WE MUST TAKE THAT BOLD STEP

Why should laws be applied equally to all? If a small cabal has political power and the rest don’t, it is only natural that whatever is fair game for the cabal should be banned and punishable for the rest. It is only when many individuals and groups have a say in decisions and the political power to have a seat at the table that the idea that they should all be treated fairly starts making sense.  – Why Nations Fail

The difference between prosperous and failing countries is that the former, through creative imagination, justice, education and collectivism – builds strong institutions, which in turn stimulate growth and development. The latter, like us over here, use corruption, self-serving elitism, illiteracy, injustice and impunity to create an exclusive club of monstrously powerful individuals who weaken social institutions in order to exploit them. At present, we clearly exhibit traits of swine fever. We should ensure that by May 30, 2015, we begin to take the necessary steps that lead a country from failing to prosperous. We should all get ready to face those growing pains.

Whilst I personally do not expect miracles in the next four years, there is something called “a leap of faith” in Christendom. It means that giant, bold and irreversible step taken towards achieving a goal.  We cannot undo the mess of decades in just 100 days, a year or one four year term. But we can start the journey. Through just a few simple actions we can lay the foundation for a better Nigeria. We can change our direction for the better, to the new road to our bright future. For instance, we had been clamouring for free, fair, credible elections to be held since June 12, 1993. It seemed like a pipe dream, a mirage. But it has been done.

This has been achieved because the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), under the leadership of Prof Attahiru Jega, decided to transform itself into a credible institution that would deliver. It is a live example of how easily we can achieve. That self-image of success, of the yes-we-can attitude, shows that we can win those battles and ultimately the war. We should focus now on further improving on the process. This is the only way that strong institutions are built and once this is achieved, the individuals manning them will comport themselves within the framework of the rules, lest they face the music.

 

For the incoming government, the mantra of change can only produce tangible success if General Mohammadu Buhari and his team begin by acquiring Nigerians’ buy-in to the change process. It is important for the president-elect not to waste energy on the political jobbers spending hugely on airtime and press page advertorials to “congratulate” him. The more propitious path to tread for Buhari is to start thinking about competent and motivated individuals who would help him build and entrench viable institutions for the common good. We do not want to see a government overpopulated with appointments based on party patronage.  If Buhari truly desires to fix Nigeria fast, we must grow beyond party lines and toe the line of technocrats and men and women of excellence. De-emphasising politics in the appointment of key technocrats who will work towards fixing the energy sector and provision of basic infrastructure as well as tackling corruption will help the president more than aligning with politicians who brought the nation to its knees in the first place.

Against the background of compelling deficits in almost all sectors of our national life, notwithstanding the princely sums reportedly being pumped into them, Buhari’s task is already cut out. None of the challenges we have as a nation today can be solved without a new vision and resolute leadership to provide a definitive direction. And it is not too late to start.

It is clear that our leaders are more susceptible to human frailties and errors of judgment than their counterparts in the developed world. This is not biological. It is for this reason that the other two arms of government – legislature and judiciary – have to be “reformed”.  Presently, the Nigerian judicial system is on life support and as a result cannot contribute to strengthening relevant institutions for utmost performance.  If I were the president-elect, that would be my starting point because a strong and truly independent Judiciary is the backbone of a prosperous political system. 

Nigerians have risen up against absolutism and impunity. Therefore, the rule of law, in its true sense, should emerge strongly as a by-product of our newfound political enthusiasm and people power. However, the yet-to-be-sworn-in governing party (the All Progressives Party, APC) must never allow the enthusiasm of its actors to contravene the very rules which it swore to protect. Creating and strengthening inclusive social institutions is the only way Nigeria will march towards inclusive economic development that will empower a broad segment of society and turn citizens’ expectations to collective prosperity.

AGENDA FOR THE GENERAL

That phone call between President Goodluck Jonathan and General Muhammadu Buhari could go down as the most important telephone conversation between two individuals in the recent history of Nigeria. President Goodluck saved 170 million people from witnessing the fragmentation of the country as predicted by the US, in what could have been the most violent election aftermath. We thank God!

