani Lulu. Uchegbulam went ahead to argue that he is not the approving authority of the NFF and wondered why he should be invited to answer questions bothering on finances of the board. It is unfortunate that Lulu would not have a second opportunity to preside over Nigerian football. If he had, there is no doubt in my mind that he would not touch the once invincible duo of Amanze Uchegbulam and Taiwo Ogunjobi even with a hundred metre long pole.
Sani Lulu’s problem started when he decided to dismantle all internal mechanisms available to check corruption and maladministration in the NFF. Nigerian football was run like a private estate. Members of the executive committee of the NFF that demanded greater transparency in the administration of Nigerian football were either suspended or sidelined. It would be recalled that Dr. Peter Singabele was suspended for close to two years for daring to tell Nigerians the truth about the rot that has become of the Glass House. With this action, Sani Lulu and his kitchen cabinet were able to barb the head of Nigerian tax payers with reckless abandon until President Goodluck Jonathan pumped the brakes.
I am joining all other well-meaning Nigerians and friends of the country to thank President Jonathan for powering on the internal mechanisms for checking corruption and maladministration in the NFF. It is my prayer that the president leadership do not turn it off the power button later. After all, it does not need PHCN to function properly. More than that, the EFCC must not allow this matter to go the way of others. This is an opportunity to stop corruption in the sports sector. We all know that it is as a result of corruption that the private sector is not attracted to invest in the sports industry in Nigeria. Sports is big business. It is time for government put in place plans to hands off sports. This can only be successful if corruption is eliminated in the sector. To eliminate corruption, the culture of transparency and accountability must be encouraged. Those that fall fowl of the law should be punished.
Before now, members of the kitchen cabinet had always hidden behind the banner of FIFA to rape the treasuries of the NFF. Whenever questions are asked concerning the finances of the NFF, threats of sanctions are invoked against Nigeria. It is unreasonable for the NFF to collect billions of naira from government and expect it to keep quiet when things are not done properly. This is an insult and against all human and public protocols. Even in countries like Britain, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy etc where public money is not used to fund football, government still make inputs. It is close to treason for any Nigerian to connive with FIFA or any other organisation to undermine the integrity of this nation. Thank God, FIFA is beginning to appreciate the important place of government in the development of football especially in Africa.
But above all, members of the NFF and state FAs should not wait for government to take extreme actions before doing what is right. With the impeachment of Lulu and his kitchen cabinet, many persons that criticised the actions of the president have now seen the wisdom in the decision to withdraw Nigeria from all international football competitions. Tough problems need tough actions too. Carry Go, EFCC.
Showing posts with label transparency. Show all posts
Showing posts with label transparency. Show all posts
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
ELECTORAL REFORM AND PDP's ROTATIONAL PRESIDENCY
ELECTORAL REFORMS AND PDP’s ROTATIONAL PRESIDENCY
There is no doubt surrounding the fact that democracy is the best form of government ever known to man. Even so, many democratic societies and its citizens still suffer gross underdevelopment and abject poverty owing to poor political leadership culture. This sad reality has elicited a whole lot of debate among political scientists, journalists, opinion leaders, and commentators on contemporary issues. The consensus opinion is that the masses have been robbed of their powers by the political class. It has become clear that political power no longer belongs to the people- electorates like it is supposed to be. As a result of this, the loyalty of political leaders is mostly directed at electoral umpires, god fathers, and kingmakers. It is for this simple reason that public office holders can afford to ignore the concerns of the electorates and loot the treasury.
In an effort to return power to the people, the late President Musa Yar’Adua stunned the world when he admitted openly that the election that brought him to power was faulty. He thereafter called for understanding and promised to carry out a holistic electoral reform exercise. Unfortunately, many Nigerians have failed to appreciate the true meaning of electoral reform and have therefore restricted it to mean the recommendations of Justice Mohammed Uwais-led Electoral Reform Committee.
For the avoidance of doubt, let it be noted that the main aim of reforming the nation’s electoral system would be defeated if it is not done holistically. We cannot talk of electoral reforms when there is no internal democracy within the political parties. We cannot talk of electoral reforms when some key players in the nation’s electoral body- INEC are card-carrying members of political parties. In the same vein, Nigerians cannot talk of electoral reforms when political parties are allowed to practice undemocratic traditions such as rotational presidency.
One of the major aims of reforming the electoral system is to promote quality political leadership in the country. For this very important reason, whatever action or practice that would not support this objective should be jettisoned. Rotational presidency is one of them. Apart from promoting tribalism, the culture of seclusion is undemocratic. It creates bitterness among party members and also reduces the chances of sourcing for the best hands.
My opinion is not based on the fact that I and President Goodluck Jonathan come from the same state. After all, he has not said he is going to contest the presidency in 2011. Nevertheless, there would be nothing wrong if majority of members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) wants him to contest. This is the beauty of democracy. Power belongs to the people- not a party’s National Working Committee or Board of Trustee. This is the time when Nigerians should come together and work towards making every vote count and not wasting valuable time on issues that will divide the nation along tribal lines.
Perhaps, it would be necessary to highlight the reason behind the culture of rotational presidency. It is to a very large extent erroneously believed that one has to share the same tribal lineage with the president in order to secure a key appointment or win a big contract. This anomaly is hugely responsible for why tribal lineage is regarded far above every other factor in Nigerian politics. Frankly, tribal-based politics can only be rife in a country where the government pay mere lip service to the culture of transparency, accountability, justice, and fair play.
