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Yet Another Distraction By Bukhari Muhammed Bello Jega
The plan ….
Confirms fears being expressed in certain circles that the President
enjoyed power for the sake of it instead of using it to the benefit of
Nigerians - Lai Mohammed
Welcome to the
Federal Republic of Nigeria; where everything goes. It is rather pathetic
to the belligerent masses of Nigeria; when the man who promise to give
them fresh air and transformational leadership came up with the most
absurd agenda called tenure elongation as solution to the crisis of
development facing the Nigerian state. According to statement by the
Special adviser to the president on media Mr Reuben Abati said that;
“President Jonathan’s commitment to a single term for the President and
governors is borne out of patriotic zeal, after a painstaking study and
belief that the constitutionally guaranteed two terms for President and
governors is not helping the focus of governance and institutionalization
of democracy at this stage of our development. A long term for lawmakers
would also help stabilize the polity”.
Patriotic zeal
indeed. I think the only patriotic zeal the president will do for the
nation is to fix the various crises of nation building facing the country.
President Goodluck Jonathan should by now, know that, the crisis of nation
building facing the Nigerian state, is beyond the tenure of the executive
officers. Rather Nigerians are crying and aspiring for improvement in
their lives. The so called tenure elongation of the President and
Governors is nothing but, self saving, wickedness and the growing
political uncertainty within the political actors; especially within the
presidential villa.
If this is the
fresh air that could come out after two months of inaction; then it is a
pity for President Goodluck led Government. This is an indication, to all
Nigerians, to get set for yet another political battle of absurdity and
impunity of the century. Isn’t it ironic, for the man to say, the second
term campaign derails governance and institutionalization of democracy? I
believe what derail governance and democracy is the failure of leadership
to rise above partisanship in institutionalizing the virtues of good
governance and development. The personal comforts and aggrandizements of
political leaders, is the major impediment to democracy and good
governance; not tenureship of elected leaders. There is no doubt, the
greatest problems of Nigeria today, is the lifestyle of their political
leaders.
The proposed
tenure elongation is the case of “the chicken has come home to roost”. If
it can be recalled; it is the desperation of the current government to win
the 2011 elections at all cost; that, lead to the used of all uncanny
principles in arm twisting political opponents through deceptions,
exploiting religious, ethnic, and sectional sentiment; media propaganda
and psychological traumatization of opponent and their supporters, and the
use of state fund to win the so called Pan-Nigerian mandate; at the
expense of any concrete master plan or blueprints to reactivate, the
Nigerian economy that inspired national integration and development. Now
on the saddle, the administration seems to be overwhelming with the
challenges of nation building urging the attention of the man that once
has no shoes. Unfortunately, for the fragile government, the same forces
that, the administration had used to gain the support is now the greatest
misdoing or impediments to the administration’s transformational agenda.
The President has
promise Nigerians a lot of goodies during his campaigns; which analysts
argued that these promises are beyond the capacity of the man to achieve
within the limited period of four years. But, as usual some gullible and
feeble minds among us argued on the contrary (that Good luck to me and
you) without concrete plan to realize such promises. Also the man has told
the whole world, that, his tenure end by 2015; which I never believe him
since the day he made such pronouncement. Now, reality of governance has
taken a deep toll on the new fragile administration that seem to be
walloping and galloping in dear need of economic and political blueprints
to tackle the challenges of nation building facing the Nigerian state. A
misunderstanding in what governance entails seems to elope the snail-like
government of President Goodluck Government. This is a case of the way and
manner you come in, will determine the way you will end at the end of day;
answering a case of when you create disorder you will definitely reap
disorder.
I think Mr
President is inimical with the truth about this self imposed agenda. The
way and manner in which the news was channel and the denial later; only
say, a government that at every time never failed to show it true colour;
but, was afraid of the so called populist opinions some Nigerians are
having on the man at the saddle of leadership. The Goodluck Administration
must come out from it so called holy shell; and presents its true colour
and direction on how to administer the Nigerian state. Mr President, this
is an unnecessary distraction; as the period is too shaking for such
perfidy please. The growing insecurity, boko haram, dilapidated roads;
high cost of governance and growing corruption; lack of economic and
foreign policy blueprints; minimum wage; youth restiveness; Islamic
banking fiasco; unemployment and poverty situation etc, are enough
problems for this administration to channel her energy to tackle; thereby
reducing frictions and crisis of nation building that is almost tiring and
disintegrating the Nigerian state apart.
Probably, the new
administration is not aware of the growing hatred among the various
nationalities within the invisible Nigerian state. I think the president,
needs to revisit his facebook page and other social network site and read
the comments of youngsters on the state of the nation and their desire for
country’s disintegration along North and South either violently or
peacefully, as solution to the challenges of nation building facing the
Nigeria state. For any serious leader who knows his onions; these crises
are enough for him to hit the roads and begin the act of providing and
healing national wounds through provisions of amenities that support
lives. If the growing intolerance are not curtails through passionate
leadership in redirecting and asserting some level of decorum and energy
in aspersing fears, suspicious, hatred and violence tendencies among this
volatile and misguided generation; then we can conclude that Nigerian is
seating on gun powder waiting for fire to ignites its explosion; if the
Boko Haram fiasco is anything to go by.
This tenure
elongation is yet another distraction for a nation and people that are
yearning and aspiring for a breath of fresh air from the transformational
leader of the 21st century modern Nigeria. The problems of
political misbehaviours, is not traceable to all the excuses president
Goodluck seem to be given; rather, Nigerians are crying for good
governance and responsible leadership from their leaders. There is nothing
wrong with the four years tenureship; if only the Nigerian leaders will
simply understand the basis for leadership aspiration in the first place;
which is to provide succumbs and improvement in the lives of the people. I
think the basic crisis of leadership and the culture of impunity in
Nigerian, is that; people aspire for leadership position for the sake of
the position; not necessarily having any idea of what leadership entails
or any transformational ability; which laid credos to what Lai Mohammed of
Action Congress was quoted to have said above.
May, be our new man, in a supposed new Nigeria, failed to understand and appreciate the daunting task ahead of him. If only he can listen to the wise counseling of the former Prime Minister and the founder of modern Singapore Mr Lee Kuan Yew to his successor when he was quoted to have said that; “leadership is more than just ability. It is a combination of courage, determination, commitment, character, and ability that make people willing to follow a leader. We needed people who were activists with good judgment and interpersonal skills”. This is what we want from the man that has no shoes and walk himself to school. Since he has tasted poverty and hopelessness, it will be morally right for him to concentrate on settlinge the myriads of crises of nation building Please. Not this unnecessary distraction (tenure elongation) that blows no one good. |