We had all prepared for the worst: stocking up on food and water, servicing cars, and piling up fuel. Many travelled to their villages, and many more jetted out of the country. Although some have downplayed the significance of that phone call, I for one know that the most severe affliction of African leaders is their unwillingness to relinquish power, even when they have obviously overstayed their welcome at the helm. Without making excuses for them, this may be connected to the culturally embedded perennial absolutism of the African ruler.

Our genes may have evolved into believing in the divinity of our kings and queens and to accept them and their excesses until the expiration of their tenure at death. Hence, when the system of governance was hijacked and reformed by our colonial masters, the mindset of our leaders was still stuck in the monarchical system. This may, for instance, inform why former president Olusegun Obasanjo desired a third-term. Same explanation goes for other African leaders, such as Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe and Paul Biya of Cameroon.

It is difficult for me to use the word “change” without sounding partisan but like the word or not, a change has come, a tremendous change for that matter. We the people are now more than ever aware of the degree of power in our individual votes. The last elections may have had their flaws, but they also marked a rebirth and the kind of political consciousness never experienced in the 54 years of Nigeria’s existence as a country. Suddenly, people power has assumed its rightful place in our polity!

A new president is  set  to  assume  the  leadership  of  this  country  on  May  29. General Buhari’s first task will be how to manage the legitimately high expectations of Nigerians, all of us. Sample opinions anywhere and you will find that we want change primarily in the power sector. This sector’s perennial failure has been central to all the under developmental problems this country is facing.  If there is one campaign promise which Nigerians want the president-elect to fulfill in the shortest possible time, it is the provision of electricity. All  the  industrial  roadmaps,  including  Vision 20:20:20, will  remain  a  pipe  dream  if  the  nation’s  power  generation  level  remains  as  it  is  presently.

The provision of infrastructure is a matter of necessity, yet we need peace first. The security challenges which all but held us to our knees prior to the general elections have to be addressed expressly. The onus is on the incoming government to ensure that  every  Nigerian,  irrespective  of  tribe  or  religion,  is  safe  wherever they reside. No  doubt,  the  just  concluded  general  elections  left  many  scars  in  its  wake.  Sentiments still came to play in some areas, and some of us may be feeling alienated.  Buhari has to play the role of a statesman. The whole country is his constituency.  Processes should be set in motion for national reconciliation.

Prior to the elections, not since the civil war has the nation been so divided. Politicians were whipping up old sentiments, alluding to differences in religion, tribe, culture and political leanings. Our indigent masses visit the source of our problems to these sentiments. This has led to violence as these primitive sentiments have unearthed ancient prejudices and hatreds that had been lying below the surface in the various communities affected.

The president-elect will do well by building strong institutions and taking a stand against corruption. He has promised that; he should match it with action. A greater responsibility of Buhari’s government shall be the pursuit of people-oriented policies that will mop up the idle and angry youths from the streets.  Crime will thereby be reduced and electoral violence eradicated when food and jobs become available for young people irrespective of their states of origin or educational credentials. The trouble with Nigeria has always been a failure of leadership. We must succeed this time. Good governance will heal any wound faster than goodwill. 

  

You and I must work for a better Nigeria. I wish Buhari good luck and patience but not too much patience, for we know where that has gotten us before (pun unintended). He must balance the high expectations of the people with the delicate task of rebuilding a new nation. Above all, I pray for God’s guidance for him. 

#BringBackOurGirls Now And Alive!

We have to rise up and get angry and do something like we have just done at the just concluded elections.

We have to rise up and let our politicians know that we will not just sit by and watch as our brethren are maimed and killed from amongst us, whilst our supposed protectors look on as if nothing happened. We have to let them know that when it comes to our collective welfare, we will leave no stone unturned until we feel secure and valued.

