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Friends and comrades, the elections that will spell a significant historic moment in Nigeria's democratic process is almost upon us. Beneath the euphoria, it is a moment that spells high tension for many. For as they've come to know, Nigerian elections are usually accompanied by events of the most unpleasant and controversial in nature. It has already generated all kinds of statements, accusations and threats of doom and hell fire. Regrettably too, it has already claimed a few lives and maimed many more, long before even the first ballot's been cast.
My fellow citizens, it need not be so. The time has come for Nigeria to discard the old style negative politics which has plagued it for too long, and begin to engage in more mature politics. Politics with vision, action and cohesion. Politics with a common national cause for the purpose of repairing the damages and gross failures of the past. Politics void of tribalism, barbarism and greed. For whilst we are engaging in elementary and cantankerous politics, many of our foreign counterparts, who at one time were in the same 'sinking ship predicament' as we were, have long since steadied their vessels and are now sailing on calmer seas towards economic growth and a more balanced existence. Think Angola, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia and Venezuela, to cut the list short. Their success stories have come about by a national consciousness to turn around their fortunes. Good stewardship, countless sacrifices and political stability have no doubt all been tremendously important factors.
On the other hand, the forthcoming Nigerian elections have already seen wolf packs out in their numbers, angrily baring their fangs and scrapping in the most uncouth manner. You have hired thugs maiming and killing people at the request of their political employers. You have governors vying for the job of president, when the states they have been overseeing are a calamitous catalogue of failures, chaos and stagnation. We have inherently corrupt individuals trying to hoodwink the electorate into believing they will make good leaders who will sternly fight corruption. And then news journalists and other eminent personalities, who use their status to misguide people, inflame passions and create divisions. They of the ilk who constantly make overblown assertions that Nigeria has made no progress whatsoever. All of this is a demonstration of how far we still need to go to achieve the political maturity I am talking about.
I am all for a culture of robust criticisms in politics. It is necessary and crucial for any democratic environment to act as checks and balances of governmental processes. And God knows that Nigeria needs this much more than others. Nonetheless the intent and purposes should always be towards a positive outcome for the collective good of all. Not instigated by tribal biases, selfish interests, personal ambitions or other dubious ulterior motives. I have written many articles highlighting the shortcomings and failures of this government and the Nigerian system as a whole. But this has always been with a view to wanting us to do better as a nation. Not borne out of any hidden agenda, bias or seething hatred towards any persons or groups of persons, even those I am not particularly fond of. My approval or disapproval of a politician shouldn't stop me from praising or criticising them in relation to their rightful or wrongful deeds.
It is obvious that not everyone is embracing of this tenet, going by the scathing progress report some have made of Nigeria. Some people it seems have become stuck in the mire of criticism without evaluation, rationale or solution, unable to give credit when it's due. If over the past eight years, Nigeria has been led by a demon dictator, as some claim, then why beat drums of support for individuals who clearly display more evil and destructive tendencies in their approach and utterances. No sane, decent or upstanding presidential hopeful would be predicting thunder, lightning and fire this elections, if they truly love this country. Nor would they foresee bloodshed, chaos and anarchy if things don't quite go their way. This only exposes a self interest agenda placed above the welfare of the Nigerian peoples and state. Sadly this illness is one that still afflicts a number of developing countries, hence their stunted political growth and democratic inconsistencies. It is politics of the jungle based on the selfish egos and callousness of men who must attain power at all costs.
Nigerians must get past the daily ritual of politics ruled by narrow-mindedness, short-sightedness and belligerence. Our fragile democracy and economy cannot sustain this. It is the main reason why many Nigerians live outside the shores of their country. We must realise that any political aspirant who spends more time spreading a message of doom cannot have the nation's interest at heart. Any aspirant who employs abusive and derogatory language against his rivals cannot and does not display the discipline, maturity and leadership required to move this country forward. Anyone, whose desperation to rule is so strong that they are prepared to spill someone else's blood, couldn't possibly have a noble interest. In George Bush, Americans are reaping the rewards of electing such an individual. Bush and his Neo-Con brigade used every cunning, trickery and political aggression to get themselves into power, and just look how happy and better-off the world is today.
Nigeria has made some significantly positive strides in recent times. Though one might not believe this if you go by some utterances and declarations. Of course there are facts to support the arguments that many things have remained the same, and some even taken a turn for the worse. One of these is the rampart spate of robberies and lack of security, something which has been a catastrophic failure of this and nearly all past governments. Evidently this have reached terribly dangerous and unacceptable proportions today, and I have written extensively about this in many previous articles. The problems with water and power supply, poor road infrastructure are like a stale illicit affair all Nigerian leadership have been reluctant to end. The Niger Delta crisis is still a tightening noose around our necks. However to conclude that this is the worst Nigerian government is a little extreme and unrealistic. Especially when images of our turbulent past are yet to fade from our consciousness.
Nigeria has always had a multitude of problems, the seeds of which were sown a long time ago. Remember the deadly civil war, military take-overs, assasinations, religious riots, the Niger Delta situation, the list goes on and on. It has always been a difficult country to govern, it's problems compounded by poor leadership and a largely undisciplined citizenry. It was recognition of this prompted the Buhari/Idiagbon regime to introduce the "War Against Indiscipline" (someone please bring this back). And what did Nigerians do? They screamed out in frustration and ushered in the notorious Ibrahim Babangida, plunging the nation headfirst into a sea of discontentment for many years. Then an even more sinister character, in the shape of Abacha, emerged to cast an even darker shadow over proceedings in a morbid reign of intimidation, false incarcerations and deaths. A period that witnessed the highest and most frenzied emigration of Nigerians in our history. Many who write so boldly today would not have had the temerity to do so then. This alone speaks volumes.
