OBSERVATION: Re-engineering Nigeria Depends On The Poor

BY ADEMOLA YAYA

THE expectation that civil rule would bring-forth rule of law and freedom in all areas of life and create enabling environment for businesses to grow and spread of prosperity across society, contrary to military dictatorship of iron fist decree, gave birth to a slogan, “worst civilian government is better than best military rule.” However, with unbroken civil rule since 1999 and the pattern of successive civilian governments in Nigeria, the slogan is fast becoming a farce.

The politicians have refused to play by the rule. Democracy, best form of government, is being operated upside down. It is supposed to be government of the majority. But what is obtainable? Government of the few, selected by the richest and elected by the few. Internal democracy which is a lifeline of democracy is lacking within the political parties. What is operational in most political parties, especially the so-called big ones, is imposition of candidates and or the highest moneybag gets the ticket and this is carried to the general election vis-à-vis vote buying and miscellaneous efforts at compromising electoral rules.  The ruling elite’s ‘do or die’ struggle for power is purely and ultimately for personal enrichment and crude personal accumulation of our collective wealth at the detriment of the society. Government is seen as a big business where money spent during campaigns could be recovered in multiple folds without qualm.  They disregard court orders and unleash neo-liberal socio-economic policies that will make life miserable for the mass majority of the people. 

Until now, the pro-democracy groupings were fond of justifying why our fledging ‘democracy’ is yet to bear expected dividends, saying military incursion into politics was responsible. Unfolding events have, however, demonstrated that our ruling elite – military and civilians – are six and half a dozen; same of the same in terms of orientation and passion for societal development. Fundamentally, they are two sides of same coin; one wears khaki and the other wears flowing Agbada/Babariga. They have constituted themselves more as liability to the system as they have no basic idea and courage for nation building and creating enabling environment for people to be productive for a better society as they are dedicated students of Breton woods Institutions – IMF and World Bank – neo-liberal policies of Structural Adjustment Programmes (SAP), Devaluation of Naira, Removal of Oil Subsidy, Increasing Electricity Tariffs, amongst several that will make life miserable for mass majority of the people.

Meanwhile, under the guise of ‘eradicating poverty’ induced by their reactionary policies, they would package various programmes like Operation Feed the Nation (OFN), Green Revolution Program (GRP), Fadama Development Project (FDP), Presidential Initiatives on Selected Crops (PISC), National Special Programme on Food Security (NSPFS), Roots and Tuber Expansion Programme (RTEP), Directorate of Food and Rural Integration (DIFRI), National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Better Life For Rural Women, N-Power, Everything For All By Year 2000, Vision 20:2020, Feeding of School Children during Covid-19 lockdown, etc to pilfer our collective patrimony.

Interestingly, they have always conspired with their imperialist comrades to edge out any suspected leadership within that seems to lay credence to doing things differently. Gen Murtala Muhammed and Chief MKO Abiola are ready made reference. While the former was poised in nation building and fighting corruption, the other was bent in collecting reparation from the west for hundreds of years of enslavement.

It is 63rd years since we attained independence. As at the time of writing this piece, N1,025 is equal to $1; remaining few factories struggling to survive under unfavorable business environment are planning to shutdown as forex crisis hinders raw materials procurement amongst others. Security of lives and property is no longer guaranteed; hard drugs consumption and various crimes especially among the youths have radically risen. But what does one expect in a society where best graduating student in University 2022/23 Section is rewarded with N50,000 cash prize while Big Brother Nigeria rewarded its own best in 2023 with N120m cash price with Innoson Jeep worth N7m and numerous other prices. Health and education sectors are threatened by mass exodus of professionals for a greener pasture. If the truth must be said, everything is upside down. It had never been so bad.

Interestingly, the ruling elite are not perturbed. For them, it is business as usual with neo-liberal policies with accolades from IMF and World Bank for a well-done job. While smaller countries in terms of landmass, human and natural resources are going to space to explore technology for advancement of their people and the world, we have continued rolling like barber’s chair, going nowhere very fast. Our economy is still monolithic, depending on crude oil sales. We do not even have technical expertise to determine how much crude is exploited and explored for export; we rely on what Shell, ExxonMobil tell us!  We could not refine our own oil despite the fact that we are net exporter of crude oil.

 As Thomas Jefferson said, “The government you elect is the government you deserve.” Differently put, people deserve the type of government they have. Common people within the political parties and out should change their disposition of Penny wise, Pound foolish. Collection of stipends as the only basis to select or elect candidate for public office is a great disservice to our nation’s growth and development.

The poor masses should stop lamenting and agonising; they should be disciplined to reject peanuts from the politicians and demand better living; they should get organised and mobilised to struggle for good leadership right from their communities, unions and associations to political choice from wards to local government, state and national that will re-engineer Nigeria. I see a better Nigeria the very moment the poor are prepared to struggle and organize for a qualitative change of leadership that will put a stop at poverty and its associates – misery, sorrow and tears – in the midst of stupendous wealth. That is the period when our collective wealth will be for the uplift of the majority contrary to what is designed to be obtainable presently.

The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author. They do not represent the opinions or views of OSUN DEFENDER.