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The Next President, Opposition Groups And Future Of Nigeria. By Chudi Ikwueze Ph.D.
This election year coincidentally marked the 40th anniversaries of three major events that significantly changed the trajectory of post independent Nigeria, for worse. First, it was in 1967 that the Federal government and Biafra began a definitive three-year military hostility, better known as Nigerian civil war. Second, it was the same year that any form of accountable, responsible and citizens-based Federal government seized to exist. Third, it was the year that Federal Military Government dissolved the regional structure for state structure, a single act that significantly enabled the emergence of such Nigeria we live in, characterized by irresponsible, unaccountable, citizens-hater and under-performing governments at all levels.
The initial building blocks to the foundation of this ERA of under performing governments were laid when the Federal Military Government dissolved the regional structure, and replaced it with state structure. But the state structure lacked the kind of power-sharing arrangement inherent in the dissolved regional structure. The power-sharing arrangement which the dissolved regional governments enjoyed enabled significant level of independence in pursuing economic, cultural, sporting, and even political activities. And so, without any such power-sharing arrangement, the state structure was created effectively as a means of revenue allocation, nothing more.
Suffice it to state that before it was adopted, this power-sharing arrangement with Federal government was fiercely debated, and it took years of negotiation to develop. Needless to state that this power-sharing arrangement was a necessary guarantee, to more than three hundred nationalities that agreed to be part of Nigeria, that their economic, political, cultural, religious freedoms would not be undermined in the emerging union. So, why would the Federal government replace the regional structure with a state (and zonal structure) structure which lacks similar power-sharing arrangement? If the answer to this question for you is that it was removed because Nigeria was at war then; one would have expected the Federal government to return the power-sharing arrangement immediately, by now.
There is however no gainsaying, that as long as absolute powers are located in the Federal government, the guarantee which this nation promised her different peoples at independence remains broken. The Federal government from all intents and purposes has chosen to hold-tight to absolute powers. The powers are unaccounted for, uncontrollable, and unprecedented in terms of the abusive way it has been applied.
With the enormous (valued today at 140 million and counting) unaccounted for, uncontrollable powers at their disposal, men and women who find themselves in the Federal government have been exploiting Nigeria’s resources and abusing her citizens rights, as opportunity presents itself. These people have no scrupples, whatsoever. They steal public funds in their millions (these days the stealing is in billions and in hard currency), and then, turn around and build universities, libraries, houses, factories and all that. To these people, the notions of effective policing and security, uninterrupted electricity supply, portable water supply, good road networks and employment generation are secondary matters. Their main motive is to continue to defend and sustain this under-performing governments at all levels.
For them, it is a “do or die” affair. It would not matter that the uncontrollable Federal government powers create the very environment which enable government officials to indiscriminately steal public (money meant for development of the country) funds, exploit Nigeria’s resources and abuse her citizen’s right. Today, Nigeria remains a nation bogged-down in corruption and political unrest, and risks total collapse. The country is undoubtedly already badly weakened, and on her knees. The consoling good news however is that the Federal government could still reverse this rapidly worsening political fortune of Nigeria. Given the nature of the political crises, the most effective way to tackle them would be for the Federal government to return power-sharing arrangement it assumed from the dissolved regional structure to the state or zonal structure.
This approach if implemented would definitely be a major step in the right direction. It has the potential to reduce or eliminate the crises in Niger Delta basin and elsewhere. The concern though is that going by past experiences, successive Federal government administrations, Obasanjo’s inclusive, have chosen mainly piece-meal approach to power-sharing. To prove that, just look at the Federal government created state and zonal structures; both of them lack any meaningful independent decision-making powers; the kind of decision-making powers that the regional structure had. The state structure is for revenue allocation, while the zonal structure is essentially for political office allocation. The Federal government has not been serious about power-sharing.
Clearly, there is mounting opposition to everything Federal government in Nigeria these days. Many Nigerians, more than in anytime in our history, are passionately disgusted with the current situation of things. Although, these opposition groups have multiplied in the last eight years, the Obasanjo-led Federal government appears unperturbed about their activities, at least so it seems. The main reason behind this administration’s attitude is that government still believes it has an effective secret weapon with which to neutralize any opposition groups, one which targets the key opposition personalities. This secret weapon of government is actually psychological in nature. It is mind-game if you like , which is rooted in a popular parlance that says, “If you cannot beat them, join them”. Whether you believe it or not, Nigerian politicians of all persuasions take this saying as an axiom. In fact, this axiom has so much permeated the mindset of an average Nigerian politician that it dictates their actions or inactions, more than they admit. For instance, the recent switch by Alhaji Aliero of Kebbi state from ANPP to the ruling PDP demonstrates how wide-spread this “……join them” mentality is.
Nevertheless, there are die-hard opposition groups and personalities who would reject any attempts by government to lure them to their side. Suffice it to say that it is to such men and women that Nigeria owe much of any gains so far made in our nascent democracy. Without them, the Federal government abuse of power would have been more pervasive. These men and women have definitely inflicted untold hardship to government and citizens alike, and have caused enormous damage to the economy. Due to their actions, Nigeria has been paying dearly in terms of human and material resources more recently, and there does not seem to be any end in sight.
And so, the present political situation could be described as a quagmire. There is apparently a stand-off between the Federal government and these various opposition groups. These men and women would not bow down from the stand off principally because they allege that government has been taken advantage of them or their people. There is also an allegation to the effect that the Federal government have not adequately compensated them for resources in their region. Yet, another group accused government of marginalization of their people, and so on and so forth. It is unfortunate that the under-performing Federal government has been so insensitive towards Nigeria’s peoples, however way you evaluate things.
Nigeria may not achieve any meaningful progress with her peoples isolated, marginalized, in bondage and wallowing in abject poverty. To put it literally, Nigeria obviously cannot run so far with her hands tied to her back. That needs to be said because, in hindsight, the actions and inactions of the Federal government appear to be doing just that. Nigeria now needs real solutions to real problems facing Nigeria. To maintain the current course in which Nigeria has been run is definitely unsustainable, not an option; it will only lead to more hardship.
That is why it is imperative that the Federal government incorporates into the present state or zonal structure similar power-sharing arrangement which it had with the dissolved regional governments, about forty years ago. Given the origin and nature of the political stand offs at play, this approach will go a long way in settling them. It was to avoid this kind of scenario that the regional structure was set-up the way it was. Nigeria has come or is coming a full-circle; and so, we have to search our past experiences to guard us towards a solution to the current situation. Hopefully, the next president, national assembly and judiciary, in consultation with opposition groups especially those in stand off with the Federal government would join hands together to implement this idea; to launch Nigeria into a much better future.
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