Nigeria in catch 22 situation, by Dr Ibrahim Mohammed Yabani
The stset of things in our society today is sickening and absurd, institutions in our society are at a collapse. The judiciary that is supposed to be the last hope of the people now dispense justice on technicalities to favour their clients. The civil society organizations who are supposed to be the mouthpiece of the downtrodden now look at issues from the prism of their foreign financiers.
The executive muzzle the press not to report its shortcomings. The Government media only report news that suits their benefactors they act as publicity outfits of those in power. Private media organizations are not doing better as they comment on issues that are in support of their capitalist owners and big businesses that oil their activities with advertising revenue.
Insecurity, maladministration impunity has reached a towering height in all tiers of government. Recruitment into public service and public offices are no longer on merit but depends on who you know or who your father is or where you come from or who among the legislators is sponsoring you.
READ ALSO: The uncommon qualities of Governor Buni, by Dr Ibrahim Yabani
Politicians have corrupted the political process, only the ugly and those who are ready to bury their dirty deals now have access to leadership. Only the bad, the ugly, the worst and the kleptomaniacs among us have access to political offices. This is how debased our society has turned into. There is no place you can run to look for succours. Even the devils’ alternative is no longer there for a choice. The devil himself has forsaken us. We are really in a catch 22 situation.
When I was growing up, each time the military took control of the government they blame the previous government for failing to steer the affairs of the state to justify their actions.
Multi-party democracy strived because of its ability to through persuasions change one government to another by providing its electorate with the opportunities to choose between one set of ideas with another.
When the APC won the elections in 2015 it presented to Nigerians a new set of ideas why they needed to change the PDP government under the leadership of former President Ebele Jonathan. They accused him and his party of failing the nation, a little over six years since they came to power there is a growing call within the party for former President Jonathan to defect to the APC with the possibility of becoming the party’s flag bearer in the 2023 presidential election.
Just recently the most vociferous critic of the Buhari government Mr Femi Fani Kayode (FFK) was alleged to have formally decamped to the APC. The reason for doing so may not be far fetched. The gentleman if you can call him that, must have realised the hands of law is closing on him and to avoid spending some years in the gulag, he has no choice but to reach out and take the olive branch dangled to people like him after all, the dictum that says “commit a crime and join the APC you will be forgiven” is still germane as it has never been repudiated by the party.
The question to ask is what has become of us as a people. More importantly, why did APC truncate Jonathan tenure in 2015? Will, they apologize to Nigerians? Are they saying Jonathan was good but PDP was bad? How can they separate the two? Are the politicians taking us for a ride? What kind of people are we? Has poverty, insincerity, tribalism, corruption debase us as a people to the extent we can longer differentiate between honour, morality and goodness. Has our moral compass deserted us? Have we all acquiesced politics has become a self-serving industry for those who want to continue shortchanging as a people. How can we get out of this contraption?
Have we all been cowed to the culture of silence? Is this democracy, dictatorship or autocracy. Can politics be a solution to our problems? Where did we go wrong? Where does the fault lie? Is the Nigerian Constitution the source of our problems? Is lack of political ideology the cause of our political missteps? Or have we all as a people failed this nation because we are afraid to speak the truth. This is not the nation our forefathers handed over to us. Nigeria is bigger than any one person, we must wake up to our responsibilities and make this nation blessed by God succeed.
As they are strategising for the next circle of elections, we the people must resist those bad leaders from taking control of our collective destinies again. We must do so through the same process that brought them to power. Our vote is the power we can use to shape our destiny, we must no longer again allow those bad politicians that treat us with disdain, talk down on us to take control and determine our future again under whatever guise. We must use our franchise to make Nigeria work.
If we wait for the crop of politicians we have today to solve the problems of the nation we might as well kiss bye-bye to good governance and better nationhood. Nothing meaningful will come from the houses of assemblies scattered all over the country. They have all abdicated on the role assigned to them under the Constitution to check the excesses of the executive all in their need to ensure their continued stay in political offices.
The truth is the governors are the most powerful group of Nigerians today. Remove the financial privileges of the President you would find his powers are nothing compared to that of the governors. They determine who wins the party primaries, they decide who becomes a Ministers, they have input in federal appointments, they are like octopuses with their fingers in every pie.
The national assembly if care is not taken will soon become an extension of the governors forum. The two citadel chambers at the national assembly have become a resting place for ex-governors They use the opportunities provided by the two chambers to protect the stupendous wealth they amassed when they were chief executives of their states. It gives them the opportunity to continue being relevant in the political process That is why all the lacunas identified in the Constitution that is making the system not work is being selectively allowed to pass for legislative considerations. They use their proxies in the states to manipulate the process of constitutional amendments. This is the catch 22 situation Nigeria and Nigerians found themselves in today. How to break this vicious circle is your guess is as good as mine. Comments invited from my followers.
Dr Yabani, a freelance Journalist, writes from Kado, Abuja.
Follow the Neptune Prime channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va74ZvU2v1IqKByXoX3d
Do you have breaking news, interview request, opinion, suggestion, or want your event covered? Email us at neptuneprime2233@gmail.com
Dr you have said it all but not adequately proper solutions to the above mentioned challenges bedeviling Nigeria.
You’re pies centered around leadership and roles of politicians not minding the followers.
I’m a civil servant and got employed by your humble self without knowing me. Whenever I heard your name it’s gladden my heart that you are the reason of my happiness.
HRH Alhaji (Dr) Usman Bilyaminu Othman II (Emir of Dass) would never be forgotten in the history of my life being my elder brother, Emir and father to all indigenes of Dass Local Government Area of Bauchi State.
Sir, your kind personally are very rare to find. May Allah continue to guide and protect you.