I WEEP FOR OUR COUNTRY!
Politics is unusual in Nigeria. Democracy is crazy is Nigeria. Corruption is our albatross. The media is becoming ‘the fourth Estate of the wreck’ because of its complicity. Bad governance is our nemesis. Indeed, things have fallen apart (apologies to late Chinua Achebe). But, good governance is our salvation.
Generally, as a concept, politics is the art or science of directing and administrating any entity such as Nigeria, including the Federal, State and Local Governments (the three tiers) and other political units in the country. Ever since Nigeria held its first general elections on September 20, 1923, our peculiar political behaviour, party politics, undemocratic culture and the monetisation of politics have made nonsense of democracy. Indeed, the rudderlessness of most of our politicians and the political class, aside corruption, was the main reason adduced by successive coup plotters for their incursion into the political arena.
Democracy which ought to emerge from politics has been largely flawed. What ought to be a government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually by free, credible, fair and authentic elections have been facing challenges since the 1950’s. The disputed federal/general elections of the 1960’s, 1979, 1983, 1999, 2007, 2011 and 2019 have left analysts to be wondering the type of democracy we practise in Nigeria. Real and imaginary accusations dominate our political landscape to the extent that the electoral empire is not always trusted. The political future of the country is not certain with accusations and counter-accusations of electoral malfeasances and political manipulations.
It is melancholic that corruption is consuming the country. It is now more or less seen as a way of life. Whereas, corruption is the dishonest or fraudulent conduct by those in power or in a position to influence the outcome of an event through bribery, compromise and or failing or neglecting to do what one should have done because of gratification. Corruption destroys people’s trust and debases humanity. There are many types of corruption and they include abuse of office or privilege, bribery, extortion, cronyism, nepotism, parochialism, illegitimate patronage, influence peddling, graft, embezzlement, stealing, graft, favouritism and vote rigging and buying. The media is not left out. Some, if not many sections of the media are involved in corruption.
Many issues have been linked to the causes of corruption. Among them are our political and economic environment, immorality, habits, customs, tradition and demography. Corruption has been the greatest threat to our match towards development, sustainable goals, ethical values and justice. Indeed, corruption destabilises our society and endangers the rule of law and brings about other concomitant evils.
The present administration has fight against corruption as its main mantra, but we all know that corruption is a hydra-headed monster that can consume those fighting it. We have seen this at work. Until we dislodge corruption from our polity, it would continue to be a major issue hindering our development and growth.
Bad Governance is akin to corruption. According to Wikipedia, Bad Governance is the unfavourable relationship between those who govern and those who are governed as a consequence of decision-making. It encompasses a variety of situations from corruption, deceit and to passing of unfair and repugnant policies. Ordinarily, governance entails the management and effective delivery of policies and programmes as contained in our Constitution and other extant laws. Bad governance occurs when responsible and designated officials or agents fail to act or perform as expected or when they subvert intended purposes or goals or overturn acceptable practice without justification or authorisation.
Bad governance has brought the country to its knees and responsible largely to the past and present misfortunes. One can only pray and hope that the current administration would, as promised, be in a position to institutionalise good governance. This is because good governance brings about accountable and responsive democracy, effective and efficient system, egalitarianism and sustainable democracy instead of a token democracy.
Good governance involves the following characteristics: it is participatory, consensus oriented, accountable, transparent, effective and efficient, responsive, equitable, just, egalitarian, inclusive and follows due process and the rule of law. Furthermore, good governance assures reduction in corruption, that the views of the minority are taken into account and that the voices of the most vulnerable in the society are heard in decision-making. On the other hand, Bad governance is the decline in institutional integrity and capacity, aggravated by arbitrary actions and further compromised by a conflict of interests. As we see quite often in our society, political interference and patronage appointments systematically reduce institutional autonomy and integrity. Under this situation, informal and non-transparent systems for the management of government business increasingly come to dominate established procedures, greatly undermining accountability, transparency and probity processes; and the technocratic capacity in the public service. After all, he who pays the piper dictates the tune.
Until there is genuine democracy, true federalism, minimal corruption (if not total elimination), socially responsible and responsive press (not bread and butter), and above all, good governance, I shall continue to weep for my country
