There is no gainsaying that the foundation of every healthy democratic society is built on the principles of sound and reliable electoral culture. This is so because, it is only through free and fair elections that credible persons could be picked and entrusted with key leadership positions in society. In the last thirty years of Nigeria’s history, several bold attempts have been made by the political class, social-cultural, religious, and civil society organisations to find enduring solutions to the nation’s weak and spongy electoral protocols. The faulty nature of the electoral system has helped to create room for the few moneybags to massage the conscience of electoral officials in order to rig elections in favour of themselves or their stooges. This is the reason why politicians respect electoral umpires far more than even the electorates. Without any fear of contradiction, this is the root causes of failing political leadership in the country.
Nigerians should not wait for Barrack Obama or Hillary Clinton to confirm to us that poor leadership culture has been the bane of Nigeria- the supposed Giant of Africa, now struggling to make impact even among Lilliputian nations. It is a common fact that poor political leadership breeds corruption, underdevelopment, poverty, crime, tribalism, nepotism, and ineptitude among others. Many have therefore not seen it as a surprise that over 90% of the nation’s population are living below poverty line. To the utter dismay of many, a greater percentage of workers in both the private and public sectors earn salaries that are not enough to feed a family of three for just one week. Quite evidently, the rise in cases of ill health among Nigerians can be traced to poor dieting regime. Majority of Nigerian now eat between one and two low diet meals daily. This already bad situation is made worse by the non availability of access to clean drinking water most especially in the rural areas. The international community is shocked that the world’s sixth largest producer of crude oil is relying on the importation of fuel to service her local market. It is an irony that Nigeria is still grappling with power generation with all the option of gas, hydro, wind, coal, and solar at our disposal. With an enormous population size, Nigeria is capable of generating enough power from waste products.
It is also very disturbing that job creation figures have fallen far below population growth levels. The authorities must understand that the consequences of high unemployment rate are capable of compromising the security of this nation. Governments at the local, state, and federal levels must therefore roll out practicable plans to stimulate economic and industrial growth. This will in turn create employment opportunities and improve the human worth of more of the nation’s citizens. With all of the above in mind, one can easily appreciate the reasons for the enthusiasm shown by Nigerians concerning the attempt by the present administration to reform the nation’s frail electoral framework.
While the Governors’ Forum are free to hold their opinions on issues bothering on the country, it is very clear that their hard-line position on the Chairmanship of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was very unfortunate. It bears clear traces of self help. The Governors’ Forum failed to convince Nigerians of what the nation stood to lose if Maurice Iwu is not retained for a second term. If one puts common sense to test, it would point to the fact that the nation’s electoral system cannot be truly reformed with Iwu as INEC boss. This is so because, civil society groups, religious organisations, socio-cultural bodies, and several political actors are convinced that evidences volunteered at election tribunals has stained the hands of Maurice Iwu with blood. Many stakeholders believe that he played significant roles in aiding electoral frauds. Retaining him would therefore pose a whole lot of credibility problems for INEC. Integrity is an important ingredient that cannot be divorced from the personality of electoral umpires.
The huge support that greeted the exit of Maurice Iwu last week was indeed unprecedented. By that singular action, Acting President Goodluck Jonathan has made a bold statement that political leadership in Nigeria can surely rise above parochial interests. The only way Jonathan or any other political leader can be encouraged to always stand on the side of truth is for the political class, civil society, religious, and socio-cultural organisations to give them all the backing they deserve. But more importantly, the acting president should not ignore, but rather engage the Governors’ Forum in dialogues to remind them of the important need to put the nation first. In as much as state governors wield a lot of influence, I foresee a dull picture where their shallow and narrow minded opinions on key national issues would pitch the masses against them in the very near future.
Immediately after President Musa Yar’Adua was flown out to Saudi Arabia for medical treatment, the Governors’ Forum quickly turned themselves into a mountain that Goodluck Jonathan must climb before taking important decisions. Even without the benefit of a prophet, one can see the handwriting clearly on the wall. The governors are trying to position themselves well ahead of the 2011 elections at the expense of the nation. Their shock and grief following the much expected exit of Maurice Iwu have no doubt distorted a well rehearsed cavalcade.
While there is nothing wrong in governors demanding to be consulted on key national issues, their attempts at sacrificing national interests for parochial ambitions should be resisted by both the presidency and the masses. This is one sure way we can safeguard our democracy. The time has therefore come for all to remind state governors of the important need for them to leave the acting president alone and face squarely the enormous responsibilities waiting for them in their various states. Under normal circumstances, they should not need Iwu to win elections. Let them allow their four year report cards to deliver them at the polls. The governors are certainly afraid that with the expected electoral reform exercise, the opportunity for rigging elections will be greatly reduced. A sound electoral culture will customarily make the electorates kings as is obtained in every democratically healthy society. Nigerian masses should start celebrating. The years of poor political leadership will soon come to an end.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Monday, April 26, 2010
AMNESTY IS NOT A MAGIC WAND
Nigerians should not shy away from saying the truth simply because our leaders hate hearing what is true. Only recently, the Senate President, David Mark revealed how much the ruling class abhor truth when he invested his integrity to argue that the international community should allow the nation’s leaders to do to the Nigerian masses whatever that pleases them. Mark’s unintentional confession is the truth about how much hatred Nigerian leaders have for the masses.
There is actually no reason why with four refineries, the world’s sixth largest producer of crude oil should rely on the importation of petrol, diesel, and kerosene for domestic consumption. It is an abomination that Nigeria is still grappling with the problem of regular power supply despite the abundance of natural gas and availability of associated technologies to stabilise the power sector.
A drive along the nation’s highways tells a pathetic story of failed leadership. Corruption has almost become a celebrated national tradition. Unemployment has reached the sky. Crime has become part of the Nigerian culture. The take home pay of the average Nigerian civil servant can hardly support a family of three- man, wife, and a child for just a week. The educational sector is in chaos. Certificates obtained from Nigerian universities are regarded as junk outside the shores of the country. The situation is worse with our primary and post primary schools that are mostly closed due to industrial actions buy teachers demanding for improved condition of service. Nigerians desirous of giving their children sound education are therefore compelled to look the way of neighbouring West African countries. Quality health care services are beyond the reach of average Nigerians. Despite all of these, we continue to pride ourselves as the Giant of Africa. We should bury our heads in shame. Don’t we know the abilities of true Giants?
