We have come a long way in our political history. Have we made any progress?
Certainly yes; 16years of uninterrupted democracy and the Jonathan government has been able to build a synergy with the arm of government that often truncates the nation building journey. We need to see it from this perspective and situate the dynamics we are in properly. Remember, the First Republic was thwarted by the military. The second the same military headed by Buhari. The third was stillborn and it is the same military factor. This time, in spite of the excesses of the political players, the security agencies are playing a new role of midwife and collaborative partnership. So, irrespective of the seeming difficult terrain we have made progress.
The colour and pageantry may not be visible, but the discipline and professionalism is taking root. Also the government of Jonathan set a goal for itself as encapsulated in Vision 20-20-20 from the start. They say that by the year 2020, Nigeria’s economy should be among the 20 strongest in the world. Last year, the country became number one in Africa, and 26th in the world. They are inching there, or what do you think? Visioning and metering are strategic processes, not speculative or propaganda.
One of the most significant things that the Jonathan Presidency has done is to kick-start the transformation of our country. Setting milestones and inculcating assessment mechanism, metering, appraisal of processes, systems, and personnel. The only set back is in the power sector, we do not expect electricity to happen like a miracle but the people must be looped in to understand what is happening in that sector. Until this time the country is often rated at the bottom of any global comparative chart for quality of life/economy of nations, GDP, investment facilitation etc. In the 2011 Failed States Index, the United States-based Fund for Peace assigned Nigeria the 14th position out of 177 countries analysed, only ahead of the world’s 13 most miserable and war ravaged nations. Also, the American Bipartisan Centre on May 12, 2011, similarly, listed Nigeria among the world’s most fragile states. This is where we were from 2000 to 2010.
Added to this the Nigeria operating environment is fragile, it is complex, and it is complicated, and for five years it has been compounded by Boko Haram, insurgency, terrorism and kidnapping. Compounding this, we have a president from the minority; the phenomenon known as majority tyranny has set in, majority disdain for a government headed by a south-south minority man, and deliberate plots to keep the government unstable and unfocused. Most government systems have been infiltrated by those that do not want the government to succeed. Yet, under this condition the economy has made appreciable mark.
The country now rates better on the transparency international corruption index standing. Nigeria is rated about the 26th and one of the fastest growing economy, and the biggest economy in Africa. The GDP has appreciated considerably. Don’t you think that the government of the day needs our support and appreciation?
But critics say the issue of insecurity appears to dampen the achievements?
Nations in transition mode experience shocks, and unpredictable upheavals. It has never been a smooth sail. Whether it is US, Japan, China, read their history. Before many important nations of the world transited from their yesterdays, their dark days, dark ages to what they have become today they faced challenges. We have to go through some traumatic moments for the transformation journey to gain traction. In any change process, the situation comes when almost everybody feel discomforted.
Until that happens there is no change taking place. Adjusting to the rough and tumble prepare a nation and the people for the new destination. The institutions we have in place before all these challenges, including our defense infrastructure are ineffective to steer the country in the direction of robust health in the new dispensation. As we get ready to confront the new challenges, we are equally building the institutional infrastructure and security architecture to carry a modern and transformed Nigeria nation. It is shortsighted to think otherwise and heap the blame on the present leaders. When people shout change this person, that one is not performing, the CDS, IG or officers like Mbu must go. I shake my head; these are sophisticated officers, highly trained and prepared for this transitioning.
We want to taint them with our parochial politics, and ridiculous worldview. How many will you sack, and who can do this difficult job. I protested when people where shouting that General Azazi must go, that he is incompetent, and all that. May God bless his soul. But since he left as NSA, and General Ihejirika left as Chief of Army Staff, has the security situation improved or gotten worse. So, let us stop chasing shadow and try to understand the phenomenon playing out. The chief executives of the various military arms, state security and police that we have today are certainly better than their predecessors and are some of the best trained and disciplined officers in the system. The issue of the Chibok girls; I empathise with the families, with President Jonathan, and with the entire people of Chibok. The truth will come to light someday I believe. But if I were Mr. President, I will ask Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State to produce the Chibok girls.
