NIGERIA, WHICH
WAY FROM HERE?
Currently in the Nigerian polity
especially on the socio-political platform, several unthinkable scenes have
transpired in different occasions since the present administration assumed duty
ranging from the #DasukiGate to rapid fall of the crude oil price, hiking of
the petrol pump price, reemergence of Biafran agitation and Niger-Delta
militancy, the governors’ protest over continued payment of the #18000 minimum
wage, the alleged abrupt disappearance of original copy of the 2016
appropriation bill from the National Assembly, the ongoing drowsy
physiognomy of the Nigeria’s foreign
exchange, among others too numerous to mention thereby posing a great threat to
the country’s economy.
The aforementioned seemingly foreseen
anomalies had made many of the country’s citizens both home and in the diaspora
coupled with concerned observers to unequivocally insinuate that Nigeria has
encroached her doomed state. Though such presumption or insinuation presently
preoccupying the mindset of the majority of Nigerians might not be unconnected
to the fact that quick assertion of conclusion to happenings is peculiar to the
human nature, but it’s worthy to note that that isn’t a wholesome perception;
hence, not acceptable.
Every sane being as well as anyone who thinks
good of this country otherwise known as the ‘giant of Africa’ ought to be
concerned with the way forward from this vertex of quagmire that seems not
unlike a paradox. To this end, it’s needless to state that the topic of this
piece was informed by this very fact – acknowledging the inevitable role of way
forward in a situation like this.
In any circumstance, while searching for the most viable way of settling
a crisis or putting a holistic end to any menace, it is imperative to firstly
ascertain the origin or rudimentary causes of the plight in question; therefore
the ongoing societal crises in Nigeria won’t be an exception. In view of this
obvious fact, there’s a compelling need for us to look inwards with a view to
unraveling the genesis of this apparently poignant odyssey solely begotten by
the country’s democratic era.
Thus, before seeking for the way
out, the paramount question is, how did we get here? In some quarters, people
are of the view that these predicaments are attributable to the 16-year misrule
of the acclaimed largest political party in Africa – the People’s Democratic
Party (PDP); some persons in their understanding are preoccupied with a belief
that these plights are attributed to so much promises made by the ruling party
– the APC; on another axis, people believe that most of the ongoing crises were
occasioned by Nigeria’s unending sole dependence on the oil sector. Among all,
some schools of thought are strongly of the opinion that the origin of this
state of poignancy is traceable to the presumed high level of docility that
marred the Goodluck Jonathan’s leadership.
If I must be vocal or if I’m bound to speak wholly, in a concise term I
would say that there are two major factors responsible for all these brouhahas currently
ravaging all facets of our economy. One of the factors is that those whom are
negatively affected by the ongoing anti-graft war or whom have perceived a ‘witch-hunt’
as the case may be have vowed to make the country ungovernable by the President
Mohammadu Buhari’s led administration.
The second factor is scepticism; many Nigerians are still sceptical over
the established notion that President Buhari was the awaited Messiah; people
are still sceptical over the sincerity surrounding the ongoing colossal
anti-corruption cases; the electorate are sceptical over the anticipated actualization of the 2016 proposed budget; people are still sceptical if this administration truly
has a genuine agenda that would lead this country to the anticipated
promised-land. Therefore, the two factors are: the wrong use of opposition in a
democratic dispensation as well as scepticism on the part of the electorate
which is not unusual. Any interregnum often yields scepticism, apprehension,
uncalled fear and what have you.
Undoubtedly, in a situation like this, it is the prerogative of everyone
to nurture or be entitled to his/her own opinion. But for the interest of
Nigeria whom is already crying foul, we are not meant to be concerned or
bothered over people’s personal opinions rather how to salvage them from this
untold hardship irrespective of whose ox is gored. Thus at this juncture, the
most consequential and rational question becomes, which way from here?
For the present administration to
be thoroughly described and recognized as a responsible and responsive
administration, it must be willing and ready to absorb constructive criticism,
which remains an inevitable veritable tool in nation-building. It is expected
to spread its hands open for any form of criticism that is aimed at addressing
any anomaly or ill.
In the same vein, the administration must at all cost be willing to
adhere to the principle guiding the rule of law. If anyone detained by the EFCC
or the DSS has reached or tendered all the required conditions for him to be
bailed, he should be released without much ado prior to when next he would
needed for further scrutiny or interrogation; it is only the military that does
not understand the language of bail. To restrict the person’s movement
afterwards or after the bail, they must endeavour to seize his/her
International Passport or travelling documents.
And anyone who is still in detention that pleads to be allowed to see
his doctor abroad or claims to be passing through a severe medical condition,
should be allowed to travel out but in custody of the DSS, EFCC or ICPC as the
case might be, or better still his doctor should be invited from abroad to
attend to him in the cell. We must note that the person’s health condition is
very crucial in such situation; a detainee must be medically sound to enable
him/her pass through any stress during arraignment. In other words, one must be
alive to attend to any query.
More so, the government ought to be prepared to charge accused persons
to court because Nigerians can’t wait to witness such scenario. Everyone yearns
for pragmatic and tangible approach towards tackling corruption, and unarguably
it is only the judiciary that can showcase the anticipated scene. Corrupt
people shouldn’t just return the stolen monies and be allowed to go scourge
free; if such tradition is to be upheld, subsequently public office holders
would attempt to steal more public funds in their custodies since they would
only be asked to return them thereafter.
Regarding the renewed Biafran agitation, I urge the government to handle
the matter with extreme diplomacy. First, it ought to endeavour to unravel what
actually prompted the reemergence of a protest that is believed to have faded
off long ago, after all the aggrieved group in question have a constitutional
right to ask for freedom if they feel marginalized; hence they deserve a fair
hearing. Thus, the treasonable felony established against the leader of the
IPOB, Mr Nnamdi Kanu should be reviewed in earnest for the interest of Nigeria
in its entirety.
Above all, the 2016 proposed budget was estimated on the targeted oil
benchmark of $38 per barrel but right now, the oil benchmark is already $27 per
barrel and it is liable to fall further; this simply implies that for the said
budget to be feasible when duly implemented, the government must not
compromised every effort targeted towards diversification of the sources of the
country’s economy. Against this backdrop, I enjoin the government to take the
education, health, tourism and agricultural sectors as priorities; the
aforesaid sectors that were maltreated in the past need to be strengthened
headlong.
The educational arena requires a drastic upgrade in order to encourage
entrepreneurship drive among our young ones; the health sector cannot be
neglected because ab initio billions of naira are invariably sent to foreign
nations by the rich for payment of medical treatments to the detriment of our
foreign reserve. This country is blessed with enormous cultural heritage, hence
should be harnessed for the sake of tourism. The governors, rather than
depending solely on the federal allocation should also be mandated to follow
suit as regards diversification of their IGRs in their respective states to
enable them not to see the continued payment of the #18000 minimum wage as a
far-fetched concernment.
On their part, the electorate must learn how to use civil language while
tendering lamentations, criticisms, protests, media commentaries and so on, if
truly they pray and earnestly seek for a salvaged Nigeria. At least the
political wills being showcased by this administration deserve some credit or
kudos; thus let’s exercise a little faith while we wait, after all Rome wasn’t
built in a day. Think about it!
Comr Fred Doc
Nwaozor
