-min.png)
THEME: PROMOTION OF GOOD GOVERNANCY IN NIGERIA. CREATING CONDUCIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR QUALITY LEADERSHIP.
BY EZENWATU PHILIP CHUKWUMA,
ABSTRACT:
On the 1st of January 1914, a new country was formed from Northern and Southern colligate, to become one Nigeria, by erstwhile Lord Lugard’s administration. The country, covering a land area of 923,768 sq kilometers and population of 182,202, 000 as of result released of 2015 estimate, is home to a people widely recognized for their
industry and resourcefulness. A people blessed with notable achievers, and with one of the highest literacy rate according to National Bureau of Statistics presented.On the 1st of January 1914, a new country was formed from Northern and Southern colligate, to become one Nigeria, by erstwhile Lord Lugard’s administration. The country, covering a land area of 923,768 sq kilometers and population of 182,202, 000 as of result released of 2015 estimate, is home to a people widely recognized for their
Indeed everyone had hoped that Nigeria would have a state capital that is second to none, with modernized facilities, excellent road network, and become a safe heaven for investors. Many boasted that by 2020, Nigeria will be the Japan of Africa.
Hundred years after, a country so blessed with such mineral resources as clay and kaolin, pyrite, nickel, natural gas and petroleum, sand stone, ironstone, lignite, coal, gypsum, and betonies, ore, and home to great achievers like Philip Emeagwali, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Prime Minister Tafalawa Belewa, Alhaji Amadu Bello, Ken Sarowiwa, Okoti Ebo, Frank Opigo, Obafemi Awolowo,Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe, Chike Obi, to mention but few, who gave the economic blueprint that has made the country giant of Africa, is far from where it should be.
Often times when Nigeria is mentioned in the national and international news, it is usually in the negative.
Some of those who wondered aloud if we are cursed are today seen as the cause, yet the debate has assumed louder proportions as to whether Nigeria is cursed or are we the cause of our problems?
The writer maintains that; Nigeria is not CURSED, rather she is too BLESSED to be cursed.” We remain dissatisfied with the quality and content of leadership and politics in Nigeria and remain persistent in the pursuit of the best standards as approved not only by us but by heaven for humanity.
Today, we are confronted with economic afflictions of great proportions where all suffer one form of economic deprivation, money embezzlement, hyper inflation of dollar, terrorism, or the other. With all challenges confronting the country, one would readily admit that our people now sound cynical about government. They sound discouraged, because they trusted and still trusting the government while they have been paid back with disappointments.
However, reports like this should rather than depress us, spur us to action. That, in the midst of all cynicism and skepticism, lie’s the courage in Nigerians to continue to hope and seek those leaders that can take them to their place of rest and abundance, and derive the strength to do what is expected to them to fulfill their destinies.
We urge that we look not for the cause of our situation by echoing that God has abandoned us. God is waiting for us to determine in ourselves to lead Nigeria out of the chaos in which it finds itself as a result of bad leadership.
EXPECTATIONS FROM CITIZENS:
Not too long ago, our former President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan wrote on his Facebook stating that there are two kinds of people in Nigeria; good people and bad people. This provoked a debate to who were more in Nigeria, good people or bad people.
The stronger argument is that there are more bad people than good people in Nigeria. It is trite that government ought to provide this and that, but it is people that run government and if for sake of argument it was assumed that only politicians and leaders are the bad people, these persons cannot total more than one million; senators, members of house of representatives, governors, commissioners, ministers, ambassadors, chief executives of parastatals, council chairman, councilors, supervisors, state assemble members, and members of boards of parastatals even including the police and armed forces. These 1 million people come from amongst the 160 million people and one wonders if it is possible that other 159 million are good and yet Nigeria is not working.
Thus it is either that we have 159 million bad people or we have 159 million minus lily-livered people contented with living in lack. Having bad leaders is not as dangerous to any society as having bad people, as you can always replace your leaders you can’t replace all of the entire citizenry.
