Professor Abubakar Mu’azu-
Unimaid
In the throes of Nigerian life, in the tumultuous life of the Nigerian people rather, a very disturbing and confusing message of erosion of values is being sent out from quarters that should be the epitome of honour, trust and puritanical public service. However, the logic from the expected covens of circumspection and credibility are projecting consciously or otherwise that a subversive culture of privileging personal political interest is the norm.
At least, to be charitable or is it diplomatic, that is the dominant perception among the Nigerian people. leading them to believe that they are on a route to an uncertain future, and an apocalyptic vision of national combustion. This is understandable considering that seemingly simple events are turned into a complex political drama, fit for the theatre of the absurd.
There are numerous cases of a few citizens, hoping to promote the public good through exposing the stealing of public funds, violation of rules of governance, skewed and exclusive use of office, among others, all in public agencies, only to end up as targets for censure. The very machinery of government ideally calibrated to ensure proper addressing of issues are turned, rather awkwardly, into tools of persecution, subjugation and twisting lies to look like the truth. This obtains where the whistleblowers cannot be identified. So a frenetic media campaign is mounted and deployed in a way that will make Goebbels look like an early amateurish entrant in the art of propaganda.
Rather sadly, since 1999 when elections started in the new Republic (third or fourth?) the performance in the series of elections since then have remained contentious, in one sense a parody and in other sense a tragedy. This inability, or is it deliberate failure, to organised and hold seamless elections with higher degree of credibility and wider threshold of legitimacy have led to the conviction that winning elections, by whatever means necessary, is the best option.
The integrity of elections through upright and good conduct is of no concern. This sacrifice of the integrity of elections has created a space for ignoring the good and driving integrity to perish. This is why one does not need to go through primaries or even contest any election to sit in a position of power particularly where the rules are interpreted to suit the dynamics of reconfigured power; not ascetic observation of the rules. In the end, this is normalised behind close doors leaving Nigerians to allow their imaginations to lead them into whatever conclusion they think fit.
Can Nigerians dare speak truth to power, in exercising freedom of speech as guaranteed by the constitution, without the fear of consequences, often unpalatable? There is a report of a young lady in Sokoto State, who through the popular Berekete family radio programme, has become a victim.of persecution. Her offense was raiding concern over the killing of people in rural communities of Sokoto State. I say no more as the matter has been taken to court. We await one of two outcomes from the court: either justice or judgment. Nigerians have ingeniously used their wild imaginations to create a division between justice and judgment. After the adjudication of a case, Nigerians can tell whether justice or its new opposite, judgment is passed.
I am sure that Nigerians are also closely watching and waiting for the outcome of the saga in the Senate between the Senate President, Distinguished Senator Akpabio and Distinguished Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. Nigerians have watched the little issue of sitting position in the Chamber of the Senate into a big political drama accomplished by wild Actions and Wild Imaginations. Against the rulings of the courts, Distinguished Senator Natasha was suspended. Next we heard allegation of sexual harassment against Distinguished Senate President Akpabio. This.leads Nigerians into wild imaginations of how distinguished people get polarised into a game of …. I leave to imagine.
Then some wild actions left the Senate arena to Kogi, Distinguished Senator Natasha’s constituency. There was an alleged organised plot to collect signatures, in the name of collection of palliatives, but turned out to be a plot for the recall of Natasha. This recall attempt it seems is one of the actions aimed at nipping whatever disturbing matter was raised in the Senate. It was reported that Distinguished Senator Natasha was going home to celebrate the Eud-el Fitr in her constituency. But the idea must have been unwelcome in some quarters. You never can tell.
But the Kogi State government, in a demonstrated commitment to ensure the maintenance of peace, in the public interest, outlawed political convoys and political gatherings. Some people may see this as a wild action. It is a world of free imagination. However, in a bid not to violate the law and to ensure the sustenance of the peace, decided not to organised any political convoy. She flew home in a helicopter. She was warmly received by the people of her constituency, in multitudes, not for political but Sallah Celebration.
The practice of democracy in Nigeria is throwing up many unresolved imponderables. It seems that personal interest is strengthening roots in various ways and in various quarters. In that context, actions are seemingly wild inviting wild imaginations among Nigerian citizens. What is this new culture that is making it difficult to imagine a certain future on values that trumped the personal?
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