To a very large extent, the Senate President thought Nigerian leaders can continue to fool the masses. It was for this simple reason he insinuated that Nigerians should be allowed to tackle their problems when the United State’s Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton told our leaders the home truth at a Town Hall meeting in Abuja. David Mark and PDP’s shallow reaction to America’s verdict on Nigerian leaders pointed clearly to a government that does not believe in accountability and the rule of law. A government can only be said to be accountable when it is able to provide answers to the needs of the masses. Accountability in governance does not merely mean providing details of revenue and expenditure.
Rule of law is to governance what food is to human beings. It therefore sounds funny when one hear government officials attempt to score cheap political gains for doing what is normal. It is like a father going to the market square to boast that he has provided breakfast for his children. There is no way an oil producing country that cannot provide basic social amenities such as electricity, portable water, health care services, jobs, good roads, affordable housing, petrol, kerosene, and diesel could be judged to uphold the principle of rule of law. This is because; security, law, and order are the fundamental laws of state. They form the foundation for peace. There cannot be peace in the midst of poverty and crime, which is mostly caused by the inability of government to provide the basic necessities of life for the citizenry.
As against David Mark’s argument, the issues of failed leadership in Nigeria cannot be left for Nigerians alone. The world is a global village. The problems of failed leadership in Nigeria will impact negatively on the international community. Hillary Clinton was only being proactive. Our leaders should rather be glad that Clinton has helped to illuminate the very dark paths of political leadership. Those that have taken the wrong path should retrace their steps quickly because the masses are hungry and angry.
The argument by David Mark that the United States should leave Nigeria for Nigerians is very unfortunate. It is fair enough that natives of Nigeria’s oil bearing communities are not toeing his line of argument by insisting that the rest of the country should not interfere in the affairs of the Niger Delta region. In that case, the Niger Delta people would have demanded for 100% derivation principle. But in relying on precedent, the Niger Delta people have merely demanded that Nigeria returns to the 1960 era when derivation was 50%. Instead of the federal government coming out to explain why it has refused to honour precedent, it has gone ahead to force the NDDC and Niger Delta Ministry on the people of the region. I believe strongly that David Mark’s angry reaction to Hillary Clinton’s criticisms of failed leadership in Nigerian would make many persons to drop the negative tag they had earlier on hanged on the necks of Niger Delta militants. This is because; it has become very clear that Niger Deltan militants love Nigeria far more than most of our leaders do.
I have always maintained that the offer of amnesty is fair in spirit but arrogant in nature. That is one reason why most militants have shunned the arms collection centres to negotiate their own choice of location of disarmament. By offering amnesty to the militants, President Yar’Adua has boldly accepted the fact that the Nigerian nation has been unfair to the Niger Delta people. Punishing these militants would therefore amount to double punishment. I salute the courage of the president as many have pressurised him to use the military to quell agitations by the Niger Delta people.
Like I have suggested in other forums; in finding solutions to the problems of militancy in the Niger Delta region, the federal government has put the cart before the horse. The genuine demands of the Niger Delta people have not been addressed. Right now, the success of the amnesty deal is being threatened by cases of doubt and suspicion. The offer of amnesty would have come after addressing the issues of fiscal federalism and injustice in the sharing of revenue from crude oil and natural gas. The Niger Delta people are well aware that when the nation’s super tribes were producing the natural resources that sustained the country’s economy, derivation was 50%. The question therefore on the lips of every Niger Deltan is: Why is it 13% now that the advantage has gone the way of minority tribes in the Niger Delta region?
For the oil based Nigerian economy to grow, there is an urgent need for peace in the Niger Delta. It is however unfortunate that both the federal and Niger Delta State governments are seeing the disarmament by militants as the foundation for peace and development of the region. If the truth must be said; then I would warn that Nigerians would be disappointed in the very near future if we see amnesty as a magic wand and ignore the fundamental issues that gave birth to agitation in the Niger Delta region. Justice and fair play in the sharing of revenue from oil and gas are the foundations on which amnesty should stand on. On the other hand; the federal government should make efforts to convince the Niger Delta people why it has refused to honour the 50% derivation precedent. Perhaps, the federal government has finally accepted the suggestion by Hon. Bala Ibn Na’Allah to end militancy by wiping out the entire Niger Delta region.
In blaming Niger Delta youths for their choice of militancy in seeking justice in the sharing of revenue from oil and gas, the presidency should accept the fact that government has made the culture of non-violent protest unattractive to Nigerians. The Advanced Learners’ Dictionary defines violence as, “an angry way of speaking or reacting.” Niger Delta youths had noticed that it has mostly been through industrial actions (an angry way of reacting) that NUPENG, ASUU, NMA, RATTAWU, PHCN, Police, and the Army have succeeded in forcing government to live to its obligation. That is to say, the Nigerian federal government has murdered her capacity to do any good thing voluntarily. Therefore, Niger Delta youths saw militancy (also an angry way of reacting) as the nearest thing to industrial action in their quest to right the grave injustice in the sharing of revenue from crude oil and gas.
While I do not want to contest the suggestion by many that President Yar’Adua holds the key to solving the Niger Delta question, I want to equally advice that he should not make the mistake of seeing the amnesty deal as a magic wand. The cart should be quickly retuned to the back of the horse so that the Niger Delta question can be solved once and for all.
There is actually no reason why with four refineries, the world’s sixth largest producer of crude oil should rely on the importation of petrol, diesel, and kerosene for domestic consumption. It is an abomination that Nigeria is still grappling with the problem of regular power supply despite the abundance of natural gas and availability of associated technologies to stabilise the power sector.
A drive along the nation’s highways tells a pathetic story of failed leadership. Corruption has almost become a celebrated national tradition. Unemployment has reached the sky. Crime has become part of the Nigerian culture. The take home pay of the average Nigerian civil servant can hardly support a family of three- man, wife, and a child for just a week. The educational sector is in chaos. Certificates obtained from Nigerian universities are regarded as junk outside the shores of the country. The situation is worse with our primary and post primary schools that are mostly closed due to industrial actions buy teachers demanding for improved condition of service. Nigerians desirous of giving their children sound education are therefore compelled to look the way of neighbouring West African countries. Quality health care services are beyond the reach of average Nigerians. Despite all of these, we continue to pride ourselves as the Giant of Africa. We should bury our heads in shame. Don’t we know the abilities of true Giants?
