The signs and symptoms are there that Nigeria is likely to experience some surprises, perhaps before 2023. Seers have seen, preachers and prophets had warned and writers had written, all with unquestionable patriotism, to see that the nation is not overtaken by some avoidable surprises. A situation where the Vice President of a country would say in an open forum that there are cracks in the walls holding the nation together, as well as express anger over “SARS Brutalities”, etc, obviously these can hardly
From the General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, there was a news report that he “decreed that sponsors of terrorism in Nigeria would not see the New Year”. For such high cleric to have expressed such opinion means that he was warning that terrorism and its sponsors can plunge this nation into deeper surprises. Neither should we forget that a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Dr Obadiah Mailafia, had raised an alert over possible sponsorship of the Boko Haram group.
The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev. Mathew Kuka, a most level-headed and patriotic Nigerian, also warned that “Nigeria was gradually drifting towards total implosion … “ For a cleric of that status to raise an alert about religious extremism, toxic politics, etc, means that he sees dangers ahead. Kuka was quoted as saying: “The frustrations mount, the criminal political and bureaucratic classes get more daring in their exploits, stealing the country blind and leaving an entire nation bleeding”. Dooms-day prophesy?
We have a situation where alleged “N2.8bn Loot” for which a former head of Pensions Reform Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, who is standing trial, would become so “critically ill” that his kinsmen would form a team of advocates. We hear that Maina’s Kinsmen “urged the CJN to prevail on the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to change the judge to any other judge that would be fair and just in the dispensation of justice in the matter”. The implication of such advocacy is that “Justice Okon Abang has tele-guided the prosecution team on how to conduct their case in the open court to the detriment of our illustrious son”. Expression of loss of confidence in the judiciary!
A nation where kinsmen, acting as an advocacy group, can point fingers at a Justice as being not only unjust but also tele guiding a prosecution team, then this portends a jinx for the nation’s judiciary. Maina’s case is one of several cases of alleged corrupt practices which the current government claims it has a moral duty to stamp out in Nigeria. What ordinary Nigerians observe and gossip about in privacy is that corruption now wears a golden crown and talks with braggadocio and swagger. A country continuing that way, even if it is mere unproven allegation, may have shocking surprises.
From a former Governor of old Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa (may he rest in peace) we hear that “Nigeria has not done well in actualizing most of the dreams of its founding fathers at 60”. He urged leaders to always make the welfare and well-being of the masses as the focus of their policies and programmes. Alhaji Balarabe was an avowed advocate of the masses; even those who knew him closely commend him as a man of the people.
Ekiti State Governor and Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), Dr Kayode Fayemi, was also quoted as saying that the time has come for Nigerians to confront the reality of restructuring the country. Unfortunately, there are many Nigerians who, either because of ignorance, pretence or mischief, seek to distort the concept or need for a restructured Nigeria. If nothing else, a restructuring which would ensure the practice of true federalism would be a stitch in time, to save Nigeria from avoidable surprises. But mischief mongers would play down on the necessity for this bold step or associate the call with reduction or creation of more states.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has been persistent in raising the issue of distrust as being one of the major factors tearing various groups apart in this country. What fuels distrust in any group, polity or nation is usually a suspicion of some hidden agenda being mixed up with policies and programmes of state. Obviously there are several such suspicions of pursuit of hidden or sectional agenda under the cloak of the common good of geniality of the whole people. A most recent suspicion is the Water Resources Bill, which some sections of the country see as not being in their own best interest.
Sources of avoidable surprises include security of the nation. Surprises may not come from external aggression but implosion arising from internal distrust and contradictions. Such contradictions arise from the application of double standards in dispensation of justice, thus fuelling further distrust in the system. Acts of one-sidedness and impurity abound in the system.
As someone acquainted with security matters, one can say that the nation’s security structure and apparatus need some bold restructuring, to reflect transparency and boost confidence. Those on the jobs of security should not assume that they know it all, especially in an age of electronic wizardry and global networking. To allow parochial interests and personal deficiencies to affect state policies or their implementations is to forget the global nature of modem era. No nation is an island or free from monitoring eyes.
The Nigeria/Niger rail link also gives support to those who expressed view about Fulanisation process. Does any Nigerian law allow herdersmen to carry fire arms or molest farmers in their communities? Raping women in their farms!
It is pertinent to say that the foundation of much of the prevailing conditions in Nigeria now was laid by the military during the long years of military rule. Therefore, one way to save Nigeria from avoidable surprises is to make the armed and security forces truly professional. At the moment, there are gossips that they are compromised and structured to serve sectional interests. Coupled with these are matters relating to mineral oil and gas, as well as establishment’s attitude towards the zones that produce the oil and gas.
Dr. Amirize is a retired lecturer from the Rivers State University, Port Harcourt.