ColumnsNigeriaOpinionPoliticsOPINION: Are Nigerians Prepared for the Cost of Good Governance?

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Although most Nigerians would rather prefer to believe that they are left with little or no option in their government, yet, the fact remains that without the people assuming their rightful position of responsibility in a democracy, the demand for good governance remains only far away.

For every problem in Nigeria, there is a large section of the country’s population who believe that the problem can be addressed at once with a near-magical touch. People tend to grovel and in fact, gravitate towards messianic solutions in Nigeria. Consequently, not many think in terms of collective responsibility. And not as many think in terms of having a functional system to shape behaviour and build standard practices. Most people just focus on the leader and what magical powers he possesses to turn things around.

This was why President Jonathan lost to Buhari in 2015. Today, President Buhari has also failed many times over, in all the areas President Jonathan failed before 2015. Insecurity now is worse. The economy is now worse than it was, among many others. The implication is that there is no messiah anywhere, for Nigeria and Nigerians. Interestingly, President Jonathan tried to enhance probity in the electoral processes and by so doing lost his own second term bid.

\President Buhari has also worked hard to ensure that the electoral processes are more transparent and credible. His party, the APC lost Bayelsa through the judicial challenge of the APC Governor-Elect in Bayelsa State. In Osun State, the APC incumbent governor just lost to PDP. There is clearly an improved level of confidence in Nigerian elections such that the Independent National Electoral Commission – INEC, has reached an appreciable level of preparedness to deliver credible elections. This is where it gets interesting because, what Nigerians decide to do with this development will make or mar their desire for good governance in the coming year.

Although most Nigerians would rather prefer to believe that they are left with little or no option in their government, yet, the fact remains that without the people assuming their rightful position of responsibility in a democracy, the demand for good governance remains only far away. For a start, the popular assumption by many Nigerians that votes do not count can now be restrained to the dustbin of history, as today’s reality feels different. Votes do count and the government has given support to the electoral body to consistently improve the country’s electoral system which has only given the Nigerian people the exclusive right to decide their leaders. Nigerians must take this sacred responsibility more seriously and ensure that they actively participate in deciding who becomes elected into leadership positions at all levels.

The 2023 Presidential Election is going to be a test of the resolve of Nigerians in fixing their country. Admittedly, what Nigerians are demanding is generally beyond the Presidency. Hence, efforts must be put into ensuring that only credible and capable hands are elected to serve in the National Assembly, as governors in states where there is going to be governorship election, and in state Houses of Assembly. This responsibility which must be performed creditably by adult Nigerians must be done devoid of any form of inducement. The people must insist on getting it right and must not sell their votes.

After the right kind of leadership has been elected by the people, then, they must also give the leadership the necessary support to succeed. In Anambra State, for instance, Governor Soludo’s government has come under serious criticism for the demolition of buildings constructed against the knowledge of relevant laws and authority. Nigerians must brace up to face reality by accepting that part of the prize for good governance is that a government elected by the people has a duty to ensure safe and sustainable progress by upholding the law and government authority, even as it builds toward delivering in other aspects of good governance. The law is not against anyone; it is for the good of the greater number. But also the people must hold an elected government to account beyond political rhetoric and the elected government must listen and act accordingly.

At the end, it is obvious that good governance is a process and in Nigeria, that fact will not change on account of how desperate the situation is at the moment. Nigerians must still play their roles in ensuring that the right kind of leadership is enthroned and that the necessary support is given to that leadership, while also holding the same leadership to account in the interest of public good. Nigerians must therefore take note of the job before them ahead of the 2023 General Election and go to work, so that they do not carry on with the messianic thinking, only to their disappointment.

 

 

Ebuka Onyekwelu (Staff Writer)
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