To a very large extent, the Senate President thought Nigerian leaders can continue to fool the masses. It was for this simple reason he insinuated that Nigerians should be allowed to tackle their problems when the United State’s Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton told our leaders the home truth at a Town Hall meeting in Abuja. David Mark and PDP’s shallow reaction to America’s verdict on Nigerian leaders pointed clearly to a government that does not believe in accountability and the rule of law. A government can only be said to be accountable when it is able to provide answers to the needs of the masses. Accountability in governance does not merely mean providing details of revenue and expenditure.
Rule of law is to governance what food is to human beings. It therefore sounds funny when one hear government officials attempt to score cheap political gains for doing what is normal. It is like a father going to the market square to boast that he has provided breakfast for his children. There is no way an oil producing country that cannot provide basic social amenities such as electricity, portable water, health care services, jobs, good roads, affordable housing, petrol, kerosene, and diesel could be judged to uphold the principle of rule of law. This is because; security, law, and order are the fundamental laws of state. They form the foundation for peace. There cannot be peace in the midst of poverty and crime, which is mostly caused by the inability of government to provide the basic necessities of life for the citizenry.
As against David Mark’s argument, the issues of failed leadership in Nigeria cannot be left for Nigerians alone. The world is a global village. The problems of failed leadership in Nigeria will impact negatively on the international community. Hillary Clinton was only being proactive. Our leaders should rather be glad that Clinton has helped to illuminate the very dark paths of political leadership. Those that have taken the wrong path should retrace their steps quickly because the masses are hungry and angry.
The argument by David Mark that the United States should leave Nigeria for Nigerians is very unfortunate. It is fair enough that natives of Nigeria’s oil bearing communities are not toeing his line of argument by insisting that the rest of the country should not interfere in the affairs of the Niger Delta region. In that case, the Niger Delta people would have demanded for 100% derivation principle. But in relying on precedent, the Niger Delta people have merely demanded that Nigeria returns to the 1960 era when derivation was 50%. Instead of the federal government coming out to explain why it has refused to honour precedent, it has gone ahead to force the NDDC and Niger Delta Ministry on the people of the region. I believe strongly that David Mark’s angry reaction to Hillary Clinton’s criticisms of failed leadership in Nigerian would make many persons to drop the negative tag they had earlier on hanged on the necks of Niger Delta militants. This is because; it has become very clear that Niger Deltan militants love Nigeria far more than most of our leaders do.
I have always maintained that the offer of amnesty is fair in spirit but arrogant in nature. That is one reason why most militants have shunned the arms collection centres to negotiate their own choice of location of disarmament. By offering amnesty to the militants, President Yar’Adua has boldly accepted the fact that the Nigerian nation has been unfair to the Niger Delta people. Punishing these militants would therefore amount to double punishment. I salute the courage of the president as many have pressurised him to use the military to quell agitations by the Niger Delta people.
Like I have suggested in other forums; in finding solutions to the problems of militancy in the Niger Delta region, the federal government has put the cart before the horse. The genuine demands of the Niger Delta people have not been addressed. Right now, the success of the amnesty deal is being threatened by cases of doubt and suspicion. The offer of amnesty would have come after addressing the issues of fiscal federalism and injustice in the sharing of revenue from crude oil and natural gas. The Niger Delta people are well aware that when the nation’s super tribes were producing the natural resources that sustained the country’s economy, derivation was 50%. The question therefore on the lips of every Niger Deltan is: Why is it 13% now that the advantage has gone the way of minority tribes in the Niger Delta region?
For the oil based Nigerian economy to grow, there is an urgent need for peace in the Niger Delta. It is however unfortunate that both the federal and Niger Delta State governments are seeing the disarmament by militants as the foundation for peace and development of the region. If the truth must be said; then I would warn that Nigerians would be disappointed in the very near future if we see amnesty as a magic wand and ignore the fundamental issues that gave birth to agitation in the Niger Delta region. Justice and fair play in the sharing of revenue from oil and gas are the foundations on which amnesty should stand on. On the other hand; the federal government should make efforts to convince the Niger Delta people why it has refused to honour the 50% derivation precedent. Perhaps, the federal government has finally accepted the suggestion by Hon. Bala Ibn Na’Allah to end militancy by wiping out the entire Niger Delta region.
In blaming Niger Delta youths for their choice of militancy in seeking justice in the sharing of revenue from oil and gas, the presidency should accept the fact that government has made the culture of non-violent protest unattractive to Nigerians. The Advanced Learners’ Dictionary defines violence as, “an angry way of speaking or reacting.” Niger Delta youths had noticed that it has mostly been through industrial actions (an angry way of reacting) that NUPENG, ASUU, NMA, RATTAWU, PHCN, Police, and the Army have succeeded in forcing government to live to its obligation. That is to say, the Nigerian federal government has murdered her capacity to do any good thing voluntarily. Therefore, Niger Delta youths saw militancy (also an angry way of reacting) as the nearest thing to industrial action in their quest to right the grave injustice in the sharing of revenue from crude oil and gas.
While I do not want to contest the suggestion by many that President Yar’Adua holds the key to solving the Niger Delta question, I want to equally advice that he should not make the mistake of seeing the amnesty deal as a magic wand. The cart should be quickly retuned to the back of the horse so that the Niger Delta question can be solved once and for all.
FOUR YEARS ARE ENOUGH TO FIX NIGERIA'S PROBLEMS
There is no gainsaying that the once promising Nigerian nation is lost deep inside the wilderness of underdevelopment and insecurity due to the effects of pandemic corruption and deep tribal scheming. The situation has become so bad that it would take only a very courageous leadership to get Nigeria out of the woods. Unfortunately, every administration since 1960 has come and acted in manners that suggest the nation would require up to a century to have her problems fixed. It has now become a countrywide tradition for Nigerian leaders and their aides both at the state and national levels to either hide or deny their failures by casting stones at their predecessors. The Obasanjo administration is the guiltiest of them all. For eight years, administration officials shamelessly indulged in the habit of reminding Nigerians of the havoc done the nation by subsequent military dictators but failed to do anything practical to remedy the situation. In fact, the Obasanjo administration left the country’s socio-economic framework much weaker than it was in May, 1999 when it took over from Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar. The Yar’Adua administration too started with singing the same old song: “It would take a lot of time to clear the mess created by the last administration.” For half a century, Nigerian leaders have fooled the masses. By all standards, leadership is not supposed to be a tea party like many have taken it to be. Leadership is strictly an instrument for development, unity, peace, and security. Society is usually exposed to varying degrees of threats whenever leadership fails.
