Which Way Nigeria

By

Mohammed Bashir

abashirshuwa@yahoo.com

Leeds Uk

Recent developments in Nigeria has made it necessary for any observer to become concerned as to where the country is leading to. At the beginning quiet a number of Nigerians have expressed doubts on the half baked democracy handed down to the nation by the Abdulsalami Abubakar military junta in 1999. That was because the transition programme was seen as an attempt by the military in Nigeria to elongate their hold on political power by imposing one of their own on the polity via democratic manouvering.

The main objective of those in power in Nigeria is first and foremost to provide for themselve and ensure their personal security and then to provide to those they favour and ensure that the wealth they accumulated while in office are protected. That is the dividend of democracy in Nigeria. And that was why when Abdulsalami handed power to Obasanjo in 1999 he has already secured and guaranteed the safety of his loot and therefore he continues to enjoy his stolen wealth without the fear of being investigated. Otherwise how can you justify any fight against corruption in Nigeria where the authorities failed to look at how an administration that spent billions of dollars it inherited from the previous government with nothing to show for it? It is indeed part of the protection among the military cabal that milked Nigeria dry from the administration of Obasanjo/Yar Adua to that of Babangida and Abatcha and Abdulsalami.

That was why when the arranged transition to democracy was manipulated to transfer power to another military dictator in civilian garb many pro democracy activists vowed to campaign against the scheme and gave their support to Olu Falae with the slogan ' no more soldier'.

In this regard therefore one must ponder as to who are actually resposible for the near collapse of Nigeria toady, is it the politicians that were recently warned by the Chief of Army Staff or the military? Is it not time for the military to give chance for Nigeria to thrive? If anything it was the military that made Nigeria to fight a civil war and wasted the nations hard earned resources which in most case end up in their bank account. They use divide and rule tactic to manipulate the gullible citizens who are hungry and hence easy prey for their dastardly acts.

Nigeria needs a serious revolutionary ,well  focussed and dynamic leader that will fight corruption head on. To achieve this the citizens ought to realise that all they want is someone in government that will use the nations resources to improve the standard of their living. They will actualise their dream if they say no! to those who loot and display their ill gotten wealth and make them to be their servants for a mere pittance. In this regard the citizens suppose be patriotic and consider the interest of the nation first and be prepared to say no to anyone who wants to subvert or divert the interest of the nation for their personal gain. The citizens must demand for explanation for any failure in the provision of essential services and make the leaders accountable. They must look for a credible and trusted leaders and by so doing down play the politics of personality and encourage issue based politics. Though Nigerians ought to respect their leaders and elders the equality  of all citizens must be respected and treated as paramount. All tendencies of divide and rule emanate from such issues as indigineship, ethnicity, religious bigotry and class discrimination which must be totally wiped out of the nations political lexicon. Loyalty is to the Nigerian state and its laws  must be adhered to to the latter and the law should not be a respecter of a persons status or stature.

Nigeria yearns for  a revolutionary leader that will ensure that the citizens are actively mobilised to realise their potentials and made to contribute to the economic development of the country by productively engaging them in nation building. Nigeria has the manpower to work in the farms, construct roads, bridges and houses as well as schools, hospitals etc which are needed in most areas. The revolutionary leader will have to be leading by example so he is required to actively take interest and be involved in the execution of viable projects. He is not a father figure who is begged to allocate resources as he wish but does so because he is duty bound to do.He is required to inspire the citizens for action and give them a sense of pride and belief in their ability and contribution to nation building.

Nigeria's way forward is in the hands of genuine patriotic citizens whose main concern is the overall well being of all the people of Nigeria no matter where they come from, what belief they hold or which party they support. Any person that discriminate a Nigerian on whatever ground suppoed to be punished and forced out of office. The  lives of every Nigerian must be protected from all risks and where a citizen is inflicted an injury he should be reasonably compensated and those who cause it punished. For example if a commercial transporter causes an accident and in the process persongers are killed or maimed the transport owner should be compelled by law to compensate the victims through his insurance and where his vehcle is not covered the government to be held accountable for allowing an illegal transporter to ply its road thereby compelling the authorities to perform their duty for checking vehicles and ensuring personger safety.

Nigerians must demand that their individuality and person must be respected hence they must not be whipped by overzealous security men at public functions. There should be a law against such behaviour thereby checking the manner in which the army, airforce, police etc demean and brutally beat civilians. The military mentality of subjecting citizens to various forms of humiliation just to boost the ego of those in power must be abolished for the power belong to the people and it is only held in trust for them by those they so chosed.

The revolutionary leader that Nigeria deserves most now must endeavour to recover all the resources diverted by previous selfish greedy looters from independence till date without fear or favour and should not breed sacred cows in his administration. Through his selfless service the nation will be galvanised for greatness unlike the present self seeking and self serving bunch of discredited looters whose only attempt at recovery of public fund is to achieve a personal vendetta which only serves their  caprices.

Finally one must point out to the likes of General Agwai  that the future and continuous existence of one indivisible Nigeria as a polity rests in the hands of proper politicians and not soldiers in uniform or  the military meddling into politics for there  should be no more soldier in our political leadership! Nigeria can only thrive if there is fairness, justice, equality and the rule of law which were being bastardised by the military and their ancilliary political administration. Enough of the military deceit and time for genuine politicians to take the mantle of leadership in Nigeria.