Nigerians, Where Do We Go From Here?

Only a few Nigerians may not be aware that their country
is presently engaged with too many problems on her
plate. But how do we articulate those problems in a way
that facilitates an understanding of both the dimension
and probable solutions? There are some Nigerians that
hold the view that Nigeria’s fundamental problem is
“corruption”, by which they imply misappropriation of the
people’s commonwealth. Some believe that Nigeria’s
problem is “lack of true federalism”, which they mean the
absence of resource control by local governments, regions
or states, and the presence of so many legislative
restrictions that frustrate regional security, regional
economic agendas, regional justice, and regional
infrastructural development. But are those two broad
categorizations of Nigeria’s problems truly representative
of the problems of Nigeria? Where do we go from here?
Corruption in Nigeria is brought about generally by loose
enforcement of law, selective enforcement of law or the
complete negligence in 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, or 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 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 Nigeria’s constitution (2010) and the Electoral
Act (2010) 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 in law. Can
the aggrieved contestant in future elections have
confidence in the ability and willingness of the Nigerian
judiciary to dispense justice timeously without denial of
fair hearing? I foresee violence in future elections in
Nigeria because another instrument of rigging has now
been legitimized both by the Nigerian legislature and by
the interpretation of the Nigerian judiciary that does not
provide the petitioner with any remedy in order to uphold
the universal principle of fair hearing in law. This is
corruption in law. And where the law is not fair anarchy
shall be fair game. Nigeria has created one more problem
that threatens her future; and it is sad. I call on the
legislature to correct this indiscretion without further
delay.
The Nigerian has heard too much about “reforms”,
“agendas”, and “visions” that have added nothing to their
quality of life. Accordingly, we have another problem in
Nigeria, which is linked to corruption—corruption of
integrity. The greatest asset of any government is its
integrity. There are many Nigerians who have lost interest
in listening to news about what the Nigerian government
says it will or will not do. For how many years have
Nigerians been promised 3000+ megawatts of electricity
by the PDP-led government? We have heard that since
Obasanjo’s government and yet, electricity generation in
Nigeria has never reached 4000 megawatts. In fact, it has
dropped sometimes to below 3000 megawatts. The
Nigerian government has lost integrity, and this is a
serious problem. There is yet another example. Many
times after a security crisis, the Nigerian government has
told Nigerians to “go about your normal businesses”
without making adequate provision to protect the people.
I find this highly deceptive; and many people have lost
their lives relying on the empty promises of government.
The security crisis in Nigeria, which forced President
Jonathan’s cowardly response in not holding the
traditional Independence Day ceremony at the Eagles
square in 2011, presents clear evidence that Nigeria has
no leader who is in complete control. It is then ludicrous
that the government takes exception to warnings by some
responsible world leaders to their citizens about visits to
some locations in Nigeria.
The Nigerian constitution itself indicts the present
leadership in Nigeria. “The security and welfare of the
people shall be the primary purpose of government”,
states section 14(2) (b) of the Nigeria’s constitution. No
sane observer will disagree that the security situation in
Nigeria has deteriorated and the welfare of Nigerians has
eroded, throwing more than 110 million Nigerians below
the poverty line. Where do we go from here? Every
problem of Nigeria is an offshoot either of corruption in
public and private endeavours or a consequence of lack of
true federalism. And corruption, as I have argued, thrives
when there is no enforcement of available laws. We love
making laws, and enjoy breaking them or forgetting they
ever existed.
What then can Nigerians do? A government that cannot or
will not provide its people security and the basic
requirements for decent living has compromised its
usefulness and authority. The citizens owe their
government no more than it has given to them. The
responsibility of citizens is only a return on the investment
of government in their lives. No man can give what he
does not possess. The Nigerian citizen does not owe the
current Nigerian government 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 PDP
government has failed, its authority is greatly
depreciated. The PDP government has become an
intractable oppressor, extorting from the people without
commensurate rewards. 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 the name of “fuel subsidy”,
and increasing harassment of the hapless Nigerians by
security forces and a general state of insecurity.
I believe that the PDP is overwhelmed by the problems it
has helped create. It will only be to the shame of
Nigerians to let the party continue to rule over Nigeria.
The arrogance, impunity, and care-free attitude of the
party cannot be overlooked. I called on Nigerians last year
to vote against any candidate (even if he is an angel) that
contested on the platform of the party. But, whether by
rigging or otherwise, the party still retains power at the
centre and in many states in Nigeria today. Either
Nigerians are fools or something worse. But until
Nigerians start punishing failed political parties they
cannot be taken seriously. Non-cooperation with the PDP
government is required at this time. The fuel subsidy
probe report presents 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
compromises the authority of government over our lives.
Let us be ready to support any mass protest that seeks to
register our displeasure at the wastage that the PDP has
come to represent. I do not belong to any political party,
but I am not satisfied with the one that has ruled over my
nation for more than a decade, with unprecedented
violence since I have been an adult. I agree that if the
issues I have ventilated above are not addressed we may
have no nation to call our own. I believe in prayer, but
just like prayer without works cannot produce an excellent
college degree, so also is it 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 here depends on our
collective will and boldness. But we cannot survive without
a revolution—a turn-around from impunity to rule of law;
and from injustice to true fiscal federalism, which can
only be achieved through a sovereign national conference.
We cannot run away from this. President 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 they just won’t go away. We may not delight
in the right answers, yet they cannot cease being such.
Let us go upward from denial.

Leonard Karshima Shilgba is an Associate Professor of
Mathematics with the American University of Nigeria and
chairman of the Middle Belt Alliance.
TEL: +234 (0) 8055024356 EMAIL:
shilgba@yahoo.com

#CONSENSUS 2015