Let us take the case of kidnapping and insecurity in Nigeria. The government invites the foreign organizations such as EU, AU, ECOWAS, UNDP, etc touting Nigeria as the Eldorado of Africa and yet we are witnessing kidnapping, which some of our youths as seen as ‘business”. The more the continue to repel investors the less investors we have, the less industries the lesser industries, more the unemployment rate: the more the unemployed, the more frustration and the more the youth run away from home (brain drain), some sell their bodies (prostitution), and others forcibly covet their neighbor’s goods (robbery). So it is a vicious cycle.
Another example is when government spends millions of naira beautifying public places, providing electricity poles and wires to power communities, providing electricity poles and wires to power communities, providing metal refuse disposal bins and you find people defeating and defiling the spots, converting them into private parks, stealing these poles, electric wires and metal containers which all find themselves in the used parts “black” markets. At the end, government is blamed, the people remain in the dark and taxpayers’ money is wasted. Whilst government is crying out about erosion and its destructive effects and preaching forestation, some of our brethren are busying felling down trees for their personal gains and causing erosion and corruption has become a common word bandied around by everyone, big or small. We merely pay lip service to stopping it as it continues to destroy our society until we have nothing to even share as a country.
Now we say to politicians who come canvassing for our votes, “share the money”, and if they share and you vote them in, what do you expect from them? If we want to fight corruption, it needs consistency and we need to be colour blind, detribalized, and indifferent folks.
The stronger argument is that there are more bad people than good people in Nigeria. It is trite that government ought to provide this and that, but it is people that run government and if for sake of argument it was assumed that only politicians and leaders are the bad people, these persons cannot total more than one million; senators, members of house of representatives, governors, commissioners, ministers, ambassadors, chief executives of parastatals, council chairman, councilors, supervisors, state assemble members, and members of boards of parastatals even including the police and armed forces. These 1 million people come from amongst the 160 million people and one wonders if it is possible that other 159 million are good and yet Nigeria is not working.
Thus it is either that we have 159 million bad people or we have 159 million minus lily-livered people contented with living in lack. Having bad leaders is not as dangerous to any society as having bad people, as you can always replace your leaders you can’t replace all of the entire citizenry.
Let us take the case of kidnapping and insecurity in Nigeria. The government invites the foreign organizations such as EU, AU, ECOWAS, UNDP, etc touting Nigeria as the Eldorado of Africa and yet we are witnessing kidnapping, which some of our youths as seen as ‘business”. The more the continue to repel investors the less investors we have, the less industries the lesser industries, more the unemployment rate: the more the unemployed, the more frustration and the more the youth run away from home (brain drain), some sell their bodies (prostitution), and others forcibly covet their neighbor’s goods (robbery). So it is a vicious cycle.
Another example is when government spends millions of naira beautifying public places, providing electricity poles and wires to power communities, providing electricity poles and wires to power communities, providing metal refuse disposal bins and you find people defeating and defiling the spots, converting them into private parks, stealing these poles, electric wires and metal containers which all find themselves in the used parts “black” markets. At the end, government is blamed, the people remain in the dark and taxpayers’ money is wasted. Whilst government is crying out about erosion and its destructive effects and preaching forestation, some of our brethren are busying felling down trees for their personal gains and causing erosion and corruption has become a common word bandied around by everyone, big or small. We merely pay lip service to stopping it as it continues to destroy our society until we have nothing to even share as a country.
Now we say to politicians who come canvassing for our votes, “share the money”, and if they share and you vote them in, what do you expect from them? If we want to fight corruption, it needs consistency and we need to be colour blind, detribalized, and indifferent folks.
EXPECTATION FROM LEADERS
We must understand that “Leadership” is manifestly different from “Leader”, as leadership is collective action whilst leader is that individual that points the way for action.
Thus, you will discover that the right leader points the right direction for the leadership to follow.
Not a few would agree that leader of today see us as slaves and derive joy from deceit and proportion of lies. Their mindset is fundamentally flawed hence, they generally see themselves as masters “to be served” instead of “to serve” once they get elected some erect big walls around themselves, place insurmountable obstacles between themselves is only busy during electioneering periods.
