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Is Our Future Mortgaged to Inexperienced Politicians? By Bonkoo Tombari Tobby
In 1993, the then Interim leader of the defunct hold brief government for Abacha, Chief Ernest Shonekan chaired a vision orchestrated by his boss the "EVIL GENIUS" as a political diagram for hope for the future of Nigeria. This program was created for the military-like- civilians who were the genius boys and the brains behind his massive incorporating of corrupt practices into every facets of Nigeria culture as a smart way of life. The oil boom of the early 90’s were used to financed this program called " Vision 2010" through their so called national orientation exercise which was aimed at creating awareness and hope for better Nigeria. On the outward appearance and on the paper, it was a remarkable program that if followed as proclaimed, a greater percentage of our youths would have benefited from the program. But unfortunately, the program was designed to incorporate or legalize corruption as culture in every brook of our nation. As the masterminded of this vision, he Babangida garnished away billions of dollars of our nation’s wealth, leaving behind millions of Nigerians into perpetual poverty and hardship.
It is now a seeming believable culture to many Nigerians that hardship is a way of life and that to get out of such situation, one must endeavored him or her selves into siphoning public money – either in the government sectors or religious arenas. The program of this great evil genius gives birth the coded 419 practices in Nigeria and beyond its territories. It is therefore a rooted culture in the minds of today’s cream of Nigeria leaders. Thus, do we see this generation of Nigeria leaders as a failure? There is this saying that where there is no vision, the people perish, the continues trend of leadership cronyism in our country will lead someone to believe that this crop of leaders will fail us inevitably at the expense of the poor masses who are in thirst for great leadership.
However, to tackle this problem, a revolutionary approach must be employed by the youths that are completely neglected by the failure of our leaders to invest in the youths of our nation. The future of the unborn and the youths of Nigeria are mortgaged for the selfishness of those in power. For any nation to prosper or achieve greatness, education remains the pillar of such nation. Yet, our leaders fail to understand or take cognizant of our failed educational sector that is at the hill of extension. Rather than envisioning a global world where the strength of a nation will be tested by its ability to cope up with technological and economic advancement of its people, they choose to place our nation as a beggar of daily meal in a sea hands of human resources.
As history tell us, effective and productive governance depends on creating free think tank environment and providing a transparent and equitable government; this give rise to the general standard of living and tied individuals together through trade and, other effective economic common interest. In addition, it curbed their antisocial impulses, redirecting energy that might otherwise be spent on crime, violent, fostering a greater respect for civil society and the common good. Thanks to the little progress made by the government of Obasanjo on reforming some of civil service sectors. I hope that in the long run, most of the notorious elements of the orchestrated culture of corruption will be forced to adapt to the changes needed in their respective sectors. However, to have a positive impact on the common people, the fight must be brought to those at the Council level. Else, the public will consider the efforts so far rendered as a selective justice. A vast majority of our local government chairs is viciously indulging in the corrupt practices that affects the lives of the common people in their localities.
As stated in the constitution, elected officers were not suppose to acquire any property outside the country while in office and, that they are suppose to declare their assets to the Code of Conduct Bureau as part of criterion for qualification into any elective or public offices. The section 308 of the 1999 Constitution shield the President, Vice President, Governors and their deputies from prosecution while their terms of office last. I can understand why the immunity on the President, but the Governors and their deputies, this was a complete judicial and legislative blunder committed by the evil genius boys in the face of the NBA. May the NBA rise to restore the dignity and values of their noble profession- a profession viewed by many as the voice of common folks. As no child will love to be frustrated by the evil of his or her parent, it vitally imperative for our youths to understand the magnitude at which our future is been mortgaged at our own expenses.
We must therefore, revolt against this system by peacefully crushing political dissent of leaders whom support or practice this deathly epidemic in our districts. We must distance ourselves from those leaders whom continuously uses the youths to conduct violence and bringing political unrest in our localities all at the expense of the youths. To resist these actions, a political and economic think tank should be comprises of youths from all facets our society should be established in the six geopolitical region of the country. This political action group will act in the short term as watchdogs against leaders undermining the future of our nation. The group shall conscientiously identify a thoughtful, vision minded leader and a progressive thinker to patronize the affairs of this group.
To help our democratic process, the group shall provide volunteering services to the growth of democracy in Nigeria. They shall again, solicit financial support from interest groups both inside and outside the country. In the longer term, based on the pill of experiences attained during this period of providing political and economical knowledge to those credible leaders at the helm of affairs, the issue of cronyism and nepotism by those inexperience leaders will be minimized or stopped. They in turn will be privileged to serve and manage the their future and the future of the unborn. If this revolutionary experience is followed, it will accelerate changes in how ordinary people view the ownership of our nation. Finally, may rise and join hand to a make change in the lives of ordinary Nigerian for a common good. The future of our nation is at stake and we can not sit silently to have our nation auction to those that cannot provide a clear path of economic advancement in our nation. It is very crucial that we pledge our support through active participation in trumpeting a change in the status quo of our nation. We will all rise and pursue that "Vision 2010" which was well typeset but not implemented. The time is now else our tomorrow will not be promised.
Bonkoo Tombari Tobby Washington D.C.
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