Anatomy of  Skewed Political Leadership in Nigeria.

By Bankole A. Okuwa,  Ph.D.

Elitism exists in every human society.  This concept is a belief, practice and acceptance that certain persons or members of certain groups deserve favoured treatment by virtue of their perceived superiority.  The Communists  deny the existence of such groups within their societies but the history of the POLITBUREAU in the defunct Soviet Union and other former communist states, such as, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Rumania and the rest of  Eastern European  countries showed that communism as a political philosophy did not fully eradicate elitism.  It reduced its influences and abuses in  the society, at  large, to a bearable minimum.  On the contrary, it oppressed the rich and equally  the  poor by removing  their fundamental human rights upon which democracy is naturally  built. 

The Nigerian elite is fast approaching a monumental collapse because of its undue and unjustified dominance and oppression of the society at large.  This writer is not a communist; neither is he a sympathizer of socialist or communist approaches to solving societal problems.  Military government or any form of dictatorship is alien to his sensibilities. He is an egalitarian with a high sense of social justice, responsibility and a firm believer in constitutionalism for the promotion of western democracy.  To be egalitarian, some social policies need be adopted and promoted, such as, socialized medicine for general health purposes for the poor masses in a country like Nigeria with its heavy population. Education and the provision of other amenities of qualitative life need to be subsidized by government. Dictatorship in any form is totally alien to egalitarianism as a guiding principle of such a government. The leadership needs to be selfless if the social policies would succeed.

The elite group in reference in this article is the group of men and women; the so-called politicians that spread throughout the length and breath of Nigeria.  From the Presidency and all ministers  of state, to members of the National Assembly, with all others from the Executive State governors, to all commissioners and State Assemblies’ members and all other appointees to the states and federal parastatals, including local government Chairmen and councilors.

Nigerian politics is undoubtedly an affair to oppress our people, steal and kill.  When individuals in government lack the courage to accept mistakes and correct any wrong, when they violate the statute books and even the constitution upon which the government they run is based, and  pretend that nothing is wrong, in the absence of self- discipline and faith in the system, then  serious legal and societal problems are created.  One is impressed with the use of the expression ‘servant/ leader’ by President Yar’ Adua at his  inauguration.  Having said that, the next step for him is  to practice the dictum, which I am anxiously  waiting to see.  If  he fulfills the commitment, I shall expect  everyone in government at all  levels  from the federal to the local to follow the President’s lead regardless of the enduring  principle of ‘ separation of powers’ applicable to the three arms of our government.

It could be deduced from his inaugural speech that President Yar’ Adua will be a good manager of Nigeria’s resources, especially finance.  Reference is often made to his prudent and responsible financial accountability in Kastina State for eight years.  Other governors do not seem responsible enough to match the frugality and transparency of the former governor of Kastina.  He will definitely carry this thrifty financial disposition to his presidency and one hopes that, all the elite hawks who have somehow found their ways into the National Assembly, the various state legislatures and local government councils  will  emulate the President.  The  Musa Yar’Adua fiscal approach to government expenditure would be a major departure from that of his predecessor President Obasanjo, especially with the PTDF history behind our minds.

But one could guess that members of the National Assembly are not likely to follow President Yar’Adua’s  leadership by example in terms of financial prudence and responsibility.  The moral decay which wallows in the permanent cultural aspect of the Nigerian elite life is too strong to be subdued by  reason and discipline in order to prevent collective avarice and selfishness.  Already, members of the National Assembly have started to reward themselves with huge allowances because there is plenty petro-naira available in the national treasury.  The wardrobe allowance being contemplated is day-light ‘robbery’ of the tax-payers money.  The wardrobe allowance for the entire membership of the National Assembly will amount to   N227.00 billion.  This amount is larger than the budget of more than half the number of members of the ECOWAS.  Other allowances are numerous and these so-called political leaders would need ‘Ghana-must-go’ containers, as usual, to carry their loot.  Education from tertiary level down to the primary is fast  going down the drain.  The universities have been on strike for quite a while and the so-called National Assembly ‘business men’ show no concern but conclude their allowance allocation deliberation and proceed on recess.  When the National Assembly people come back, they should first consider making legislative work a part-time State obligation which requires a constitutional amendment.  All the work they do in four years including the debate of all motions and bills, including pugilism for verbal supremacy, can be accomplished in eighteen months to two years.  The legislative work-load can be spread out over four years but it has to be part-time legislative work. Those who are engaged in politics as a full-time work will begin to look for an additional assignment to live their lives. If law-making becomes  part-time, people of better qualities in education, understanding of social problems, greater experiences with wider exposure to social problems and capable of proffering solutions will come forward to serve the country in  more responsible ways without asking for wardrobe allowances. Their salaries would be minimal because they would receive stipends or legislative allowances based on part-time national assignment.

The deputy leader of the Senate, Mr. Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN) was reported to have said that  there was nothing unusual about the wardrobe allowance.  I cannot be surprised.  This is the quality of men who hold political power in Nigeria.  What a meaningless comparison he made with the judicial officers such as judges, state prosecutors and court registrars?  As a professional lawyer, who gave him allowance for his wig and gown?  As a legislator, he is paid remuneration for his contribution and attendance at the National Assembly, why should tax payers bear the brunt and financial cost of his chosen dress to attend the National Assembly?  This same man was the chair of the PTDF Senate enquiry whose committee discovered some inappropriate behavior of President Obasanjo but failed to reprimand him.  These leaders are jokes at best, because they have no commitment to serve those who elected them. They want to loot the national treasury and make common people suffer.  My question is where in the developing world is wardrobe allowance paid to law-makers?  In the case of Nigeria, how can these ‘selected’, “appointed”, “anointed” and rigged- election legislators, most of them from the PDP, in their true conscience, feed fat on this poor nation that lacks electricity, good roads, adequate potable water supply, quality education, adequate jobs, security of life and property?  There won’t be any more acceptable military intervention or coup in Nigeria, God forbid, but do not rule out a civilian coup d’état. It has happened in similar circumstances in many countries. The French Revolution of 1789 was the beginning of this kind of mass protest against bad and oppressive governments in modern times. The poor, the jobless and the educated that loiters around because he has nothing to do will eventually attack these oppressors in the National Assembly and disperse them.  This is not an incitement but a realism that could occur, considering the ostentation, arrogance, indiscipline and general immorality that exist in Nigeria’s legislatures.

Bankole A. Okuwa  Ph. D.

okuwa1006@cablelynx.com

Robot  Villager

# 1 The Nigerian elite is fast approaching a monumental collapse because of its undue and unjus...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 20.06.2007 15:51