Politics
Integrity: Missing Virtue In Politics
Integrity can be described
as the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles that one believes in, stands for and would not compromise on.
Integrity goes with self-discipline. It invokes the protection of what is believed in and stood for.
Integrity awakens the sense that a name is to be protected. One who uses integrity as their watch word like Joseph who escaped from Potiphar’s wife, escapes from evil in order not to stain their name.
Men and women of integrity are law abiding. Their actions and inactions are controlled by the rules of the game. They are honest, crime free, and less self-willed.
On a wider note, a leader with integrity is one who eschews evil and always protects the honest and moral principles he stands for. He executes the law and therefore he is not the law breaker.
Furthermore, sworn to an oath, as it were, to protect the constitution and the sovereignty of the country, he believes and stands by constitutionalism and the rule of law in a democratic society.
In Nigeria, political leaders range from chairmen and counselors of local government areas, to Governors, Deputy Governors, members of Houses of Assembly. Commissioners and Permanent Secretaries at the state level, the President, Vice President, Ministers, Senate President, Speaker, Senators and House of Representatives members, just to mention a few.
It is expected that leaders exhibit or display integrity at various areas and positions of authority. Those who claim to fight corruption should be corruption free, not biased and sectional.
They should have a name they are out to protect for posterity and also not have personal interests which outgrow the interest of the country.
In the same vein, those who speak against bad governance must ensure that they do not speak out of hypocrisy but are exemplary with integrity. A man cannot call another a thief if he is also a thief.
It is on record, that the late legal luminary, Chief Gani Fawehimi, and the late famous human rights activist, Ken Saro Wiwa, vehemently refused appointments from the then illegitimate administration, bound by what they stood for.
Today, the APC and President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration are embarking on a change system which has clearly shown another hypocritical government with leaders without integrity.
A critical look at some of the appointments, those accepting some of the appointments, those singing praises as well as religious leaders associating with the system shows that the system is bereft of integrity.
It is quite unfortunate that the President has continued to give a deaf ear and a blind eye to the clamour and pointing of fingers at some of his ministers and cabinet members accused of corruption. There is need for the executive to completely purge itself of all vestiges and appearances of malfeasance so it can authoritatively occupy the moral high ground in good conscience to deal with official corruption wherever and in whatever quasters it is found.
Only recently, the judiciary, through the National Judicial Council, NJC, did some cleansing of their ranks with the announcement of the sacking of three judges.
Rising from its 78th meeting on Thursday, September 29, 2016, the NJC, in a release signed by its Acting Director of Information, Soji Oye made public the decision of the council to compulsorily retire Justice Ladan Tsamiya, the Presiding Justice, Court of Appeal, Ilorin Division; Justice I. A. Umezulike, the Chief Judge of Enugu State while Justice Kabiru Auta of the Federal High Court in Kano State was dismissed from service with effect from Friday, September 30, 2016.
In fact, the release indicated that Justice Auta was to be handed over to the police for prosecution.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the NJC, and Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed has said that the house cleansing would continue as the searchlight is already being beamed on some other priests in the temple of justice.
This is highly commendable and what is expected. The story however is yet to be replicated in the other two arms of government.
The National Assembly in particular has continued to shield its officers accused of various kinds of misadventure and infraction of the constitution of the federal republic. It is not news that the leadership of the 8th Senate is standing criminal trial while still firmly occupying the exalted seat.
The House of Representatives is currently embroiled in a scandal of desecrating the 2016 national budget with the former House Committee Chairman on Appropriation, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin shouting himself hoarse that other thieves like him in the House should be brought to justice and punished as well.
Of course, Hon. Jibrin has been isolated and punished for his indiscretion and attempts to bring to the public view the security guarded secrets of the hallowed green chambers and its “honourable” deeds. As long as the leadership of our country remains in the hands of men and women of questionable character in the Executive, Judiciary and the Legislature, the change that will turn our fortunes for the better will remain a mirage.
The fact that most Nigerians and the political dealers scavenging for Nigeria’s carcasses share the fundamental belief that they do not have a stake in the country serves as an emotional coat that allows them to cash the commonwealth without let or hindrance
If the government of President Buhari is sincere about savings for investment in the critical sectors of the economy that would generate jobs, his government must not remain silent in the face of growing outcry against the obscene salaries and allowances that public officials in Nigeria take home.
Less than 18,000 Nigerian public officials take more than 1.2 trillion naira a year in salaries and allowances. A Nigerian senator, for instance, takes more than 1 million US dollars a year. Considering the minimum wage of N 18,000 a month, which some states are yet to start paying, a reduction of 700 billion naira from the current annual wage bill of 1.2 trillion naira for the about 17, 474 public officials (including judges), should leave them with enough to live on.
If a Nigerian worker is expected to live on N 216,000 a year, a senator should be grateful to have N 83 million a year, which is 42 percent of the current N 198 million that a senator takes home every year.
In his book entitled “Enforcement of Morals”, P. Devlin explains the importance of morality to the survival of any society. He states that one of the essential elements of a society is a shared morality. If a society’s shared morality is weakened, this has a tendency to lead to the destruction of the society itself.
