Change – this is what Nigerians are looking forward to seeing
after May 29 when the incumbent president Goodluck Jonathan will be
handing over the reins of power to the president-elect Muhammadu Buhari.
However, every Nigerian may have their own understanding of change.
Tahir Sherriff, Nigeria’s well-known journalist offers his point of view
on what common Nigerians really mean when they say: “We want change”.
Over a hundred million Nigerians live without adequate everyday electricity supply. Twelve million youths are without jobs. Over 200 Chibok girls are still in captivity, and Boko Haram remains a regional threat. In the north, millions of almajiri kids are still drifting aimlessly, and down in the South, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) remains a force to be reckoned with. These are among the numerous problems president-elect Muhammadu Buhari is set to inherit come May 29, 2015.
The retired General’s victory at Nigeria’s recent presidential election is a great source of inspiration for anyone who has anything to do with politics and leadership. Politicians and CEOs, journalists and researchers, many have, perhaps, long been searching for that mysterious ‘X’ factor of leadership forcing people and nations to change. Jesus, Buddha, Churchill, Gandhi, Roosevelt, Mandela and Kennedy have undeniably possessed these qualities. Perhaps, even the old General can be accorded some kind of superhuman qualities in his persistent drive and incorruptible spirit. But can a leader alone run a country?
The votes that were pouring in torrents during March 28 elections spoke of the desperate people looking for a difference. They spoke of the need for a decisive charismatic leader, a corruption free country, a new Nigeria, and, most importantly, they spoke about change.
Since the dawn of Nigeria’s democracy in 1999, year after year, in schools, in buses, at bars, in the cities, the villages and even in foreign countries, Nigerians have discussed the shameful misdeeds of those ruling their country. Public outcries, protests, rallies and sit-outs were among some of the most subtle means by which Nigerians displayed their grievances. Outright opposition against the government, killings of civilians and security personnel and the declaration of a Caliphate state were among the least subtle reactions. All these spoke, however, about the need for a new order in Nigeria.
But installed configurations do not reflect these desired changes. I do not think they do. Take the House of Representatives, for example. In June this year, Nigeria is set to embrace another speaker of the House of Representatives. It cannot be said that the coming election will be without the regular challenges against coalitions and political godfathers. Yet, once again, this key position to Nigeria’s democratic development has been “zoned”. In other words, it has been politically “allotted” to a party’s favourite contender.
Another large elephant in the room is the cost of governance. Monolith sums are gulped by the legislators and other senior government executives with their divisions and subdivisions of special advisers, aides and personal advisers as well as teams of security persons. The irony of this problem is that the cutting down of the cost of governance can only be done if the lawmakers themselves allow it.
However, beyond legal loopholes and political manoeuvring, common
Nigerians are more concerned about failing institutions such as
healthcare, education and the nation’s capacity to employ. No meaningful
or even realistic solution to these problems has been made public yet.
Will they be made after May 29? Will hundreds of thousands of internally
displaced persons trapped in poorly managed shelters in several
northern states also wait till after May 29?
Of course, euphoria swaying people to undergo uncomfortable situations to merely exercise their right to elect their leader has slowly depleted. Among many of those voting for change, the questions cannot be neglected. Will Buhari bring the dollar-to-naira ratio dream to reality? Will he return the girls? Will he solve the power problem and that of unemployment, and most noticeably, will he do it in just four years of rule?
Perhaps, he will. Perhaps, he won’t. Nothing can be certain at this stage. But, despite these rhetorical questions, Nigeria, undoubtedly, is in dire need of systems that are well thought-out and capable of being applied. For example, such system as the ability to generate sufficient internal revenue has been noticed in Lagos state. Besides, the government’s radical approach to capacity building for graduates found in Kano state may also serve as the example.
There are many problems the coming president will face. Some will be political, but most will be economic. With no doubt, regional, ethnic and religious differences will still play an important role in Nigeria’s political development. However, beyond political parties, political figures and the politics in the country, there exist the Nigerian people. The people have recently been awakened by the phrase “office of the citizen”. These people too are waiting for the change they have been promised by a new political party and, most importantly, by a new leader. They too are waiting for Nigeria beyond May 29.