So I don't quite know if it is just cynicism, short historical memories or some other agenda that motivates some to paint a very dire picture of Nigeria today. They betray their stance and sense of judgement and expose a hidden insincerity. Criticise the government if you must, but please employ a level of realism and common-sense. A genuine critic should have the maturity to acknowledge when even his enemy is right, or his friend is wrong. It is quite simple, critique what's wrong and applaud what's right. If we adopt this approach in our endeavours we will achieve milestones in our political growth and maybe start regaining the respect and admiration which Nigeria once briefly enjoyed.
Obasanjo may not be a saint, and in my view has played politics in the usual Nigerian style. He his afterall a product of the Nigerian system. I was never for past military rulers returning to run the affairs of this country again. However with the benefit of time and after careful observation, I have come to the reasoning that perhaps destiny actually placed him at the helm of affairs again. His personality, experience, military background and familiarity with Nigeria's power brokers, made him the ideal person to carry us through this transitional democratic rebirth. Thankfully, he broke ranks and stunned his comrades by not doing things quite according to plan. Some may not realise this yet, but his administration, with its flaws and shortcomings, has actually placed Nigeria on a certain path, where the notion or vision of a better existence no longer seems like an impossible dream. And I say this with a clear unbiased conscience and conviction.
It is therefore quite baffling to see that some refuse to acknowledge the progress we've made. Perhaps they are having too much fun engaging in the banter of salacious and provocative politics, where you support the devil just because he disagrees with your enemy. Shouldn't the focus be on moving this country forward! We all can make worthy contributions by being a little more truthful and balanced in our observations, and a lot less biased in our outlook. These elections are an opportunity to keep our democracy on a steady upward mobility by electing civil servants with impeccable credentials and proven track records. We must endorse more dynamic personalities, like Dora Akinyuli, El Rufai, Ngosi Okonjia-Ewela, Donald Duke, Oby Ezekwesili, Charles Soludo, Nuhu Ribadu and others. Figures who ironically were all appointed by this same heavily vilified President. To me, just having people like these in the fabric of our politics is already a worthy achievement and great omen for the future.
How can anyone underplay the enormous benefits of the NAFDAC and EFCC institutions. Yes there might be aspects of the EFCC that need adjustments to ensure it is not used as a political weapon. But by and large it has been a blessing. The business of stealing public funds now at least has a worrying obstacle to contend with. Fraudsters and embezzlers are gradually losing their appeal and can no longer operate with impunity and in total relaxation. It took the FBI many years to fine-tune their activities, and they are still not perfect today. I think the EFCC has done remarkably well in such a short space of time. Nigeria is no longer in the Top 10 List of most corrupt nations. Nothing to be wonderfully proud of, except that it's a step in the right direction. And what about NAFDAC's tremendous achievements in protecting Nigerian lives from the deadly activities of fake food and drug pedlars. For these efforts Dora Akinyuli has won numerous awards at home and abroad. If these aren't signs of progress only heaven knows what are.
Surprisingly some of those who feel this government has been a catastrophic failure are quite embracing of some of the unsavoury characters who occupy the Nigerian political fabric. Characters who display far less noble qualities than the man they wish to replace. Characters who speak so boldly and loudly with no qualitative and quantifiable records of achievements to show. I shudder to think what they would be like if they ever got to run this country. The least we can do is to support and elect a decent bunch of people into government in this next phase of our democratic life. Obasanjo's tenure is over and Nigeria must move on. Let's build on the good measures he introduced and discard the not-so-good ones. Let us put more systems and structures in place to hold up our fragile democracy whilst we work to add more layers of improvement.
I am hoping and praying these elections are free and fair, and pass off without the streams of blood some predict or secretly wish for. I hope that when the dust has settled, the most qualified candidate, from whatever party, emerges as the victor. Someone with vision and complete commitment to the Nigerian project. Sadly my choice candidate, Donald Duke, was unceremoniously edged out of contention by the PDP machinery, one of my major disappointments with our dear President. In Duke, you have a man of great poise and discernment, who never comes out shouting, relying only on his achievements to do his bidding. Genuine leaders tend to be more understated and dignified, and are often sought out by decent people to lead. Bad leaders on the hand are usually the most vocal and braggadocio. Please feel free to put your politicians into your desired category.
Lastly, it saddens me to see that some are still re-evoking the civil war of the sixty's, expressing the notion that becoming a separate entity is the key to solving all their woes. Occasionaly, I find myself wishing they could have their way, if only to serve as a lesson that, "no matter what geographical space you occupy, if you have the wrong people running your affairs, your problems will be just same". The evidence exists for all to see in various states across Nigeria today, where those in charge are mismanaging the budgets and affairs of their people and putting lives in jeopardy.
And for those who seem permanently pre-occupied with the tribal or religious roots of our leaders, it is worth realising that Nigeria's greatness and uniqueness actually comes from the combination of its various peoples. We just haven't found the right way of moulding our diversity, strengths and talents into a cohesive, effective and successful unit.
I wish each and everyone a Happy and peaceful Easter break. God bless Nigeria.
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Posted by Robot| 06.04.2007 17:00