It is often said that bad workmen quarrel with their tools. The same thing applies to leadership. Bad leaders are fond of blaming others for their failures. One prominent characteristic of bad leaders is the readiness to invest in the recruitment of orators and propaganda wizards to help deceive and pin down the patience of hapless citizens. The blame culture our leaders indulge in has rather helped to expose one very painful fact: Most public office holders do not understand the true meaning of leadership. Some therefore see leadership as opportunities to advance tribal or religious agendas. Others simply see leadership as platforms to amass wealth. Excepting our leaders begin now to appreciate what leadership truly is; Nigeria would continue to suffer underdevelopment, unemployment, poverty, crime, and insecurity.
It would be an understatement to declare that Nigeria has lacked purposeful leadership for the most part of her 49 years as an independent nation. Nigeria would therefore need a legion of leaders that are prepared invest huge amounts of honesty, faith, and patriotism. Without this, the nation would not experience growth and peace. There is no doubt that Nigeria has one time or the other been blessed with honest leaders. The problem has been that these honest leaders mostly surround themselves with dishonest people in the form of advisers, ministers, and confidants. It is natural for honest leaders that accept support from dishonest people to become dishonourable within a very short period of time. That is the problem Yar’Adua and Jonathan are facing.
The success stories of Nigerians in the Diaspora shows that there are enough honest Nigerians who can work with our leaders to fix the myriad of problems that have continued to bedevil this nation. Unfortunately, the nation’s faulty electoral system makes it quite impossible for most leaders to assemble a credible team to work with. This has forced our leaders to have hoards of mainly dishonest people around them. As it is with most democracies around the globe, some key government positions are usually reserved as compensation for influential kingmakers immediately after elections. Since the honest people among us would not go the length to do certain abominable things to rob the electorates of their ballots during elections, they are usually ignored when it comes to filling sensitive positions in government. It is sad to note that even the few honest ones that find their way into government are usually recommended by dishonest kingmakers. This is mostly responsible for the several cases of honest Nigerians who danced naked in the market square shortly after joining government.
For a country with a faulty electoral system, Nigerians do not need a prophet to confirm that the art of king-making here is dirty and stinks to the high heavens. There are no internal democracies. Not only are candidates forced on party members; elections are openly rigged by political kingmakers for a price: key to the treasury. This would best explain why despite all the noise about ICPC, EFCC, and CCB; corruption has continued to grow in the country. It is now fashionable for government to decide who is to be investigated, arranged in court, bailed, or even convicted. This has indeed rubbished the much dramatised rule of law and war against graft the Yar’Adua administration is pursuing. The earlier our leaders stop deceiving the citizens, the better for the future of this country. Nigeria does not need more than four years to get back on her feet.
With all amount of honesty; I would be quick to add that Nigeria would reach the sky in a span of four years if the amount of zeal deployed to tackle militancy in the Niger Delta region is directed at corrupt and super tribal zealots in government. No doubt, Nigerian officials are reputed to be among the best fiscal policy formulators and budget planners in the world. The irony however is that Nigeria is occupying the bottom rung of the ladder in terms of budget implementation. This is a clear case of poor leadership. Nigeria would have been among the first 20 most industrialised countries in the world if her leaders had implemented annual budgets to the tone of 85% at the state and national levels in the last ten years. Nigeria only requires stable power supply, efficient transportation system, access to long term credit facilities, transparency and accountability in government business to enable the private sector drive the nation’s economy up the ladder. All of these would not cost the nation a fortune. It only requires the right leadership. Perhaps, one should add here that our leaders do not lack the capacities to fix these issues. The snag is that our leaders have been swallowed by their own greed and other human weaknesses.
Just like in the case of the Niger Delta where those that were benefiting from the activities of militants never wanted peace in the region; there are several thousands of Nigerians who are benefiting from the nation’s poor leadership culture. Some of these persons believe they would lose substantial stake if there is steady electricity in Nigeria. Is it not a shame that despite the abundance of natural gas in the Niger Delta region, constant power supply has been a mirage in Nigeria? The petroleum sector is no better. As the sixth largest producer of crude, Nigeria still imports more 50% of petroleum products to service local markets. This status quo is maintained just to make sure some persons have the opportunity to make huge profits through the importation of petroleum products. For how long would our leaders continue to fool the citizenry? To make matters worse, government has been making much noise about the planned withdrawal of petroleum subsidy. For a nation suffering from poor leadership culture, there is no doubt that subsidy is the only benefit the masses are sure of. Ordinarily Nigerians will surely resist attempts by government to further impoverish them with the planned increase in the prices of petroleum products by 1st November, 2009.
Furthermore, there are many Nigerians that think an efficient transportation system in the country would impact negatively on their businesses. This is the reason why our federal roads are deliberately allowed to turn into ponds and death traps despite the existence of FERMA. It is also for the same reason that the rail system has gone comatose over the decades. More than that; a handful of Nigerians benefit substantially when government businesses are done in secrecy. It has therefore been difficult for the nation to reap the benefits of transparency and accountability. All of these persons enumerated above are members of the platoon of kingmakers. They work hand in glove with our leaders to destroy the country. Some how, the masses have always tended to undermine them because of the subtle manner they operate. They are mostly faceless but quite a formidable force. They are very wealthy and influential and too ready to contribute resources to install and manipulate political leaders to their advantage. One ready question that has always hung on the lips of many Nigerian leaders is: “Is it morally right to bite the finger that fed me?” This is the problem with leadership in Nigeria. The foundation of many Nigerian leaders can be traced to the heart of dishonest kingmakers. It would be difficult for Nigeria to enjoy quality leadership as long as the masses are prevented from choosing their leaders. This is the strong reason why the electoral laws should be reformed to make votes count. Electoral fraud is indeed one very big brush that our leaders have used to paint Nigeria black in the eyes of the international community. Though, Nigeria is believed to be Giant of Africa, the international community see the true giant in Ghana and South Africa. This fact should help grow patriotism in our leaders.
