We have had about 16 years of uninterrupted democracy after decades of military interregnum. It was a big relief to Nigerians after what amounted to suffocating military dictatorship. Military regime, is by its nature unaccountable to anyone. The assumption is that it achieves legitimacy by brute force. The only opposition it could have is from another set of ambitious military officers in the barrack.
The well-established doctrine of Esprit de Corp in the military has prevented self- probe. The civilians are too scared to do that knowing what the repercussion could be the emergence of democracy is, therefore, a great relief to both Nigeria and the international community, but things have not moved as fast as is expected. There has not been ascendancy in the promotion of public good since the nation returns to civil rule. Foremost, it was the Niger Delta militants that battled the government against the monumental injustice that the area had suffered for decades. It was a battle royale, but at the end of the day the nation lost a lot in resources. However, peace was accomplished in the region at a high cost through the institution of the post amnesty programme of empowerment of the region’s youths.
Shortly after the easing out of the malfeasance in the Niger Delta region, kidnappers went on rampage in the country, especially in the South East region, where people living outside the zone stopped coming homes. Those with aged parents had to relocate them as these merchants of evil men did not discriminate between the young and olds in executing their nefarious activities. Their consciences began and ended with their targeted ransoms.
Then the biggest security challenge: Boko Haram insurgency. What started as an irritant gradually became a monster that threatened the cooperate existence of the country. The insurgency wreaked grave collateral havoc on the country – thousands of lives perished, economies of many states destroyed and social service delivery and infrastructures collapsed. It is surprising how the insurgents succeeded in amassed so much terror capacity in the North East region of the country. It was a real humiliation for the nation’s military. Thank God that our gallant soldiers were able to redeem their image with the arrival of heavy and sophisticated arsenals. But while Nigerians are celebrating the success of our gallant soldiers, hoping that the end has come for Boko Haram, others think otherwise.
It is for this overwhelming challenge that many Nigerians think that there is the need for urgent and permanent solution to the problem in the land. Whatever measures on ground, to me are a piecemeal approach that will soon evaporate. Eminent jurist and activist, Dr. Tunji Braithwaite, sharing this sentiment, was quoted as saying that the 2015 general elections would not usher in the “desired orderly transition‘’. He made his view known at a forum entitled ‘Discussion on the state of Lagos’ organised by the Free Lagos group. He stressed that the potential of Nigeria could still not be achieved by just wrestling power from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party. Believing that God will intervene to restructure Nigeria, he was unequivocal that neither the ruling People Democratic Party nor the All Progressives Congress had good fate about the future of Nigeria. He wondered how parties without discerning ideology could usher in any meaning change. I humbly concur with this submission.
While there is the desire to sustain our nascent democracy, there is also the strong urge that what can save this country from a great catastrophe is a complete restructuring of the polity in line with the recommendation of the 2014 National Constitutional Conference that was convened by President Goodluck Jonathan. That was the thrust of the gathering of the Yoruba nation recently both in Lagos and Ibadan.
The meeting, given the seriousness of the matter at stake, set aside divergent political view and agenda. On the incoming election, while the Lagos Forum declared tacit support for the reelection bid of President Jonathan, the Ibadan meeting accused the president of marginalising the Southwest, a development it said would make it difficult for him to enjoy the support of the people of the zone.
The Lagos Forum asserted that the Yoruba’s support for the reelection bid of Mr. President was hinged on his pledge to implement the recommendations of the National Conference.The Ibadan conference, while refusing to endorse the re-election bid of President Jonathan, however, favoured restructuring and devolution of power. It said that the centre “with many resources at its disposal than it has capacity to manage’’ is a burden on the nation.
Most Nigerians share this sentiment. The restructuring of the polity is the imperative needed to guarantee a measure of stability, peace and the much needed economic progress the country requires.
