”Nigeria’s political and economic structure is governed at the top by patronage and graft; the entire edifice rests on undergrowth of vice. Unlimited irregularities and contradictions a la Nigeria. What a system built on rickety structures!” Quoted in Nowata’s book- WHERE WE ARE (pages 116/117)
Pebbles with Igbotako Nowinta
I have really been following the waves of discussions and debates since Retired Major General Muhammadu Buhari and Dr. Goodluck Jonathan emerged presidential candidates of their respective political parties for the nation’s presidential elections slated for February 14th 2015.
The waves of apprehensions, anxiety and pessimism etc., have become heavier since both candidates kicked off their presidential campaigns.
Even, some prominent Nigerians have talked about security and violence on or before and after the presidential elections.
A section of the highly placed commentators have frankly called on Dr. Jonathan and General Buhari to step down for other capable Nigerians because of the so called volatile and inciting statements already credited to their strong supporters.
Some of these prominent Nigerians have hinged their worries on the questions of peace, stability and unity of the country after the elections because of the fallout of unpleasant events in 2011.
One prominent cleric has even called for the blanket postponement of the presidential elections for about 6 months to enable the setting up of a non-partisan coalition that would be made up of stakeholders from each geographical zone of the country which will address fundamental issues troubling our country.
Because of space constraint, I want to align myself with the postulations of revered Pastors Enoch Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God and that of Pastor Williams Kumuyi of the Deeper Life Bible Church who have passionately requested their teeming followers to obtain their Permanent Voters Cards in order for them to exercise their constitutional right to vote.
I am taking this stance because as a Peace and Conflict Resolution Practitioner, a pro-democracy and human rights activist, I see the presidential election as a rare opportunity for Nigerians from all walks of life to take a drastic position by voting for a candidate that will take Nigeria from the jungle of rot and decay to the next level of accelerated development.
Like Pastors Adeboye and Kumuyi, two infinitely respected men of God with terrific and tremendous followership within and outside the country, personally l don’t see the issue of violence and security etc., tearing the Nigerian project apart.
I don’t see Nigeria falling to pieces after the February 14th presidential elections.
Even recently, the United States Ambassador to Nigeria denied any official document signaling the much talked about dismemberment of Nigeria in 2015.
He went further to state categorically that the indices on the ground in Nigeria do not portend any red signal, instead he saw a country stronger, wealthier and prosperous beyond February 14th 2015, if only Nigerians succeed in electing the right presidential material.
As a realist and activist of many years standing, l will never take the escapist route or help chorus the campaigns of doom being voice rated in certain quarters, instead ,corruption is on my mind concerning the February 14th presidential election.
Corruption is on my mind because any nation that wants to aspire to any meaningful greatness in the comity of nations must tackle corruption uncompromisingly; corruption is like a mighty cancer tearing the fabric of the nation to shreds.
Nigeria is in tatters today as a result of unflinching banditry being unleashed on the nation since May 29th 1999, when the phony wind of democracy blew into our clime.
Before, l will cite some account of how corruption has bastardized our sense of belonging, I want to quickly add that Nigerian elite being what they are will never allow the country to fall into a state of full scale war or permit Nigeria to creep into any climate of unrestrained violence.
Why? Because they will be the ones to loose on a massive scale should the country skip into a state of war, uncertainty and fear.
Forget Boko Haram! Boko Haram is being sponsored by those demented set of politicians who lost out in the power nitty-gritty of things in Nigeria in 2011.
Wherever the scale of victory will tilt to on February 24th 2025, there is a federal might that will shield the country from sliding into unmanageable crisis or chaos, if only to protect, preserve and conserve the unlimited loot of the super-rich in our midst.
This is the reality. This is how capitalism is being jealously protected and flourished all over the world. Things will never be dissimilar in Nigeria. Nigerian elite love so much power and comfort.
Now, let’s face the issue of corruption squarely. I am saddened that corruption is almost everywhere. Is it in the judiciary, where a new low in illegality and lawlessness is being perpetrated in Ekiti State; where the new Justice of Nigeria has cried out lamentably that corruption is being served and condoned recklessly, especially among the senior members of the bench?
Is it in the oil industry, where those that siphoned our collective patrimony in the name of oil subsidy are heavily protected by those close to the seat of power?
Is it in the legislative arm of government, where law makers have thrown their constitutional duties away for lucrative oversight functions?
Is it in the labor market, where children of the poor never get gainful employment; instead children of the high and mighty are having fun in town, and we say we are in a federal Republic?
I can go on and on! Is it among many politicians of today, whose characters depict people without honor and basics of accepted minimum standard of public conduct?
We must keep the issue of corruption alive in the public domain, especially as February 24th draws closer.
We must not allow Buhari and Jonathan to electrify us with their campaign strategies; they must tell us how they intend to build strong and lasting institutions that will combat and curtail the menace of corruption in our land without sentiments.
Now, more than ever before, we need a game changer in our presidential candidates in a country reeling under the crushing dead weight of corruption.
I am saddened by government monstrous expenditures, wasteful jamborees and criminal negligence of the mass of the people. That is why corruption is on my mind.
Nowinta wrote WHERE WE ARE: A CALL FOR DEMOCRATIC REVOLUTION IN NIGERIA.
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