We have to imbibe these values in our children and make empathy a natural reaction to pain and suffering again, and not the God awful weak response that they want us to get use to. No it is not OK.

We have somewhat lost our way and we must steer ourselves back to the light. You and I are important. We are the most important element that the entity called Nigeria exists for. We must protect ourselves, otherwise we have no reason for being.

We must make ourselves seen and heard when tragedy befalls us, otherwise it will be me or you tomorrow.

We demand our girls back and should be having a daily report of where they are, how we are going to rescue them and the rehabilitation facilities we have in the ready to deal with the stresses and suffering that they have endured. We will give up on them or forget them and demand more robust actions from the government. We must bring back our girls. Thank you for your support.

INDEED, THERE IS GOD!

I feel really and truly uplifted as a Nigerian at where we find ourselves today. I feel a real sense of accomplishment that we have arrived. We have arrived at a destination. What we do now that we are here will go a long way in forging the direction and the speed at which we can truly propel ourselves into the 21st century.

We have so many areas that we need to focus on so that we do not lose the momentum that we have set ourselves. We have to say a big thank you to INEC and Professor Jega. I am sure that you will all agree with me that he is a cool potato and we can all learn a thing or two from the way that this man has focused and refused to be derailed from his mission to deliver free and fair elections in Nigeria. There is no doubt that there were obstacles all the way, many mistakes were made, but when you are steadfast in your mission, it is clear as he has shown us that we can get there.

The import of what he has achieved should not be lost on us. The introduction of the PVC, along with the card reader, was a masterstroke.  In one foul swoop, he was able to ensure that for the first time, our votes – yours and mine – would actually mean something. I can assure you that the introduction of this strategy is why our votes counted and we have not seen the usual acrimony that comes with the announcement of results. We have to also thank the social media in the role that it played in disseminating information.

I am one of those who was disenfranchised and never received my PVC. There are many who did not believe in the process and either did not bother to get registered, or did not bother to vote. It could all have gone horribly wrong and I urge all of us that hitherto, we should put pressure on INEC to improve on this system. After all, if I am able to use my ATM card anywhere I feel in the world, there is no reason why I should not be able to use my voter’s card anywhere in Nigeria. It should very quickly become an identification document for every Nigerian over 18, whether s/he chooses to use it or not should have one.

We should have awareness campaigns and explain to all Nigerians that the politicians who rule us when they should be serving us are appointed by us and therefore answerable to us for the tasks that we set them to do. If they are incompetent or unable, we should make sure that collectively we can remove them and appoint people who understand our mandate, devoid of ethnicity or religion.

We have a true task now, one that we should not slack on. We should ensure that the APC start the way that they intend to finish and we should give them no leeway to do things as usual.  Buhari, despite his many faults (after all he is human), is disciplined and honest but he is one man in a dark place. We need to watch all the politicians that have gotten him there and surround him. This is the time that we need to scrutinize his appointees and ensure that the roadmap is clearly spelt out to us and guarded jealously.

We need to get over our euphoria and focus on the gubernatorial elections. These are arguably even more important to our local lives, depending on where you live than anything happening in the center. We should ensure that we get out there again and stamp our thumb prints for who we believe will serve us and better our lives by providing for our welfare and security, again the basic tenets of our democracy.

Talking of basics, this is what Buhari has to do. He must revisit the power sector and ensure that it is on a fast track program to delivery. We cannot be industrialized; we cannot create a manufacturing base, unless we have power.  To achieve this, Buhari needs people. You and me and anyone from anywhere in the world with the requisite skills. He needs the right human resources and a change in the psyche of the average Nigerian in the public sector who is so accustomed to stealing corruption and getting away with it.

There are so many around him now who will be thinking that it is now OUR TURN this must not happen. We must strengthen our institutions if we are to have even a fighting chance or breaking the pattern. There cannot be any silo mentality as is usual. This must be all about team building.

Since God has shown us the way, we should light up our path and make sure that we can race to our destination as opposed to stumbling around in the dark.