Tahir Sherriff is a Nigeria-based researcher, writer and social commentator with a recent focus on governance and participation, regional development and social change.
Over a hundred million Nigerians live without adequate everyday electricity supply. Twelve million youths are without jobs. Over 200 Chibok girls are still in captivity, and Boko Haram remains a regional threat. In the north, millions of almajiri kids are still drifting aimlessly, and down in the South, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) remains a force to be reckoned with. These are among the numerous problems president-elect Muhammadu Buhari is set to inherit come May 29, 2015.
The retired General’s victory at Nigeria’s recent presidential election is a great source of inspiration for anyone who has anything to do with politics and leadership. Politicians and CEOs, journalists and researchers, many have, perhaps, long been searching for that mysterious ‘X’ factor of leadership forcing people and nations to change. Jesus, Buddha, Churchill, Gandhi, Roosevelt, Mandela and Kennedy have undeniably possessed these qualities. Perhaps, even the old General can be accorded some kind of superhuman qualities in his persistent drive and incorruptible spirit. But can a leader alone run a country?
The votes that were pouring in torrents during March 28 elections spoke of the desperate people looking for a difference. They spoke of the need for a decisive charismatic leader, a corruption free country, a new Nigeria, and, most importantly, they spoke about change.
Since the dawn of Nigeria’s democracy in 1999, year after year, in schools, in buses, at bars, in the cities, the villages and even in foreign countries, Nigerians have discussed the shameful misdeeds of those ruling their country. Public outcries, protests, rallies and sit-outs were among some of the most subtle means by which Nigerians displayed their grievances. Outright opposition against the government, killings of civilians and security personnel and the declaration of a Caliphate state were among the least subtle reactions. All these spoke, however, about the need for a new order in Nigeria.
But installed configurations do not reflect these desired changes. I do not think they do. Take the House of Representatives, for example. In June this year, Nigeria is set to embrace another speaker of the House of Representatives. It cannot be said that the coming election will be without the regular challenges against coalitions and political godfathers. Yet, once again, this key position to Nigeria’s democratic development has been “zoned”. In other words, it has been politically “allotted” to a party’s favourite contender.
Another large elephant in the room is the cost of governance. Monolith sums are gulped by the legislators and other senior government executives with their divisions and subdivisions of special advisers, aides and personal advisers as well as teams of security persons. The irony of this problem is that the cutting down of the cost of governance can only be done if the lawmakers themselves allow it.
Of course, euphoria swaying people to undergo uncomfortable situations to merely exercise their right to elect their leader has slowly depleted. Among many of those voting for change, the questions cannot be neglected. Will Buhari bring the dollar-to-naira ratio dream to reality? Will he return the girls? Will he solve the power problem and that of unemployment, and most noticeably, will he do it in just four years of rule?
Perhaps, he will. Perhaps, he won’t. Nothing can be certain at this stage. But, despite these rhetorical questions, Nigeria, undoubtedly, is in dire need of systems that are well thought-out and capable of being applied. For example, such system as the ability to generate sufficient internal revenue has been noticed in Lagos state. Besides, the government’s radical approach to capacity building for graduates found in Kano state may also serve as the example.
There are many problems the coming president will face. Some will be political, but most will be economic. With no doubt, regional, ethnic and religious differences will still play an important role in Nigeria’s political development. However, beyond political parties, political figures and the politics in the country, there exist the Nigerian people. The people have recently been awakened by the phrase “office of the citizen”. These people too are waiting for the change they have been promised by a new political party and, most importantly, by a new leader. They too are waiting for Nigeria beyond May 29.
Tahir Sherriff is a Nigeria-based researcher, writer and social commentator with a recent focus on governance and participation, regional development and social change.
0 Comments
Good day precious one, We love you more than anything.