By Rev. Fr. Jude Igho, Pastor, St. Michael Catholic Church, Umutu
Reading through the pages of Nigerian Newspapers and listening to daily news on Radio and Television, with all sorts of reports and information either truth or false, right or wrong leaves one wondering if Nigeria as a nation is progressing or not as a democratic nation.
It is the case of the major political parties fighting one another over who is better to dominate the others and control the citizens with their own ideology. Unfortunately, the tussle leaves the citizens with lack of good governance because the business of good governance is often put aside in the presence midst of this struggle.
This is as a result of the political tussle over an election won or loss, budget delayed and signed amidst alteration or not, appointment made or the fight against corruption which seems parochial in the views of some Nigerians and political opponents. No doubt, Nigerians were fed up with the past administration hence we came out emasse to vote them out with the hope that things will be better.
Defection, merger and realignment took place also in 2015, but has the emergence of the new government brought about the desired change? This question is left for the reader to answer and perhaps, answering the question will help determine whether if there has being positive change in our nation since the initial defection and realignment of political parties experienced in 2015.
What is the level of poverty today in Nigeria? What is the level of insecurity and unemployment in Nigeria today?
What of the poor state of electricity, poor and dilapidated states of our roads and unemployment, hunger, intimidation, stealing, corruption, oppression and poor governance?.
Has the electoral reform began before this administration improved , What of the corruption level and the way the said recovered loot is being spent? Can we say the economy has improve generally?. Though, we do not expect an automatic change in every facets of the economy but gradually. But even at that, basic neccessities such as security of lives and properties, job creation and peaceful society needed to be worked on and if nothing substantial is done, the administration cannot be justify.
We are looking at the three tiers of government here namely viz the Federal, State and the Local Government. Often times, the accusing figure is only on the federal living the state and the local government, but this tiers of government have a lot to do to bring dividends of democracy to the people.
But how many states are investing their huge resources on infrastructural development? Despite the enormous resources accrued to them via monthly allocation, some states and local government still owed council workers and primary school teachers including workers arrears even in the midst of the billions from the Paris club or the bail fund which ever.
Like a discipline government, workers were made to clock-In-and-out, though it is a welcome idea, but discipline cannot be enforced when you are not paying the workers their entitlement especially in a harsh and torturing economy. Can one say this is justice? How can a conscious leader proudly comeout to say he has fixed roads and build infrastructures when actually he or she knew he has not paid his or her workers? In a normal clime, the citizens is the first development. Who will use the roads and infrastructures claimed to be built if the workers dies of hunger and frustration? Thus, every government must know that security of life and properties and economy come first before other basic amenities.
There is much now clamour for another change in the forth coming election due to poor leadership and governance experienced. Many Nigerians are dissatisfied hence the polity is heated and tension in the political terrain. It is against this back drop there has been defection from one political party to another and cross carpeting.
And also coalition of some political parties as it happened in 2015 is again playing out. No doubt, this may not be without some selfish interest to join party where their self interest will be actualised but also inability of the ruling party to carry their members along by doing the right things. This has generated a lot of reaction and counter reaction making some to threat their political opponents without respect to the constitution. It has also led to threat to life, properties and position of some political office holders. Some law enforcement agents are not left out of this as recently experienced at the National Assembly when men of the DSS blocked and prevent parliamentarians from sitting.
At the same time, some government functionaries are harassed with state account frozen without due process. What about the mace ( symbol of authority) of the national assembly that was carried away from the hallow chamber by some uncivilized citizens? At some cases, in the state houses of assembly, honourable members have been seen fighting all due to selfish interest.
Has anything be done to the culprits to serve as deterrent to everyone? Can we therefore say, all these are not serious threat to the democracy we worked hard to build? This is why some politicians now take laws upon themselves making inflammatory statement like unionists of old, giving orders which they do not have authority to do. No wonder the beauty of democracy is dying away in our Nation. With the above, the forth coming election is seen by those who have no interest of our country as ‘ a do or die affairs’ because for them, they must win whether by vote buying or intimidation by law enforcement agents or by ‘Order from above’. But for some others it will be a case of bumper to bumper affairs with close marking and monitory so that the vote of the citizens will count.
This was why those yet to register or have collected their Permanent voters’ card ( PVC) were given time to do so. Then, all are encouraged to go out and vote unfailingly in the forth coming election to put in place, leaders with human faces.
We should be proud to be Nigerians blessed in all ramification by God. And so, as one nation work hard to build it by putting aside whatever that is inimical to its growth and development. Party differences should not put our nation into a state of anarchy rather help us to get the best into the system. Therefore it is time we all arise to obey our constitution which is our guide,to serve our fathers land that is bound in freedom in order to experience the peace we all desired.