Nigerian politics and politicians, since the end of the 1st Republic have degenerated rapidly towards the bottom of the pit of disrepute.
Every passing generation of politicians is succeeded by a more primitive and barbaric set. The 2nd Republic politicians were terrible. The 3rd Republic politicians beat their predecessors at bad governance.
The present 4th Republic politicians are the most terrible so far. One common thread runs through the attitude, beliefs and actions of the recent politicians: greed, avarice, self-service and accumulation of wealth at the expense of the country.
There is a total lack of patriotism, or a spirit of public or national service. They are in politics to make quick fortune. In other words, the post 1st Republic politics is carnal, banal,
mundane and pedestrian.
The saddest part of it all is that the younger the politician, the greedier, more corrupt, and rabidly anti-social he is.
With each successive generation of politicians and public servants, we seem to have become afflicted with a more perverted class of humanity whose only inclination is to loot our wealth and resources, oppress us, and reduce our country and society to devastated and chaotic conditions.
Ms Williams writes from Port Harcourt.
Tammy Williams
The former two-term governor went down memory lane to recall how they founded the APC but were used and dumped.
In his words, “…those calling on us to join APC, we have agreed to join the APC but on clear agreement that protects and respects the interest of my party, NNPP and my political movement, Kwankwasiyya. No state where you go that you don’t have NNPP and Kwankwasiyya. We have gubernatorial candidates, senatorial candidates and others.
“We are ready to join APC under strong conditions and promises. We will not allow anyone to use us and later dump us.
“We were among the founding fathers of the APC and endured significant persecution from various security agencies while challenging the previous administration.
“Yet when the party assumed power, we received no recognition or appreciation for our sacrifices, simply because we didn’t originate from their original faction.
“We are not in a hurry to leave the NNPP; we are enjoying and have peace of mind. But if some want a political alliance that would not disappoint us like in the past, we are open to an alliance. Even if it is the PDP that realised their mistakes, let’s enter an agreement that will be made public,” Sen. Kwankwaso stated.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has dismissed long-standing claims that he once sought to extend his tenure in office, insisting he never pursued a third term.
Speaking at the Democracy Dialogue organised by the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation in Accra, Ghana, Chief Obasanjo said there is no Nigerian, living or dead, who can truthfully claim he solicited support for a third term agenda.
“I’m not a fool. If I wanted a third term, I know how to go about it. And there is no Nigerian, dead or alive, that would say I called him and told him I wanted a third term,” the former president declared.
Chief Obasanjo argued that he had proven his ability to secure difficult national goals, citing Nigeria’s debt relief during his administration as a much greater challenge than any third term ambition.
“I keep telling them that if I could get debt relief, which was more difficult than getting a third term, then if I wanted a third term, I would have got it too,” he said.
He further cautioned against leaders who overstay in power, stressing that the belief in one’s indispensability is a “sin against God.”
On his part, former President Goodluck Jonathan said any leader who failed to perform would be voted out of office if proper elections were conducted.
Describing electoral manipulation as one of the biggest threats to democracy in Africa, he said unless stakeholders come together to rethink and reform democracy, it may collapse in Africa.
He added that leaders must commit to the kind of democracy that guarantees a great future for the children where their voices matter.
He said: “Democracy in Africa continent is going through a period of strain and risk collapse unless stakeholders came together to rethink and reform it. Electoral manipulation remains one of the biggest threats in Africa.
“We in Africa must begin to look at our democracy and rethink it in a way that works well for us and our people. One of the problems is our electoral system. People manipulate the process to remain in power by all means.
“If we had proper elections, a leader who fails to perform would be voted out. But in our case, people use the system to perpetuate themselves even when the people don’t want them.
“Our people want to enjoy their freedoms. They want their votes to count during elections. They want equitable representation and inclusivity. They want good education. Our people want security. They want access to good healthcare. They want jobs. They want dignity. When leaders fail to meet these basic needs, the people become disillusioned.”
The dialogue was also attended by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Touray, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Sokoto diocese of Catholic Church among others who all stressed that democracy in Africa must go beyond elections to include accountability, service, and discipline.
The Rivers State House of Assembly yesterday resumed plenary session after a six-month state of emergency imposed on the state by President Bola Tinubu elapsed on Wednesday midnight.
President Bola Tinubu had lifted the emergency rule on September 17, with the Governor of the state, Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and members of the state assembly asked to resume duties on September 18.
The plenary was presided over by the Speaker of the House, Martins Amaewhule, at the conference hall located within the legislative quarters in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
The conference hall has served as the lawmakers’ temporary chamber since their official chamber at the assembly complex on Moscow Road was torched and later pulled down by the state government.
The outgone sole administrator of the state, Ibok-Ete Ibas, could not complete the reconstruction of the assembly complex as promised.
Recall that on March 18, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers following the prolonged political standoff between Fubara and members of the House of Assembly loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
He subsequently suspended the governor, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and lawmakers for six months and installed a sole administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd.), to manage the state’s affairs.
The decision sparked widespread controversy, with critics accusing the president of breaching the Constitution.
However, others hailed the move as a necessary and pragmatic step.