Yar’Adua had once flaunted his patriotism when he openly confessed that the 2007 presidential election that brought him to office was flawed. He followed this confession with a firm promise to overhaul the nation’s faulty electoral laws. This honest disposition earned the former governor of Katsina State so much respect among the Nigerian masses and civil society organisations. But with the election season just a few months away, they are beginning to feel betrayed. Some have gone to the extent of cursing the day they accepted to forgive the ruling party of all her electoral sins before, during, and after the 2007 presidential election. Many Nigerians have begun to argue that the president’s blatant refusal to cede the power to appoint the Chairman of INEC is as good as not having any electoral reforms at all. The president’s unwavering resolve to keep the all-important right to appoint the electoral commission’s boss has left wide gaps for fertile suspicions among watchers of Nigerian politics. Civil society organisations and opposition political have already cried fowl against the continuous delay of the long planned review of the nation’s constitution which was stalled owing to very trivial issues. Even the claim by the deputy senate president, Ike Ekweremadu that a whole of N500m was inadequate to enable the National Assembly review the nation’s constitution has been quickly interpreted to be part of a grand plan to scuttle the much anticipated electoral reform process ahead of the next general elections. Whichever way one wants to looks at the unfolding drama, the truth still stands out: Our leaders are suffering from severe agoraphobia.
It is pertinent to note at this point that Nigeria does not need just honest leaders. There is also an important need for honest followers as well. Honest followers would not ridicule leaders that are unable to own fleet of cars and mansions after leaving office. Many public office holders indulge in corruption because of undue pressure from family members, friends, and political associates. This should however not be an excuse for public office holders to steal government money while in office. They should rather put the interest of the nation first and grow the courage to resist extreme demands from whatever quarters.
This is the right time for Nigerian leaders to face the realism of fact. This is even more urgent because the patience of the Nigerian masses has run out. It was mainly for the fear of military intervention and possible disintegration that Nigerian masses ignored the charade that was the 2007 presidential elections. But unfortunately, Nigerians have been gravely hurt by the slow pace of development and high incidents of corruption in the polity. What is government expecting from the masses that are witnesses to the fact that most public office holders clearly live above their incomes while they wallow in abject poverty? Nigeria has become a time bomb. It would therefore be catastrophic if President Yar’Adua continues to take the patience of Nigerians for granted. For now, the endurance limit of Nigerians has become even shallower than the lower course of the River Niger. Government’s propaganda can no longer navigate the heart of suffering Nigerian masses. To successfully dredge same, the president should ensure that the electoral system is reformed in line with popular opinion before the next general elections. This would enable the electorates to take charge of the driving seats and disengage all the unpatriotic kingmakers and apostles of corruption that have held this country back for nearly half a century.
It is often said that bad workmen quarrel with their tools. The same thing applies to leadership. Bad leaders are fond of blaming others for their failures. One prominent characteristic of bad leaders is the readiness to invest in the recruitment of orators and propaganda wizards to help deceive and pin down the patience of hapless citizens. The blame culture our leaders indulge in has rather helped to expose one very painful fact: Most public office holders do not understand the true meaning of leadership. Some therefore see leadership as opportunities to advance tribal or religious agendas. Others simply see leadership as platforms to amass wealth. Excepting our leaders begin now to appreciate what leadership truly is; Nigeria would continue to suffer underdevelopment, unemployment, poverty, crime, and insecurity.
It would be an understatement to declare that Nigeria has lacked purposeful leadership for the most part of her 49 years as an independent nation. Nigeria would therefore need a legion of leaders that are prepared invest huge amounts of honesty, faith, and patriotism. Without this, the nation would not experience growth and peace. There is no doubt that Nigeria has one time or the other been blessed with honest leaders. The problem has been that these honest leaders mostly surround themselves with dishonest people in the form of advisers, ministers, and confidants. It is natural for honest leaders that accept support from dishonest people to become dishonourable within a very short period of time. That is the problem Yar’Adua and Jonathan are facing.
The success stories of Nigerians in the Diaspora shows that there are enough honest Nigerians who can work with our leaders to fix the myriad of problems that have continued to bedevil this nation. Unfortunately, the nation’s faulty electoral system makes it quite impossible for most leaders to assemble a credible team to work with. This has forced our leaders to have hoards of mainly dishonest people around them. As it is with most democracies around the globe, some key government positions are usually reserved as compensation for influential kingmakers immediately after elections. Since the honest people among us would not go the length to do certain abominable things to rob the electorates of their ballots during elections, they are usually ignored when it comes to filling sensitive positions in government. It is sad to note that even the few honest ones that find their way into government are usually recommended by dishonest kingmakers. This is mostly responsible for the several cases of honest Nigerians who danced naked in the market square shortly after joining government.
For a country with a faulty electoral system, Nigerians do not need a prophet to confirm that the art of king-making here is dirty and stinks to the high heavens. There are no internal democracies. Not only are candidates forced on party members; elections are openly rigged by political kingmakers for a price: key to the treasury. This would best explain why despite all the noise about ICPC, EFCC, and CCB; corruption has continued to grow in the country. It is now fashionable for government to decide who is to be investigated, arranged in court, bailed, or even convicted. This has indeed rubbished the much dramatised rule of law and war against graft the Yar’Adua administration is pursuing. The earlier our leaders stop deceiving the citizens, the better for the future of this country. Nigeria does not need more than four years to get back on her feet.
With all amount of honesty; I would be quick to add that Nigeria would reach the sky in a span of four years if the amount of zeal deployed to tackle militancy in the Niger Delta region is directed at corrupt and super tribal zealots in government. No doubt, Nigerian officials are reputed to be among the best fiscal policy formulators and budget planners in the world. The irony however is that Nigeria is occupying the bottom rung of the ladder in terms of budget implementation. This is a clear case of poor leadership. Nigeria would have been among the first 20 most industrialised countries in the world if her leaders had implemented annual budgets to the tone of 85% at the state and national levels in the last ten years. Nigeria only requires stable power supply, efficient transportation system, access to long term credit facilities, transparency and accountability in government business to enable the private sector drive the nation’s economy up the ladder. All of these would not cost the nation a fortune. It only requires the right leadership. Perhaps, one should add here that our leaders do not lack the capacities to fix these issues. The snag is that our leaders have been swallowed by their own greed and other human weaknesses.