For me, that will still happen. Shettima must produce the girls; the immunity must not be forever. Nigerians must insist that Shetima and his co-conspirators produce our Chibok girls. As National Chairman of ADC, I have been to Borno on two occasions after the kidnap, and if you go there and keep your ears to the ground you will hear the true feelings of the locals about the dirty politics going on there. You recall that the US, UK, and France sent their troops to help within the first month. But after two weeks, they retreated, and that was the end of the story. What do you think happened?
Go and read the letter Governor Nyako, a former Chief of Air staff, general in the nation’s air force and as a governor wrote to Northern Governors. When you read that seditious letter deeply, then you will understand what is happening within the defense and security systems. I do not want to talk much but what is happening is upsetting. Luckily, President Goodluck Jonathan has the humanity to get us through this.
How would you access the Jonathan administration transformation agenda?
I am a student of nation building and transformation; I understand change, leadership, and system intricacies. I am not a professor neither am I a lecturer. I am a student, I am always learning.
Leadership is in context; the context under which a leader works is important. Nigerian politicians come up with flowery manifestos, captivating slogans full of propagandas and innuendoes. But as soon as they get elected it becomes a different ball game. President Jonathan has been different, he has held unto national transformation. Give it to him, he has stayed on track, despite the challenges he is encountering with the national transformation he is hanging in there; and to me if Nigeria must make progress that is the way to go.
Set the vision, define the mission, and stay on course. I often hear government critics talk about Lee Kuan Yew; He is a good model I agree, but investigate what he went through in moving small Singapore from third world to first world nation. Singapore is just about 5million people; actually, its indigenes and permanent residents as at today are less than 3.8million.
That is smaller than most Nigerian states, it is Nigeria divided by 38. I told you that we talk about leadership in context, the intricacies of leading a nation fifty years after the indirect British colonialist rule, a country of 175million persons with over 250 ethnic nationalities and languages, with religious differences- a country that has had a major civil war, and has been many years under military rule, with its unequal distribution of natural resources, etc etc.
The climate and leadership challenges in Nigeria far outweigh what obtain in most countries of the world.
What is your take on the issue of local government autonomy?
Our problem lies mainly with state governors. Lagos for instance has better opportunities than Singapore and Hong Kong. But our leaders think small. As a lawyer and a Tinubu protégé I do not expect Governor Fashola to do more than he has done. He has limitations, and he is Tinubu- encumbered. A more entrepreneurial, urbane person who is not restricted can transform Lagos to a more business and cosmopolitan city and one of the global melting pots within a few years.
Leadership can diminish or enhance the vivacity and potency of any state, city or community. Lagos, Kano, and Rivers hold so much potential, but when the political leaders allow gulfs amongst its people, and create religious, and indigeneship boundaries, and also bring social pettiness into the space what do you expect? When you leave the work in your state to fight imaginary wars at the centre what do you expect. Our governors unfortunately did not heed Soyinka’s advice to take advantage of the large window provided by Goodluck. Meanwhile, not one governor allows the local council chairmen any voice.
Can you imagine any local government chairman in any of our states criticise their governors the way they do Jonathan? To your question, the Local governments remain the engine room. But who is restraining them. The people should really take ownership and make all the tiers and arms of government to be accountable. I do not really understand the autonomy issue; autonomy or no autonomy within the kind of democracy we run, any governor or CEO will attempt to appropriate as much power as we allow them.
If the allocations are made to the federal, the states, and then the local councils and the governors decide to seize or embezzle that of the local government areas in their states, it is left for the people of the state to mobilise against the governors. We expect the elected persons to fight the battles alone. Most often, the system is better fought from the outside. Legislators get reckless, try to stampede the executives, we fight them, and so on. For me, the power should go from the centre to states, then local councils, and finally the people.
Until we unleash the creative power inherent in our big population we cannot be counted among the best nations of the world. Jonathan offers the liberating window more than any of the present contestants in the race for 2015 I must confess. ADC candidate is equally good but you can see that we are handicapped by the size of our pocket. As I always say, our local council areas are critically strategic for our national transformation, if we nourish them aright it will result in a whole grassroots empowerment, and this nation will blossom beyond.
