The present administration in Nigeria lacks the Integrity, Credibility, Moral Standing, Capacity, Impetus and Merit to govern Nigeria and take the Nation to the path of success and prosperity.

Introduction:

For any Country to sustain or activate its economic growth index in all ramifications of its economy there is need for good governance, accountability, transparency and setting of sustainable development goals.

There is also need for true patriotism, respect for the rule of law and a situation where social justice is being promoted in the Country. Avenues should also be created for effective participation through which all men and women should have a voice in decision-making, either directly or through legitimate intermediate institutions that represent their interests.

Let me briefly explain some of the simple terminologies used above for smooth and simple understanding of any layman.

Good Governance: Good governance describes how public institutions conduct public affairs and manage public resources. It is an indeterminate term used in the international development literature to describe how public institutions conduct public affairs and manage public resources. Governance is “the process of decision-making and the process by which decisions are implemented (or not implemented)”

Accountability: This is the obligation of an individual or organization to account for its activities, accept responsibility for them, and to disclose the results in a transparent manner.

Transparency: Transparency means openness and honesty. In a free society, transparency is government’s obligation to share information with citizens. It is at the heart of how citizens hold their public officials accountable.

Patriotism: This is the feeling of love and loyalty that an individual has for his or her Country.

Rule of law: The Rule of Law limits the powers of Government by judicial defense of laws and the Constitution which is based on recognized basic legal values, established in international law. The Rule of Law is meant to prevent dictatorship and to protect the rights of the people.

Social Justice: By Social Justice we mean the fair and proper administration of laws conforming to the natural law that all persons, irrespective of ethnic origin, gender, possessions, race, religion, etc., are to be treated equally and without prejudice. It is the equal distribution of resources and opportunities, in which outside factors that categorize people are irrelevant.

Transparency and accountability are generally considered the two main pillars of good corporate governance.

Nigeria is in a precarious situation in which leaders feel uncomfortable anytime they are asked to give a clear and transparent account of their stewardship. It is even impossible to predict whether there will be reformation and much needed development as well as a period when leaders will be completely accountable to the populace.

It is also disturbing, totally undemocratic and unacceptable the way and manner government expects the governed to be scared of it. I feel delighted with how citizens are allowed to peacefully voice their concerns and displeasures on policies and harsh economic situations which are unfriendly and inimical to the wellbeing of the people in other climes but reverse seems to be the case in my Nation, Nigeria.

Government has really failed as expecting accountability by the citizens from those representing them becomes an illusion. Today, government instead of being transparent in its dealing has chosen the path of fabricating misleading falsehood that is creating uncertainty, mistrust, controversies and uncomfortable situations in the Country. Utterances by persons saddled with the responsibilities of effective representation and image making has been causing more damages and overheating the polity thereby depicting lack of responsiveness, effectiveness and efficiency. The sad part of their dispositions is they spew out deadly comments and feel they are doing Nigerians a favor. They have suddenly turned into “deceptive machines” and believing them is now at our peril.

It is no longer news that the government that frequently proclaims it is fighting corruption has openly depicted it is only doing so with kid gloves. I was taken aback to hear the National Chairman of the ruling party enticing certain members of the opposition who are said to be allegedly corrupt to join his party so that reprieve could get their ways. That could be seen in the statement by Chief John Odigie Oyegun to Senator Buruji Kashamu who is supposed to be extradited in the United States for alleged involvement in drugs-related offences. Chief John Oyegun has publicly called on Senator Kashamu to join his party so that his case could be ignored even when the Senator said he will kill many people before he is being extradited. This is completely unacceptable and a deviation from the rule of law the ruling party should be respecting and protecting.

Since the present government came to power, good governance eluded Nigeria. The core components of good governance have since disappeared into thin air just like mist.

The present government has shown clearly that it is not accountable to all Nigerians but accountable to few individuals thereby creating division and disaffection among majority Nigerians.

On transparency, it is obvious that transparency is completely out of the agenda of the present administration as it has always demonstrated its lack of transparency and truthfulness. This is appalling and brought retrogression to the nation that once had the best economy in Africa and one of the fastest growing economic in the world. This can be seen from the way and manner the health condition of the President Alh. Muhammadu Buhari has been treated with complete lack of transparency and integrity even when he is a public figure and being treated with the public resources.

The present administration has shown total disrespect to the rule of law and has been consistent in not obeying Court Orders. The judicial arm of government which is the arm that strengthens democracy and the law of any society has been totally disrespect as any pronouncement or ruling carried out by the Courts are not adhered to or respected. That could be seen in the case of Col. Sambo Dasuki, Nnamdi Kanu, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky the Leaser of the Shiite Islamic Movement of Nigeria and many others who are unlawfully and continually under detention even when Courts have ruled that they should be released. This is a complete abuse and misuse of power by the present government.

I am not in any way defending any of the mentioned persons, if they are guilty of the charges they are being accused of then let the law take its course and let them face the full wrath of the law. But when the Court ruled that they should be released yet they are illegally under continuous detention it send a very bad signal to our nascent democracy and disrespect to the Judiciary which is a sensitive arm of government without which no Country can operate effectively.