Just like in the case of the Niger Delta where those that were benefiting from the activities of militants never wanted peace in the region; there are several thousands of Nigerians who are benefiting from the nation’s poor leadership culture. Some of these persons believe they would lose substantial stake if there is steady electricity in Nigeria. Is it not a shame that despite the abundance of natural gas in the Niger Delta region, constant power supply has been a mirage in Nigeria? The petroleum sector is no better. As the sixth largest producer of crude, Nigeria still imports more 50% of petroleum products to service local markets. This status quo is maintained just to make sure some persons have the opportunity to make huge profits through the importation of petroleum products. For how long would our leaders continue to fool the citizenry? To make matters worse, government has been making much noise about the planned withdrawal of petroleum subsidy. For a nation suffering from poor leadership culture, there is no doubt that subsidy is the only benefit the masses are sure of. Ordinarily Nigerians will surely resist attempts by government to further impoverish them with the planned increase in the prices of petroleum products by 1st November, 2009.
Furthermore, there are many Nigerians that think an efficient transportation system in the country would impact negatively on their businesses. This is the reason why our federal roads are deliberately allowed to turn into ponds and death traps despite the existence of FERMA. It is also for the same reason that the rail system has gone comatose over the decades. More than that; a handful of Nigerians benefit substantially when government businesses are done in secrecy. It has therefore been difficult for the nation to reap the benefits of transparency and accountability. All of these persons enumerated above are members of the platoon of kingmakers. They work hand in glove with our leaders to destroy the country. Some how, the masses have always tended to undermine them because of the subtle manner they operate. They are mostly faceless but quite a formidable force. They are very wealthy and influential and too ready to contribute resources to install and manipulate political leaders to their advantage. One ready question that has always hung on the lips of many Nigerian leaders is: “Is it morally right to bite the finger that fed me?” This is the problem with leadership in Nigeria. The foundation of many Nigerian leaders can be traced to the heart of dishonest kingmakers. It would be difficult for Nigeria to enjoy quality leadership as long as the masses are prevented from choosing their leaders. This is the strong reason why the electoral laws should be reformed to make votes count. Electoral fraud is indeed one very big brush that our leaders have used to paint Nigeria black in the eyes of the international community. Though, Nigeria is believed to be Giant of Africa, the international community see the true giant in Ghana and South Africa. This fact should help grow patriotism in our leaders.
Yar’Adua had once flaunted his patriotism when he openly confessed that the 2007 presidential election that brought him to office was flawed. He followed this confession with a firm promise to overhaul the nation’s faulty electoral laws. This honest disposition earned the former governor of Katsina State so much respect among the Nigerian masses and civil society organisations. But with the election season just a few months away, they are beginning to feel betrayed. Some have gone to the extent of cursing the day they accepted to forgive the ruling party of all her electoral sins before, during, and after the 2007 presidential election. Many Nigerians have begun to argue that the president’s blatant refusal to cede the power to appoint the Chairman of INEC is as good as not having any electoral reforms at all. The president’s unwavering resolve to keep the all-important right to appoint the electoral commission’s boss has left wide gaps for fertile suspicions among watchers of Nigerian politics. Civil society organisations and opposition political have already cried fowl against the continuous delay of the long planned review of the nation’s constitution which was stalled owing to very trivial issues. Even the claim by the deputy senate president, Ike Ekweremadu that a whole of N500m was inadequate to enable the National Assembly review the nation’s constitution has been quickly interpreted to be part of a grand plan to scuttle the much anticipated electoral reform process ahead of the next general elections. Whichever way one wants to looks at the unfolding drama, the truth still stands out: Our leaders are suffering from severe agoraphobia.
It is pertinent to note at this point that Nigeria does not need just honest leaders. There is also an important need for honest followers as well. Honest followers would not ridicule leaders that are unable to own fleet of cars and mansions after leaving office. Many public office holders indulge in corruption because of undue pressure from family members, friends, and political associates. This should however not be an excuse for public office holders to steal government money while in office. They should rather put the interest of the nation first and grow the courage to resist extreme demands from whatever quarters.
This is the right time for Nigerian leaders to face the realism of fact. This is even more urgent because the patience of the Nigerian masses has run out. It was mainly for the fear of military intervention and possible disintegration that Nigerian masses ignored the charade that was the 2007 presidential elections. But unfortunately, Nigerians have been gravely hurt by the slow pace of development and high incidents of corruption in the polity. What is government expecting from the masses that are witnesses to the fact that most public office holders clearly live above their incomes while they wallow in abject poverty? Nigeria has become a time bomb. It would therefore be catastrophic if President Yar’Adua continues to take the patience of Nigerians for granted. For now, the endurance limit of Nigerians has become even shallower than the lower course of the River Niger. Government’s propaganda can no longer navigate the heart of suffering Nigerian masses. To successfully dredge same, the president should ensure that the electoral system is reformed in line with popular opinion before the next general elections. This would enable the electorates to take charge of the driving seats and disengage all the unpatriotic kingmakers and apostles of corruption that have held this country back for nearly half a century.
THE MECHANISM OF SOUND POLITICAL LEADERSHIP
The leadership institution is a very fundamental element of every family and society on the face of the earth. It among other things promotes peace, unity, orderliness, and progress. Owing to its very peculiar nature, everybody cannot lead or be a leader at the same time. While some persons are born with leadership qualities, others acquire it through learning. There are still those who are compelled to become leaders by different kind of circumstances. Despite the category a leader may emerge from, one thing is certain: Leadership is all about offering selfless service to God, man, and society. Being selfless means pursuing a life of honesty and dedication.
Politics is a social exercise largely aimed at securing the mandate of the electorates to offer quality leadership for the good of man and society. While the electorates in Nigeria are at the mercy of politicians, the reverse is the case in developed democracies. The electorates are seen and treated like Kings. This is so because, their votes actually count. It underscores the fact that a credible electoral system is the foundation for good governance.
No doubt, the quality of political leadership in most European countries, Australia, Canada, and the United States is by far higher than what is obtainable here in Nigeria. This is not because politicians in those countries are angels. Rather, their electoral system has practically put power in the hands of voters. This reality has forced politicians to offer quality leadership through selfless service so as to secure the mandate of voters.
