Few Nigerians may not be aware that presently, their country is enveloped with too many problems beyond the handling capacity of its leaders. But how do we articulate the problems in a way to facilitate and understand both the dimension and probable solutions?
There are some Nigerians that hold the view that the country’s fundamental problem is “corruption,” by which they imply misappropriation of the commonwealth. Some believe Nigeria’s problem is “lack of true federalism,” which they mean the absence of resource control by local, or state governments, and the presence of so many legislative restrictions, that frustrate sub-regional security, sub-regional economic agendas, sub-regional justice, and sub-regional infrastructural development. But are those two broad categorizations of Nigeria’s problems truly representative of the problems of Nigeria? Does Bola Ahmed Tinubu truly understand the precarious situation at hand? One doubts much!
Corruption in Nigeria is sustained by loose enforcement of law and, selective enforcement of available laws. This scenario in turn breeds a strange culture of impunity. The situation has become very daunting in Nigeria with the latest complicity of the judiciary in delaying justice, denying justice, compromising justice, and destroying justice. The cliché, justice delayed is justice denied, if held to be true, provides a convenient reference to buttress the argument that there is no justice for the poor in Nigeria.
Let me provide an example of legislative duplicity that the judiciary has used effectively to deny justice. The 180 days limit imposed by both the amended 1999 Constitution, and the Electoral Act on litigation of electoral petitions provides no remedy for the petitioner who has for no fault of his been denied fair hearing, a fundamental principle of law. Can any aggrieved contestant in future elections have confidence in the ability and willingness of the Nigerian judiciary to dispense justice on time without denial of fair hearing? I foresee violence and application of jungle justice in future elections because another instrument of rigging has now been legitimized by the National Assembly, and by the interpretation of the judiciary that does not provide a petitioner any remedy to uphold the universal principle of fair hearing in law.
This is what can be rightly called corruption in law. And where the law is not fair, definitely, anarchy shall be a fair game. Nigeria has created another problem that is threatening its future. The National Assembly needs to sit-up and correct all the lapses it created to please certain politicians and their parties in power.
Nigerians have over and over again heard so much about “Reforms,” “Agendas,” and “Visions,” that have over the years added nothing to their quality of life than penury and rising insecurity.
Accordingly, there is another problem in Nigeria linked to corruption—–corruption of integrity. The greatest asset of any government is its integrity. Several Nigerians have lost interest in listening to news about what the Nigerian government always says it will or will not. For how many years have Nigerians been promised and assured of steady electricity supply and adequate security? We have heard several assurances, yet none has materialized. Instead, money budgeted for improvement of electricity supply is criminally embezzled. To be fair to all, Nigerian Government under Tinubu has lost its integrity and credibility.
There is yet another example. Many times after a security crisis, the government is always in its deceitful habit of assuring Nigerians that such an ugly scenario will not happen again. That Nigerians should go about their normal businesses but without adequate arrangements against future occurrence. And within few days from the deceitful assurance, another crisis erupts. The security crisis bedeviling Nigeria, which forced President Tinubu’s cowardly response in not holding the traditional Independence Day in 2025, presents clear evidence that Nigeria has no leader who is in complete control of governance. It is then ludicrous that the government takes exception in warnings by some responsible world leaders to their citizens about visits to some locations in Nigeria.
The Nigerian Constitution itself indicts the present leadership of Tinubu. “The security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government,” states Section14 (2) (b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). No sane observer will disagree that the security situation in Nigeria has deteriorated and the welfare of Nigerians has eroded, throwing more than 100 million citizens below the poverty line. Every problem of Nigeria is an offshoot either of corruption in public and private endeavors, or a consequence of lack of a sincere leadership. And corruption, as I have argued, thrives when there is no enforcement of available laws. We are good in enacting laws, and we are good in breaking same laws or forgetting they ever exist.
Today in Nigeria, we have a government that cannot or will not provide its people with adequate security, and the basic requirements for decent living. The government has compromised its usefulness and authority. The citizens owe their government not more than it has given to them. The responsibility of citizens is only a return on the investment of government in their lives. No one can give what he doesn’t have.
A Nigerian citizen with all honesty does not owe the Tinubu government any atom of loyalty. Loyalty is based on assurance of returns. The leader as a minister is to provide safety and welfare; and to the extent that the APC government has woefully failed, its authority has greatly depreciated. The APC government has become an intractable oppressor, extorting from the people without commensurate service. It has inflicted only pains on the people——increase in fuel prices, increase in electricity tariff in exchange for darkness, extortion of trillions of naira from the people’s treasury in different guises, and increasing harassment of the hapless citizens by security agencies and a general state of insecurity.
I believe, the APC is overwhelmed by the myriad of problems it helped itself to create over the years. It will only be to the shame of Nigerians to let the party continue to be in power at the centre. The arrogance, impunity, and care-free attitude of the party cannot and should not be overlooked. I am appealing to Nigerians to vote against the continuous stay of Tinubu beyond 2027, and some of those APC gubernatorial candidates even if they have transformed to angels.
But, whether by rigging or otherwise, the party will retain power at the centre and in many states in Nigeria, will surely confirm either Nigerians are docile, foolish or something worse. But until Nigerians start punishing failed political parties, they cannot be taken seriously. Non-cooperation with the APC government is desperately required at this critical time. The much awaited thorough probe of NNPCL under Mele Kyari shall present just a cause, but it is not the cause.
In an organized opposition to the ruling party, we shall have presented a warning to any future ruling party that compromise of the people’s security and welfare, and compromises the authority of government over our lives. Let us be ready to support any organized mass protest that seeks to register our displeasure at the wastage that the APC has come to represent. I do not belong to any political party by membership, but I am not pleased with the one that has ruled over my country for more than a decade, with unprecedented violence. I agree that if the issues I have ventilated are not addressed, we may have no country to call ours with the APC governing style. I believe in the power of prayer, but prayer without accompanying works and sincerity cannot produce any excellent college certificate, so also is a poisoning of theological wisdom to abdicate our responsibilities to God. No abusive and stolid government sustains the support of divinity. Nigerians, where we go from where we are depends on our collective will, courage and boldness. But we cannot survive without a revolution—-a turn-around from impunity to rule of law; and from injustice to genuine governance. We cannot turn away from this.
Former United States President John F. Kennedy said: “Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer, but the right answer. Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past. Let us accept our own responsibility for the future.”
No matter how long we live in denial of our problems, sweeping them under the carpet, they just won’t go away. We may not delight in the right answers, yet they cannot cease being such. Let’s go upward from denial for our good!
On a final note, to the electorates of Bauchi South, I plead for the election of Bala Mohammed and reelection of Abdul Ahmed Ningi to the 11th Senate. The duo, have the required experience, courage and boldness to stand even before the devil to defend what is right and beneficial to people of Bauchi State at anywhere without fear.
For the gubernatorial election, it is either M.A Abubakar SAN or Yakubu Adamu PhD for good governance. There is no two-way about that. The eating lies in the pudding, but the two are qualified for the exalted office. I rest my case!
Muhammad is a commentator on national issues.
