Government Is Serious Business (Let’s Commend Atiku’s Example)

By

Babajide Fadairo

noorimoon2002@yahoo.com

 

 

Over the years government business has been erroneously viewed as nobody’s business and there fore been handled with levity. Hence, it is seen as an avenue to illegitimately amass wealth, and in the process bastardize government institutions, processes, procedures and circumvent government modus operandi. Majority of those that aspire to public office in Nigeria today, do not understand the very essence of public service, they do not get to public office with a view of rendering selfless service to the people and improving the socio-economic conditions of the country. They don’t have a clear vision about how government should be run, to them public office is all about self-aggrandizement and pursuance of selfish interests. This explains why after over 45 years of independence, Nigeria has not been able to radically develop and rapidly transform as it ought to have done over the years. The attitude and orientation of public office holders in Nigeria have conspired to produce a system that is thoroughly warped, corrupt and inefficient. Hence, the system is not only replete with leakages, but also counter productive. This rather unfortunate development has rendered functionary impotent otherwise laudable government policies that would have been of immense benefit to the people. It is for this reason that the developmental dividends of democracy have not percolated to the people who actually needs them. It would be recalled that many of those that have ruled Nigeria in the past have always pay lip service to the issue of good governance, and this particular issue is central to the overall issue of democracy and development. And, democracy will be useless if the generality of the people cannot derive any benefit from it.

 

It is for this reason that the efforts of the Vice President Atiku Abubakar should be commended for putting together a group of experts from around the to help him formulate policies that would guide and assist him when he eventually assumes the mantle of leadership. I stand corrected this the first time in the political history of Nigeria that an aspirant will assemble such egg-heads on the critical areas of the national economy, even before any serious electioneering campaign commences. This has expressly demonstrated that, unlike most politicians that mount the political soap-box for pecuniary gains, Atiku has risen above the crowd and have demonstrated beyond all reasonable doubt that he is really interested in the systematic and methodical transformation of the country based on the needs, desires and aspiration of the people. It is in this regard that Atiku contended that “I have always been fascinated by the phenomenal economic successes of the East Asian countries. The principal engines of growth in these economies have been high level of domestic investment and savings, a well educated and committed workforce, growth in small and medium size enterprises as well as in agriculture, efficient and effective public sector, declining population, a good legal and regulatory framework, and sound economic policies. Since 1978 till date, China has lifted nearly a quarter of its population out of poverty. Ladies and gentlemen, we can replicate the Asian miracle here. We can create a society where no one is too rich and no one is too poor. It requires a transparent, focused, disciplined, committed, accountable and visionary leadership. We shall provide that kind of leadership. With your help, we shall design and implement sound economic and social policies for the wellbeing of our people”. The Vice President can boldly say this because he knows what the many problems of the country are, he is a grassroots man who is always in touch with the common man and he has touched the lives of many people across the length and breadth of the country. He has the milk of human kindness, very humane, compassionate and empathies with the plight of the poor and needy. It is in this regard that he said,” I know that despite the achievements of this administration, there are still several areas we have not covered. Millions of people have no jobs. Power supply is still a serious national embarrassment. We do not have a functional railway or a viable mass transit system. Many of our roads remain death traps. Our health and educational systems are in serious crisis.  The situation in the Niger Delta is worsening by the day. There is growing insecurity of lives and property. The benefits of our economic reforms are yet to impact positively on the common people. One of the tasks I will assign you here is to resolve the obvious contradictions between high economic growth and deepening poverty. Why has Nigeria’s high economic performance not translated to improved standard of living for a majority of the people”.

 

Atiku has shown very evidently that he has what it takes to manage the affairs of Nigeria successfully to the benefit of all, this is a man who serviced the country meritoriously in the customs, and he is also a workaholic with eyes for details and a penchant for excellence. He does not belief in half measures; he always says that what is worth doing is worth doing well. And, it is only Atiku that can provide the kind of leadership Nigeria deserves, his simplicity and humility have endeared him to the hearts of Nigerians, and he is not the kind of person that be rude to Nigerians, or even talk down to them, he will not pursue misanthropic economic policies, or carry out programmes that are out of sync with the needs and aspiration of the generality of the people. Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is more than prepared to take the bull by the horn to bail Nigeria out of the woods, and the way to do this is through selfless service and leadership by example, he will always respect the rule of law, uphold the constitution, allow for separation of power, checks and balances and obey court order. He will build his government not around himself, but around issues, institutions, processes, structures and procedures. And to all intends and purposes, this is the kind of leader Nigeria needs at this crucial time in the history of the country.