Owing largely to the poor electoral framework in Nigeria, politics and public office have been turned into platforms for self-seeking individuals and groups to amass ill-gotten wealth. Little or no thought is given to the feelings of the citizenry. That is the main reason why almost fifty years after gaining political independence from Britain, a greater percentage of Nigerians do not have access to electricity, education, health care, sanitation, safe drinking water, decent transport infrastructure.
The fact that Nigeria is the sixth largest producer of crude oil makes one to wonder why poverty and disease has still continued to grow in the country. Beyond that, it has become obvious that a greater mass of the Nigerian populace is tired of bad political leadership. This could be confirmed by the rising number of pro democracy groups and emergence of the culture of political oppositions at the state and federal levels of the country within the last ten years.
It would not be worth the effort if this writer fails to draw the attention of readers to one fundamental source of failed political leadership in Nigeria. Let me therefore emphasise here that corruption and tribalism are the major reason why our leaders have not been able to respond to the yearnings of the masses. Owing to very deep tribal interests, past military and political leaders could not locate proper solutions to combat the hydra-headed problems of corruption. It is strictly unNigerian to indict or expose a fellow tribesman for corruption. Colonial Britain planted the seed of tribalism in Nigeria. She did this for her own selfish economic interests. Before the birth of the Nigerian nation following the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Protectorates in 1914, the numerous tribes were not offered any opportunity to discuss their future. Such discussion would have enabled the tribes to set safeguards and standards on how they would co-exist. This arrangement would have also helped to protect the rights and privileges of both the major and minor tribes so as to avoid conflicts.
Every sincere Nigerian would agree that that the constitutional crisis that arose from President Yar’Adua’s long absence due to ill-health was uncalled for. It was simply the idea of a few government officials who were only pursuing their personal and tribal interests. Not minding the impression they were creating, most of the pro-Yar’Adua group clearly betrayed their parochial lust. They never had the interest of Nigeria at heart. This was the only reason why government officials could direct their loyalty to an individual- instead of Nigeria as clearly suggested by the National Pledge:
I pledge to the Nigeria my country
To faithful, loyal and honest
To serve Nigeria with all my strength
To defend her unity
And uphold her honour and glory
So help me God.
There is no portion in the National Anthem that directs loyalty to the president. Blind loyalty is only practiced in a military government. As humans; while it is necessary for us to identify with those that are sick, it would be unpatriotic for any one to suggest that the country be shut down for this sake. Until the National Assembly made Dr. Goodluck Jonathan the Acting President, Nigeria was grinding to a halt. If he could neither swear-in key public officers nor endorse appropriation bills; what then makes any one to believe there was no vacuum in the presidency? Let us stop deceiving ourselves!
Politics is a social exercise largely aimed at securing the mandate of the electorates to offer quality leadership for the good of man and society. While the electorates in Nigeria are at the mercy of politicians, the reverse is the case in developed democracies. The electorates are seen and treated like Kings. This is so because, their votes actually count. It underscores the fact that a credible electoral system is the foundation for good governance.
No doubt, the quality of political leadership in most European countries, Australia, Canada, and the United States is by far higher than what is obtainable here in Nigeria. This is not because politicians in those countries are angels. Rather, their electoral system has practically put power in the hands of voters. This reality has forced politicians to offer quality leadership through selfless service so as to secure the mandate of voters.
Owing largely to the poor electoral framework in Nigeria, politics and public office have been turned into platforms for self-seeking individuals and groups to amass ill-gotten wealth. Little or no thought is given to the feelings of the citizenry. That is the main reason why almost fifty years after gaining political independence from Britain, a greater percentage of Nigerians do not have access to electricity, education, health care, sanitation, safe drinking water, decent transport infrastructure.
The fact that Nigeria is the sixth largest producer of crude oil makes one to wonder why poverty and disease has still continued to grow in the country. Beyond that, it has become obvious that a greater mass of the Nigerian populace is tired of bad political leadership. This could be confirmed by the rising number of pro democracy groups and emergence of the culture of political oppositions at the state and federal levels of the country within the last ten years.
It would not be worth the effort if this writer fails to draw the attention of readers to one fundamental source of failed political leadership in Nigeria. Let me therefore emphasise here that corruption and tribalism are the major reason why our leaders have not been able to respond to the yearnings of the masses. Owing to very deep tribal interests, past military and political leaders could not locate proper solutions to combat the hydra-headed problems of corruption. It is strictly unNigerian to indict or expose a fellow tribesman for corruption. Colonial Britain planted the seed of tribalism in Nigeria. She did this for her own selfish economic interests. Before the birth of the Nigerian nation following the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Protectorates in 1914, the numerous tribes were not offered any opportunity to discuss their future. Such discussion would have enabled the tribes to set safeguards and standards on how they would co-exist. This arrangement would have also helped to protect the rights and privileges of both the major and minor tribes so as to avoid conflicts.
Every sincere Nigerian would agree that that the constitutional crisis that arose from President Yar’Adua’s long absence due to ill-health was uncalled for. It was simply the idea of a few government officials who were only pursuing their personal and tribal interests. Not minding the impression they were creating, most of the pro-Yar’Adua group clearly betrayed their parochial lust. They never had the interest of Nigeria at heart. This was the only reason why government officials could direct their loyalty to an individual- instead of Nigeria as clearly suggested by the National Pledge:
I pledge to the Nigeria my country
To faithful, loyal and honest
To serve Nigeria with all my strength
To defend her unity
And uphold her honour and glory
So help me God.
There is no portion in the National Anthem that directs loyalty to the president. Blind loyalty is only practiced in a military government. As humans; while it is necessary for us to identify with those that are sick, it would be unpatriotic for any one to suggest that the country be shut down for this sake. Until the National Assembly made Dr. Goodluck Jonathan the Acting President, Nigeria was grinding to a halt. If he could neither swear-in key public officers nor endorse appropriation bills; what then makes any one to believe there was no vacuum in the presidency? Let us stop deceiving ourselves!
