Nigeria: A sober reflection (1)

WEDNESDAY COLUMN BY USSIJU MEDANER  

info@medaner.com, justme4justice@yahoo.com

Coming into 2015, the situation of Nigeria became so alarming that concerned elements from all backgrounds and from within and without were for the first time apparently worried with regards to the destiny of the nation. Decades before then, bookmakers had it that military dictatorship and its attendant principles are the hindrances to the real development of the country. So, the fight for democracy became the fight for all. Democracy at all cost; democracy by all means. Eventually, the military forcefully gave way and ushered us into the dispensation of democracy.

May 29 1999 was significant to Nigeria in a myriad of ways; the day symbolises the end and death of military rule in Nigeria, the beginning of hope, hope that we will begin to get things right, the re -entrance into global acceptance, friendship and partnership, a new and fresh beginning of healing and of course the beginning of true freedom and togetherness.

This and more were the expectations of Nigerians and even the outside world looked on with greater expectation that Nigeria would soon be taking her rightful position globally in the committee of nations. By 2014, it had become clear that there had been years of unfulfilled promises, years of stagnation and at best very minimal, less effective developments. Nigerians were forced to pause and ask questions that eventually led to the demise of the once mighty PDP and the enthronement of the Muhammadu Buhari-led APC government.

President Buhari came in 2015 radiating hopes and willpower to transform Nigeria; the President came in with visible resolution to revamp the country. He came in with two qualities that are desirable in anyone aspiring to serve in the office of a president of a country: integrity and resources. Integrity is a virtue that makes a man want to do things right to all men at all times. A man of integrity thinks less of himself and acts fairly to all men at the same time without consideration for biases based on tribe, religion or relationship. Integrity in a man is however not measured by what is underneath, but by the moves, actions he makes and the things he does.

However, integrity alone will not rule a nation. That is the present predicament we have now; where are the results of the promises of the onslaught against corruption? Three ex-governors in prison and a few other former and present public officers convicted, and then what? The powers that be rose against the fight and the pace becomes as slow as it could get, with tiresome adjournments, delay and unexpected overturning of judgements in favour of highly suspected corrupt public elements; the judiciary as non-cooperative as it comes; the National Assembly vehemently refused to grant the calls for special courts to try corruption cases.

Now, it is obvious that Nigeria was not and is not being ruled by one person sitting on the exalted seat of the President of the Federation; rather the country is being ruled by groups who have been strategically positioned to control events in ways that cannot easily be altered, not even by sacrosanct laws and organised national processes. Who controls the judges and justices that openly sell judgements as we repeatedly witness since the commencement of the publicised war against corruption? I am referring to those judges who give bought judgements at will regardless of the security, safety, and moral concerns of the judgements.

We saw changes to our system overtime; genuine concern for the wellness and unity of the country; a President of northern extraction, literally hated by people of certain regions, and yet tremendously and continuously has been bringing government presence to the regions. The eastern part of the country, contrary to many beliefs and insinuation, has considerably benefited from the Administration of the Buhari-led government more than any other; with strategic projects spread across the region, in a show of nationality. Abandoned projects were once again given life and unimaginable developments becoming a reality of the Nigeria state. Inherited and destructive insecurities are responded to with affirmative actions, decimating the rank and capacity of the insurrection daily. 

All round corruption, economic, political, social and emotional alike, has unfortunately continued to downplay the government performance and the probable effects of the positive changes we have witnessed since 2015. The truth is that corruption is seen and reflected everywhere and by everyone in a way that has become inseparable from the way of life of Nigerians; we don’t even recognise that our actions and inactions are typical manifestations of corruption that cut the country short of capacity to develop according to bookmakers predictions.

Right now, we are belaboured with gruesome PMS scarcity and presumed scarcity; whichever it is and is believed is becoming quite unbearable for the common man on the streets as cost of transportation and prices of commodities and services respond to the exorbitant increase in the PMS pump price. What is responsible for the scarcity and the pump price increase? Is it nonavailability of the product or increase in the landing cost for the filling stations owners? It is neither; just yesterday, NNPC announced its worry regarding the continuous scarcity claiming the country currently has approximately 1.7 billion liters of the product in store.

And that is true; I did my research and realised the problem was not the non-availability of the product nor increase in landing costs but the bent desire of the filling stations owners to perpetuate the scarcity regime to boost their profits. I was in Gwagwalada in FCT and I watched closely events in two filling stations not too far from one another; NIPCO filling station by UBA bank and ALBAR filling station along old Kuntuku road. Both stations received and offloaded fuel almost the same time on Saturday 5th of March and began selling simultaneously. While NIPCO was selling at N165 per liter, ALBAR was selling at N260 per liter. The same station, like almost every other in the suburbs and areas of  FCT has, for weeks, continued to create artificial scarcity by refusing to dispense the product even when they have stock of the product, only to discreetly sell off to the black marketers in the midnight.

How can we roundly benefit from the desire by one man to change the country when all together we are not interested in any change that does not represent personal benefit for us. The lawmakers are bribe-able and so are handlers of public offices who abuse public finances and easily get away with it with both money and nonmoney gifts to the lawmakers who are supposed to hold them accountable.

Regulators who are supposed to call the owners of the filling stations to order are looking the other way while the citizens are dealt hardship? Characteristically, the same corruption in high places; money has changed hands and so anything goes in the market. Otherwise, where is DPR all this while, that Nigerians are lining up to buy PMS at over N300 in filling stations across the country under their oversight and regulation?

President Muhammadu Buhari has created a sound track record that would be forever imprinted in the sand of times in the Nigerian political and developmental landscape. By every measure or criteria of assessment, his achievements so far and up to date are beyond expectations and his infrastructural development and social reinvigoration of the nation’s foresight is comparable only to that of the great leaders in history all over the world.

He has been extremely prudent with resources, visionary, and full of integrity, transparent, loved, worked and served the people in a detribalised manner and has touched the lives of people where it matters most across the country and undeniable even by the oppositions in reality, politics aside.

When all of us also begin to play our parts as responsible and patriotic citizens, the glory of our country will manifest for all to see and for the benefit of all. Until then, may God help Nigeria.

GOD BLESS THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA !