Niche: Political News
Odinakaeze Chinonye P.
Who shall we send?
The biblical prophet, Isaiah tells of a heavenly Lord who fed up with man’s fickle ways sought a bearer for a message of deliverance to mankind. Heaven was said to have resounded with the reverberating quest of ‘who shall go for us?’ Reportedly, all but one of the hosts of heaven, seraphs and cherubs alike, stepped backward. Why blame them? Having a panoramic view of earth in its entirety, was it any wonder that virtually none of them consented to undertake the commission? Undoubtedly, it seemed the uphill task that the Nigerian scenario presently could be likened to.
Oddly though, at a time like this, when the Nigerian economy is laden with irregularities and sundry misdemeanours and her civil society seek a liberator come 2011, the front line, unlike Isaiah’s depictions, is lined up with multiple volunteers. From the nation’s core northern areas and middle belt to the land of the rising sun and oil wells, the masses are provided with a variety of choices. Considering their avid interests and enthusiasm, one is left to wonder if these volunteers realize the enormity of the menacing task before them. Menacing because the one who emerges comes to rescue the Nigerian nation from a hydra-headed monster, only this monster has got a lot more than nine heads.
His first hurdle is the process through which he comes into play- the electoral (not selection, hopefully) process. Our liberator is faced with the nonnegotiable task of emerging from credible polls. From the updating of the voters’ register to the erection of polling stations; from the distribution of ballot boxes to the casting, recording and counting of votes, he has to let fairness run its course and not influence the outcome of the polls in any untoward manner. Otherwise, he is a no-no. The truth is any election of democratic leaders which is fouled by oppression, fraud and other irregularities is criminal and should be so treated; for no man reserves the right to rule another without his consent. Consequently, it becomes imperative that in the forthcoming elections, this liberator of our democratic processes respect the people’s right to choose. Only then can he proceed.
When over four decades ago, the last of Ethiopia’s emperors, Haile Selassie I, declared that ‘there is no power or authority without responsibility and he who accepts the one cannot escape or evade the other’, he left a call to upcoming leaders. A call to conscientious leadership. To leaders who would shun power driven ambitions and personal interests and flip the coin to its other side; the side of duty and responsibility. A leader with the perfect poise and is persistent in purpose. One who is devoted to the nation’s course, consistent in principles, considerate of the rights and sensitive to the needs of the people; for the rights of the people and regard for those rights remain the fundamental philosophy of democracy. Every democratic leadership is enhanced by its steadfast protection of the people’s rights. Any deviation from this is inconsistent with democratic tenets and outrightly unacceptable. In Phillip Randolph’s own words, ‘a community is democratic only when the humblest and weakest person can enjoy the highest civil, economic and social rights that the biggest and most powerful possess’. Taxing, no doubt but yes, our liberator has to rise to the challenge or he could simply step back.
Then he is faced with the biggest and no less the most vicious of this monster’s heads; this one of corruption, this venal shroud of sleaze, bribery and dishonesty threatening to squeeze the very breath of our existence out of us. Except if he wishes to bungle this mission, he would require an iron clad political will to confront this depravity. He would have to go back to the drawing board and remove the old chess pieces of vice. It is the will he would need to uphold the oath he swore and stay solely committed to the nation’s objectives. Our liberator has to be a man of honour, his word his bond and having no dealing with the con game. He needs to acquire distaste for shady dealings and financial hanky-panky. He has to rescue us from our love for the famous ‘Ghana-must-go’ style of settlements. He needs to have the political will and morality to stand up for justice, fair play, truth and equity, be able to account for his actions and mandate the members of his cabinet to toe this path of honour. His form of leadership must have nothing to do with ploys, plots, gambits, intrigues or duplicity and everything to with purpose, ideals, values, ingenuity and resourcefulness. For the sake of posterity, let him vow never to flout in the least particular the laws of the country and not to condone their violation by anybody.
Can he? If yes, then he might yet be able to rescue us from ourselves. For if truth be told, remove the scourge of corruption and the transformation sets in. Contractors would actually have to execute contracts to the last word of the terms of contract. The police would not sell out arms and turn the other way when the buyers use same to terrorize the citizenry. Unemployment among youths would be tackled effectively and when one is gainfully employed, when would one have the time to plan for crime and scheme intricate kidnappings? Or better off yet, when youths are gainfully employed, who would be available as instruments of strife, aggression, violence, cultural, tribal and religious incitements in the hands of the false gods of our political elite. No one. When public funds marked for the provision of infrastructure, alleviation of poverty, promotion of health care, agriculture and education and the development of relevant sectors are not diverted for personal use, our songs might yet assume a new tone.
Needless to say, the need for a pragmatic and efficient Nigerian president who is ready to serve the nation cannot be over emphasized. It should be the focal point of the entire voting exercise in the forthcoming elections. Are we asking too much? Me thinks no. If any of these volunteers thinks so, let him step back. We will understand. There is a glut of tools pick from. To take a line from Britain’s Winston Churchill, we have given him the tools, let him finish the job. If there be any resounding answer to our quest, if anyone be bold enough to say ‘here I am’, then perhaps we have found our liberator for him we shall send.
