NIGERIA MASTERWEB DAILY NEWS

By Benjamin Aliu Sr. Since Independence, Nigeria has been plagued by Corruption, Greed, Tribalism and Falsehood. These vices continue today to undermine our National Unity and Progress. Tribalism and Corruption has been the two Hydra headed monsters right from independence and they continue to this day to work against our Unity and Progress. As a result of these vices, the Nigerian People are denied the right to self-determination by a privileged few whose only purpose in life is to further enrich themselves by any means necessary. The whole Country - at the Local Government, State Government and Federal including the National Assembly has been over taken by extremely greedy politicians, people with no conscience, a group of inept seat down and do nothing politician. All they care about is making money and more money. These group of politicians have perfected the art of running Government without the consent of the people - rigging. Their style is You Rub my Back I Rub Your Back and this style is what they call Democracy. Public opinion means nothing to them and they forget that Any Government that Refuses to Listen to Public opinion and be Guided by it is not Democratic and such a Government has no right to Govern the People since the basis of a true Democracy rests on the Will of the Electorate. The Nigerian Politician’s approach to life and any thing they do shows openly their complete commitment to wealth and the means of accumulating more. In Nigeria, the representative ness of a politician begins and ends with Ethnicity and the misappropriation of public funds. In the present system, the people’s interest is not represented, those who parade themselves as the representatives of the people are the same politicians who have been around since the first civilian regime and have taken undue advantage of their positions to amass wealth . They include civil servants, old politicians, retired police and army officers. Just take a look at the State Assemblies, the National Assembly and the Federal Cabinet. How can the present Minister of Petroleum be a Minister in 2009 Nigeria? The structure of Nigeria politics right from independence has been Tribalistic and this has resulted in a climate that engenders hatred and mutual suspicion. The Yoruba’s do not trust the Ibos, the Hausas do not trust the south and the South do not trust the North. If we are to move forward into the Twenty first century, the time has come when merit must take over from tribalism, when merit must take over from privilege, when merit must take over from God-father politics. Due to the inept and empty individuals that now parade the corridors of power the Nigeria Nation has become a nonentity internationally and morally, we are as backward as the stone age. The Nigeria Nation is crying out for true pragmatic and dynamic Leadership devoid of tribalism, Nepotism and corruption. Over the past thirty years, Nigeria as a Nation was fortunate to have had the resources in men, material and money to build a solid foundation for a solid Socio-Economic Revolution in Black Africa and to build a strong United and Self reliant Nation. Unfortunately, the opportunity has been Squandered due to Tribal Politics, Greed and Corruption which has become a way of life in the country. The way public officials and politicians now brazenly embezzle public funds without the fear of being brought to book is alarming. Every now and then the different State Governments, State Houses of Assemblies, the Federal Government or National Assembly sets up a panel or committee to look into allegations of corruption but unfortunately, the reports of such bodies never sees the light of the day. For example, the Nigerian People are still waiting to see the report the National assembly committee that was set up to look into how the Obasajo administration spent Fourteen Billion Dollars on non existent Electricity projects. In fact, the Speaker of the House has refused to let the committee’s report be debated on the Floor of the House. You know we are in serious trouble when the National Assembly is afraid to even debate the Freedom of Information Bill, the Electoral Reform Bill or any Bill that will impact positively on the lives of the Nigerian People. There is all forms of systematic obstruction of truth and justice , an attitude of disdain and hostility by members of the National Assembly, the Presidency and the privileged elites towards any real reform and progress. After the Nigeria civil War, there was for the first time a Policy of a more Decisive political Re-orientation. The National Unity of the country became supreme above everything else and this was being unconditionally asserted and affirmed by the Federal Government. There was a National Development Plan (1970 - 1974) which set National Objectives which included National Unity, Self Reliant, a Diversified Economy and a Just and Egalitarian Society. This Plan failed because the Economic Boom during and after the Civil War created many overnight Contractors, Importers and exporters, Middle Men of all kinds and Multi Millioners . The spectacular enrichment of these group of people and its proliferation went pari persu (hand in hand) with the enrichment of military officers, police officers and Government officials. This resulted in such people having a firm grip on the Nation. The Political stance in favor of National Unity, Self Reliance, a Diversified Economy and a Just and Egalitarian Society became just slogans and this was evident in the later years of the Government of General Yakubu Gowan. In Nigeria today, there is a ruthless suppression of contrary opinion, people are locked up without being charged with a crime sometimes just for criticizing the President or a member of the National Assembly. Media houses are closed down for the same reason and editors of such news out fits are locked up indefinitely just for questioning Government Policies. How is this Democracy? Nigeria has become a Nation without Purpose, a nation with no objective and a nation in decline. Since the country had the misfortune of Maradona - Ibrahim Babagida overthrowing the dynamic Government of the Generals Mohammed Buhari and Babatunde Idiagbon Nigeria has been importing finished petroleum products. This is in spite of the fact that not only that we are the Sixth largest producer of Crude Oil in the World, we have Four Oil Refineries non of which is working. During the same period, we have spent over Thirty Billion Dollars on Electrical projects yet electricity supply is pre stone age and Federal Roads have become Death Traps. The Country is drifting towards total Chaos. Since the Babagida regime the Country has been drifting in no particular direction, we have no National Ideology, no Cohesive Development Plan and as at now we have no defined role in the International Arena. That our once Leadership role in Africa no longer exist is not only an understatement but manifested in the way the last G -8 summit ignored Nigeria and President Barak Obama made it very clear when he choose to visit Ghana instead of Nigeria. Unless we all join hands and resolve to arrest the situation, Nigeria as we all know it may not exist in the very near future. The handwriting is on the Wall. There is an urgent need to develop a participatory Democracy, a just and disciplined Society where every Nigerian can feel safe and ensure their livelihood and Dignity and the People can choose who represent them rather than the Hijacking of votes Nigeria will disintegrate. Benjamin Aliu SR Brooklyn, New York.