YAR'ADUA, NIGERIA AND THE CULTURE OF SILENCE
Human Silence is very deep, pregnant, and multi-faced. Its underlying spirit is influenced mostly by shock, regret, anger, disappointment, shame, pain, law, or desire for peace. The abnormal tight-lip posture demonstrated by President Musa Yar’Adua on the heels of the political tsunami that arose following his hospitalisation at the King Faisal Hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia has helped to shed more light on the culture of silence and the collateral effects on a democratic society.
Events in the last two months has made it safe for this writer to suggest that the president’s unexpected silence has something to do with both his personal and forged perception of those people calling on him to activate section 145 of the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria. As a kid, I was told that silence is the best food given to fools. As a matter of fact, Nigerians have been fed with enough bowls of silence about the health condition of their president. I remember vividly how one of my elder brothers nearly injured me for maintaining sealed lips when he sought information about his dinner. In my brother’s blunt opinion, I had called him a fool. By deliberately refusing to write to formally inform the National Assembly of his prolonged absence from office due to ill-health, many Nigerians believe that the president has squandered the goodwill they extended to him. They see themselves as being perceived as fools.
One other important reason for keeping silence is when one is in the premises of a sitting law court. As far as I know, King Faisal Hospital is not a law court and President Yar’Adua could therefore not be undergoing trial there. Like many others, I feel deeply touched by what the president is passing through at this time of his life. This is one strong reason why he still enjoys some amount of sympathy from Nigerians. Nevertheless, the presidency is like a tap root in a presidential democracy. A vacuum or disconnect in Aso Rock would portend danger for our nascent democracy.
Most of the seemingly anti-Yar’Adua campaigns are sincerely aimed at safe- guarding our budding democracy. Frankly, Yar’Adua’s immediate family and close aides did not manage the health issue properly. They painfully forgot that presidents and prime ministers all over the world hardly enjoy privacy. A president is more of a public property. The pro-Yar’Adua army must therefore appreciate this fact and stop seeing those who openly discuss Yar’Adua’s health as being inhuman. More than that, it is not yet a crime to fall sick. Nobody should therefore be ashamed of taking ill. Family members and close aides of Yar’Adua have painted the picture that it is a taboo for the president to fall sick. That was the reason why everything concerning his health condition has been wrapped in deep secrecy.
It is very difficult to explain why of the four official delegations that went to Saudi Arabia to see the president, none was allowed access. Despite this fact, more delegations are being packaged. The latest being that of the Federal Executive Council (FEC). Why are we joining in celebrating a culture of silence? It is undemocratic. Due Process, Rule of Law, Transparency, Accountability do survive in societies that revere the culture of silence. Little wonder why there is so much corruption and mal-administration in the polity.
The president’s recent BBC interview opened another big chapter on the crude culture of silence. While many doubted the authenticity of the voice in the said interview, I dismissed it as Bibicitocracy- a sophisticated form of silence made to deceive listeners. As far as Nigerians are concerned, President Yar’Adua has not yet spoken. And he really needs to talk to Nigerians. For now, it is only the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) that can protect Nigerians from the artilleries of lies and deceit launched against them by the apostles and zealots of the culture of silence.
On recently, the federal government raised an alarm that some persons are engaging in campaigns of calumny against Acting President Goodluck Jonathan. The aim of the campaign is clear: To derail the acting president. The amount of success to be achieved by Jonathan would be dependent on how he is able to manage the powerful band of unpatriotic elements that have continued to hold this nation hostage in order to protect their parochial interests. Enough is enough!
Events in the last two months has made it safe for this writer to suggest that the president’s unexpected silence has something to do with both his personal and forged perception of those people calling on him to activate section 145 of the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria. As a kid, I was told that silence is the best food given to fools. As a matter of fact, Nigerians have been fed with enough bowls of silence about the health condition of their president. I remember vividly how one of my elder brothers nearly injured me for maintaining sealed lips when he sought information about his dinner. In my brother’s blunt opinion, I had called him a fool. By deliberately refusing to write to formally inform the National Assembly of his prolonged absence from office due to ill-health, many Nigerians believe that the president has squandered the goodwill they extended to him. They see themselves as being perceived as fools.
One other important reason for keeping silence is when one is in the premises of a sitting law court. As far as I know, King Faisal Hospital is not a law court and President Yar’Adua could therefore not be undergoing trial there. Like many others, I feel deeply touched by what the president is passing through at this time of his life. This is one strong reason why he still enjoys some amount of sympathy from Nigerians. Nevertheless, the presidency is like a tap root in a presidential democracy. A vacuum or disconnect in Aso Rock would portend danger for our nascent democracy.
Most of the seemingly anti-Yar’Adua campaigns are sincerely aimed at safe- guarding our budding democracy. Frankly, Yar’Adua’s immediate family and close aides did not manage the health issue properly. They painfully forgot that presidents and prime ministers all over the world hardly enjoy privacy. A president is more of a public property. The pro-Yar’Adua army must therefore appreciate this fact and stop seeing those who openly discuss Yar’Adua’s health as being inhuman. More than that, it is not yet a crime to fall sick. Nobody should therefore be ashamed of taking ill. Family members and close aides of Yar’Adua have painted the picture that it is a taboo for the president to fall sick. That was the reason why everything concerning his health condition has been wrapped in deep secrecy.
It is very difficult to explain why of the four official delegations that went to Saudi Arabia to see the president, none was allowed access. Despite this fact, more delegations are being packaged. The latest being that of the Federal Executive Council (FEC). Why are we joining in celebrating a culture of silence? It is undemocratic. Due Process, Rule of Law, Transparency, Accountability do survive in societies that revere the culture of silence. Little wonder why there is so much corruption and mal-administration in the polity.
The president’s recent BBC interview opened another big chapter on the crude culture of silence. While many doubted the authenticity of the voice in the said interview, I dismissed it as Bibicitocracy- a sophisticated form of silence made to deceive listeners. As far as Nigerians are concerned, President Yar’Adua has not yet spoken. And he really needs to talk to Nigerians. For now, it is only the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) that can protect Nigerians from the artilleries of lies and deceit launched against them by the apostles and zealots of the culture of silence.
On recently, the federal government raised an alarm that some persons are engaging in campaigns of calumny against Acting President Goodluck Jonathan. The aim of the campaign is clear: To derail the acting president. The amount of success to be achieved by Jonathan would be dependent on how he is able to manage the powerful band of unpatriotic elements that have continued to hold this nation hostage in order to protect their parochial interests. Enough is enough!
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