Most are always quick to tell us what they have; money, but always forget to tell us what they don’t have ideas to make the country better. It gets worse as younger people coming into politics and government now see it, not as a way to change the cause of the suffering but means to change suffering to enjoyment of only themselves, family members and possibly friends by their interpretation, what qualities anyone to govern Nigeria today is simply the size of one’s pocket not the range of his vision.
We need more people who are prepaid to sacrifice their comfort and stand up to lead and demand for the right things to be done.
Thus, you will discover that the right leader points the right direction for the leadership to follow.
Not a few would agree that leader of today see us as slaves and derive joy from deceit and proportion of lies. Their mindset is fundamentally flawed hence, they generally see themselves as masters “to be served” instead of “to serve” once they get elected some erect big walls around themselves, place insurmountable obstacles between themselves is only busy during electioneering periods.
Most are always quick to tell us what they have; money, but always forget to tell us what they don’t have ideas to make the country better. It gets worse as younger people coming into politics and government now see it, not as a way to change the cause of the suffering but means to change suffering to enjoyment of only themselves, family members and possibly friends by their interpretation, what qualities anyone to govern Nigeria today is simply the size of one’s pocket not the range of his vision.
We need more people who are prepaid to sacrifice their comfort and stand up to lead and demand for the right things to be done.
EXPECTATION FROM GOVERNMENT:
Nigeria’s economic fundamentals and outlook should ordinarily be considered excellent, large population with huge entrepreneurial spirit, bordered by the river Niger that empties into the ocean allowing for maritime trade and transport of goods, huge markets many of which are specialized markets like building materials, electronics, agricultural and exporting of raw goods, etc and home to the largest indoor market in West Africa. It naturally it should be an investors delight and home to industries whose aim is always to stay closer to distribution hubs.
These advantages are however offset by lack of foresight in governance whose primary task is misrepresented by the over reliance of developed countries like, The Great Britain, USA, Germany, China, Hong-Kong etc and lack of co-ordination of the multitude of government Agencies.
We need to remove the road blocks to our economic and social prosperity, taking appropriate steps to eliminate corruption that depletes our scarce common resources and multiple taxation that destroy or chase away business. Three big monster problems that confront Nigeria today are insecurity, poverty and bad economy as a result of hyper inflation of dollar over naira. Security need not be impracticable and poverty need not be inevitable to our freedom from want is a basic human right, and no government should deny its citizens the right of freedom of speech, movement, and right to gainful employment. Citizens are tired of laboring to pay very high school fees for the education of their children who have no hope for a job after they finish. Most young people that graduate from schools in our country have to move out from Nigeria to other countries like Great Britain, United States of America, and Germany etc to find jobs. Thousands of remain unemployed whilst thousands join the unemployment queue annually.
For our youth, the government must realize that the FUTURE depends on TODAY and TOMORROW, and education must be a priority for that future.
These advantages are however offset by lack of foresight in governance whose primary task is misrepresented by the over reliance of developed countries like, The Great Britain, USA, Germany, China, Hong-Kong etc and lack of co-ordination of the multitude of government Agencies.
We need to remove the road blocks to our economic and social prosperity, taking appropriate steps to eliminate corruption that depletes our scarce common resources and multiple taxation that destroy or chase away business. Three big monster problems that confront Nigeria today are insecurity, poverty and bad economy as a result of hyper inflation of dollar over naira. Security need not be impracticable and poverty need not be inevitable to our freedom from want is a basic human right, and no government should deny its citizens the right of freedom of speech, movement, and right to gainful employment. Citizens are tired of laboring to pay very high school fees for the education of their children who have no hope for a job after they finish. Most young people that graduate from schools in our country have to move out from Nigeria to other countries like Great Britain, United States of America, and Germany etc to find jobs. Thousands of remain unemployed whilst thousands join the unemployment queue annually.
For our youth, the government must realize that the FUTURE depends on TODAY and TOMORROW, and education must be a priority for that future.