The deterioration and disappearance of social justice which has been replaced by social injustices call for serious concern from all well-meaning and patriotic Nigerians. The killings and genocides in Plateau, Nasarawa, Taraba, Benue, Enugu and Southern Kaduna by unknown gunmen without condemnation by the present are sad and counter unity and harmonious living. People in large numbers have been killed, property worth billions of Naira destroyed/stolen by the killers and many villages sacked in the above mentioned States with poor responses and other forms of relief or intention to reconstruct and rehabilitate the people.

It clearly shows lack of empathy on the part of the present government and that preferential treatment are being given to some specific persons in the Country who have or are undergoing under same threats and that has completely negates the principles of social justice that advocates that people in a country should be treated equally and fairness irrespectively of their ethnic, tribal, religious and political inclinations.

The way and manner certain persons are being stereotyped is inimical to our unity and development as a Country. Nigeria being a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-political country needs people who are unifiers who are ready to bring all various ethnic, tribal, religious and geo-political groups together as one not people with sentimental and biased state of mind.

The fight against corruption is now a malicious deception, selective and done with kid gloves. It is certain and no longer news that there are some people who are considered as sacred cows in Nigeria. There are instances where the State Security Services and Senate indicted some key cabinet members of the present administration such as the EFCC Boss Ibrahim Magu, the SGF Babachir Lawal and the Chief of Staff for offence bordering on financial misappropriation and misapplication yet they serving the President after giving clearance by panel set by the Presidency instead of suspending them and allowing the law courts take their course. This is laughable and an indication that the fight against corruption is a huge joke.

Our economy is in shambles (state of total disorder) with persistent drop in our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) that has pushed the Country into economic recession. Inflation has consistently been skyrocketing, the standard of living has dropped, with cost of living being high, unemployment rate has gone up, inconsistent exchange rates where others are given foreign currencies at lower exchange rate compared to others, low income per capital, decay in infrastructural development, high illiteracy level due to the populace inability to cater for their education, poverty rate has increased, hunger ravaging the people, businesses folding due to adverse economic policies, poor health status of the people, and low foreign direct investments (FDIs). The present government lacks sound economic, fiscal and people friend policies as well as technocrats who can strategize to make life better and easier to Nigerians.

It is high time for the government look into the aforementioned problems and put in place sound and strategic policies to addressing the issues raised.

Solutions:

1. Government must focus on good governance and ensure that things that will make the governance process work effectively to the benefit of all and not some selected are done.

2. There is need for government to run the system knowing well that it is accountable to the populace who gave them the mandate to represent them.

3. Government must show its readiness to be transparent in its dealings in order to build trust, confidence, patriotism and loyalty of the citizens to the Nation.

4. It is imperative for government to focus on social justice where all citizens are treated equally, fairly and with equity irrespective of their ethnic, religious, tribal and geo-political affiliations.

5. Government must as a matter of urgency change it posture to rule of law and ensure court orders and rulings are respected, accepted, obeyed and strictly adhered to.

6. The fight against corruption MUST be holistic and all encompassing not selective as currently obtainable where members who speak against the injustices meted out on citizens or poor governance are being wrongfully harassed for their patriotic positions.

7. There is need for the government to overhaul the economic team and fill it with seasoned and transparent technocrats of integrity who are patriotic, willing, able and ready to serve the nation sacrificially, diligent and wholeheartedly. Selective fight against corruption is inimical to the growth of our nascent democracy and eroding the values of our dear nation.

8. Presence of technocrats to run affairs in key sectors of the economy will give confidence to investors (local and foreign) to bring in investments that will neutralize the economic recession currently ravaging the Country. The technocrats should be given the opportunity to bring to the table their wealth of experience, skills and technical know-how irrespective of their tribal, ethnic, religious and geo-political inclinations. It is crystal clear that from the current state of our economy, those saddled with the responsibilities of managing the economy have demonstrated that they lack the competence, credibility, impetus and the technical know-how to take Nigeria out of its present economic predicament. This is because the policies on ground have rather impeded instead of the policies to stimulate growth and development of the nation.

At this stage since the advent of full democracy, Nigeria should be seen growing in a geometric progression not retrogressing.

We must all focus on and pursue national interest, peaceful coexistence, harmonious living, love, progress, prosperity, growth and development of our nation.

The collective national interest must override our parochial interests if Nigeria is to take its rightful place among comity of nations and compete favorably well with its contemporaries.

We must concentrate on issues that will bring us together to unite us and discard those capable of dividing us if not our optimism of having a better, greater and stronger country will be a hoax.

God bless Nigeria and all patriotic Nigerians.

Yours Truly

Cmr. Friday Bako

Email:[email protected]

Best Regards
Dalyop Bako Friday
Jos City, Plateau State.
Nigeria.
+2348065355491 & +2348090629932
Be courteous, always smile and be humble…..

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Discourse with Friday Bako on the state of the Nation