Just like I have submitted in previous write-ups, one of Nigeria’s greatest problems is tribalism. It is owing to the deep rooted nature of tribalism in the polity that successive administrations have not been able to effectively fight corruption in the country. There is an unwritten law in Nigeria that forbids citizens from exposing or prosecuting fellow tribesmen for corrupt practices. That is the reason why public servants that earns less than N12m annually will build mansions, acquire fleet of exotic cars, and own investments worth over N200m within four years without being asked to show proof of sources of funds.
Furthermore, tribalism promotes national poverty. It makes citizens to become lazy. In a tribal-infected polity, even people that sow nothing can reap bountifully simply because their tribesperson is in power. This is clearly against natural principle. The more we promote tribal agenda above democratic prescriptions, the closer we get to the source of our disintegration.
I do not know their individual names but most of the people championing calls for electoral reforms are carrying nametags that bear “Hypocrite.” That is exactly what those of them that support the culture of rotational presidency are. The reason for the reform must not be bleached to serve tribal agendas. And for those that are threatening the corporate destiny of Nigeria following speculations that Dr. Goodluck Jonathan may run for the presidency come 2011; I wish them well. They should not play God. Nigerian masses are hungry for good political leadership. Let the people be allowed to decide whom they want. It can be Jonathan or any other person. Let us stop playing God and concentrate on how to make our votes count.
There is no doubt surrounding the fact that democracy is the best form of government ever known to man. Even so, many democratic societies and its citizens still suffer gross underdevelopment and abject poverty owing to poor political leadership culture. This sad reality has elicited a whole lot of debate among political scientists, journalists, opinion leaders, and commentators on contemporary issues. The consensus opinion is that the masses have been robbed of their powers by the political class. It has become clear that political power no longer belongs to the people- electorates like it is supposed to be. As a result of this, the loyalty of political leaders is mostly directed at electoral umpires, god fathers, and kingmakers. It is for this simple reason that public office holders can afford to ignore the concerns of the electorates and loot the treasury.
In an effort to return power to the people, the late President Musa Yar’Adua stunned the world when he admitted openly that the election that brought him to power was faulty. He thereafter called for understanding and promised to carry out a holistic electoral reform exercise. Unfortunately, many Nigerians have failed to appreciate the true meaning of electoral reform and have therefore restricted it to mean the recommendations of Justice Mohammed Uwais-led Electoral Reform Committee.
For the avoidance of doubt, let it be noted that the main aim of reforming the nation’s electoral system would be defeated if it is not done holistically. We cannot talk of electoral reforms when there is no internal democracy within the political parties. We cannot talk of electoral reforms when some key players in the nation’s electoral body- INEC are card-carrying members of political parties. In the same vein, Nigerians cannot talk of electoral reforms when political parties are allowed to practice undemocratic traditions such as rotational presidency.
One of the major aims of reforming the electoral system is to promote quality political leadership in the country. For this very important reason, whatever action or practice that would not support this objective should be jettisoned. Rotational presidency is one of them. Apart from promoting tribalism, the culture of seclusion is undemocratic. It creates bitterness among party members and also reduces the chances of sourcing for the best hands.
My opinion is not based on the fact that I and President Goodluck Jonathan come from the same state. After all, he has not said he is going to contest the presidency in 2011. Nevertheless, there would be nothing wrong if majority of members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) wants him to contest. This is the beauty of democracy. Power belongs to the people- not a party’s National Working Committee or Board of Trustee. This is the time when Nigerians should come together and work towards making every vote count and not wasting valuable time on issues that will divide the nation along tribal lines.
Perhaps, it would be necessary to highlight the reason behind the culture of rotational presidency. It is to a very large extent erroneously believed that one has to share the same tribal lineage with the president in order to secure a key appointment or win a big contract. This anomaly is hugely responsible for why tribal lineage is regarded far above every other factor in Nigerian politics. Frankly, tribal-based politics can only be rife in a country where the government pay mere lip service to the culture of transparency, accountability, justice, and fair play.
Just like I have submitted in previous write-ups, one of Nigeria’s greatest problems is tribalism. It is owing to the deep rooted nature of tribalism in the polity that successive administrations have not been able to effectively fight corruption in the country. There is an unwritten law in Nigeria that forbids citizens from exposing or prosecuting fellow tribesmen for corrupt practices. That is the reason why public servants that earns less than N12m annually will build mansions, acquire fleet of exotic cars, and own investments worth over N200m within four years without being asked to show proof of sources of funds.
Furthermore, tribalism promotes national poverty. It makes citizens to become lazy. In a tribal-infected polity, even people that sow nothing can reap bountifully simply because their tribesperson is in power. This is clearly against natural principle. The more we promote tribal agenda above democratic prescriptions, the closer we get to the source of our disintegration.
I do not know their individual names but most of the people championing calls for electoral reforms are carrying nametags that bear “Hypocrite.” That is exactly what those of them that support the culture of rotational presidency are. The reason for the reform must not be bleached to serve tribal agendas. And for those that are threatening the corporate destiny of Nigeria following speculations that Dr. Goodluck Jonathan may run for the presidency come 2011; I wish them well. They should not play God. Nigerian masses are hungry for good political leadership. Let the people be allowed to decide whom they want. It can be Jonathan or any other person. Let us stop playing God and concentrate on how to make our votes count.
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