The Paradox Of The Nigerian Deplorable Situation And The Culpably Negligent Citizens -By Hajia Hadiza Mohammed

When political philosophers say that every society deserves the kind of leadership they have, I think they have a country like Nigeria in mind. Nigeria is a country under the throes of bad leadership. Everybody bemoans the terrible state of the country and yet nobody wants to do anything about. Nigerians seem to accept hardship as a way of life and aberration as the norm. The next election circle is around the corner and while the politicians scheme about how to subvert our electoral will, the electorate remain nonchalant.

First, Nigerians have watched helplessly as the ruling APC try deviously to infiltrate, disorganize and dismantle the opposition to turn the country into a one-party state. Secondly, the ruling APC has given us a clear signal of how it plots to rig the forthcoming general election by excluding electronic transmission of election figures from the polling units directly to the INEC server in the so-called electoral bill and we responded feebly. The outcome of the FCT local council election on February 21 was a precursor of what to expect from the lethargic voters and the desperate APC regime in the 2027 general election. Nigerians and the opposition kept mute at the flagrant abuse of electoral process during the said election.

Nigeria is a country where the citizens tolerate everything from public office holders. The electorates will fold their arms and allow their will subverted flagrantly at the polls by unscrupulous politicians who will usher in a reign of terror. After which they will groan and wail but at the next election, they will allow the same rigging to be perpetuated and the vicious circle continues. The Nigeria citizens live in pain and penury and yet celebrate those who put them in such pitiable condition. The government policies and actions have created chronic youth unemployment and yet the so-called unemployed youths gather to cheer those responsible for their joblessness and are willing to work for their continued stay in power as if they cherish their vulnerable condition. The youths make them themselves willing tools for electoral malfeasance, thuggery, counter protests and other forms of violent behaviors for those in power. The impoverished rural dwellers bow and cheer whenever the wily politicians visit especially during electioneering periods with cups of rice and other hand-outs. Our respected traditional rulers decorate our corrupt politicians with titles supposedly meant for performers and people of honor and integrity. And almost every elected or appointed public officer, except those that decline the offer, has one form of title or the other from our traditional rulers and custodians of our cultural values. And even our revered religious institutions and private establishments like media houses are also guilty of honoring our corrupt politicians with undeserved recognitions and awards.

The implication of lavishing underserved societal recognition and awards to our political office holders is grave. It gives wrong signal; it tells the recipient who has not done anything spectacular to deserve the awards that he or she is doing well. And when one who is not doing well is praised, he is directly being told to continue in wrong doing.

Ignorance is one of the reasons why Nigerians why Nigerians seem to praise and celebrate those who foist hardship on them. The majority of the members of the public are not properly enlightened about the purpose of leadership and governance. Nigerians are divided along ethnic and religious lines. Those who claim to know politics are fixated about having their tribesmen or members of their faith in power. In Nigeria it almost an abomination to criticize or attack your tribesman in office no matter what he has done and to some it is a haram to attack members of your faith occupying public office because it is God that put him there. The Nigerian public is clearly ignorant about civil responsibility and public accountability. When a public officer serves and come out without enriching himself materially, he is seen as a fool. And when you criticize those who embezzled public funds some will say that you are jealous of them.

Another problem of the Nigerian public is poverty. Poverty and lack has made the Nigerians vulnerable and subject to manipulations. It is poverty that makes it possible for vote buying and inducement. It is poverty that makes it possible for those in power to mobilize jobless youths to do counter protests and to use them to rig elections.

Thus, the twin problems of ignorance and poverty are the bane of the Nigerian nation. Ignorance makes Nigerians unaware of their inherent rights and responsibilities and inhibits their ability to hold their leaders accountable. Poverty makes Nigerians vulnerable and malleable. Those in power know these factors and have continued to use to wangle their ways. Thus, they will design policies that will pauperize the people to make it possible to use them. The government has bluntly refused to invest in human capital development and wealth creation in order to keep the people perpetually ignorant and poor. The day the people get enlightened and shake off the yoke of ignorance, they can forge a formidable force that will make them demand their right. This is the truth that those in power dread.

Hajia Hadiza Mohammed 

hajiahadizamohammed@gmail.com

An actress, social activist, politician

London, UK