As usual, pomp and fanfare would overwhelm the land today in
\nobservance of the annual rites of remembering October, 1, 1960; a symbolic day;
\na phenomenal moment encapsulating the collective agenda of a people’s desire
\nfor identity, self determination and recognition.<\/p>\n
Today is significant in two respects. First, independence
\nwas achieved through dialogue and negotiation with the administering power –
\nthe British -, rather than by violence. Second and most crucial, the civil
\npopulace were, for the first time, going to govern themselves, by themselves
\nand for themselves.<\/p>\n
Thus, the nation would be suffused with manifold emotions as
\nthe government and people of Nigeria relieve that historic moment of our first
\nindependence day which held so much promise for a nation just being retrieved
\nfrom the stranglehold and asphyxiating tedium of British imperialism.<\/p>\n
Consequently, on a day like this, the past comes alive,\u00a0 as we remember the unforgettable gallery of
\ngreat nationalists who helped inspire the optimism of the hitherto beleaguered
\nNigerian people who had jubilated, optimistic that independence would translate
\ninto a prosperous future.<\/p>\n
In several constitutional conferences preceding October 1,
\n1960, the founding fathers had fired this optimism by speaking collectively of
\nthe possibility of a great nation where ethnic pluralism would constitute a
\nsource of strength, and a federalist arrangement to liberate the potentials of
\nthe constituent units of the multi-ethnic, multi-national country.<\/p>\n
The euphoria seemed justifiable because indeed Nigeria is
\nblessed with abundant human and natural resources of the highest quality.<\/p>\n
Fifty two years later, however, many of the initial dreams
\nof our founding fathers have either died or have been frustrated by the
\nfailures of the emergent elites, no thanks to the despicable moral turpitude
\nand political immaturity and perfidy of the Nigerian successors of the British
\nimperial factor.<\/p>\n
As we reminisce about the triumphs and travails of the
\nNigerian State today, not a few critical questions gnawing away at the
\nconscience of the nation and the Jonathan Presidency continue to hang in the
\nair, unanswered.<\/p>\n
No doubt, looking back, a lot can be said of the symbolism
\nof democratic rule and the psychic income it has offered especially in
\nre-directing the focus of civil society towards properly defined objectives and
\nprinciples of state governance. And in ensuring the expression of the people’s
\npower as the truest source of legitimacy, the questions still seeking answers
\nare: What has independence brought us? What have we done with the legacy of the
\nnationalists?<\/p>\n
One of the key issues in the 60s was the need to ensure
\nunity in diversity among the various ethnic nationalities, Today,
\nsectarian\u00a0 identity is as sharp as the
\nnewly acquired matchet. Various social groups are questioning the basis of the
\nNigerian union.<\/p>\n
The idea of the true federalism also seems to have been
\nthrown over board. The allocation of federal resources remains contentious as
\ngroups and constituents within the federation are everyday complaining of
\nmarginalization, inequitable distribution of amenities and national resources,
\nand injustice. Unemployment and inflation are rising sharply every day. The
\nmiddle class has gradually disappeared as citizens lose purchasing power, with
\nthe attendant drop in the quality of life, reminiscent of the Biblical
\nseven-year lean period of the Egyptians. Infact, Nigerians have been so unhappy
\nand had been openly expressing their disenchantment with the nation’s
\nleadership even before giving a minority citizen, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan,
\nthe mandate to deliver the much expected democracy dividends to the populace.<\/p>\n
Exasperated perhaps by these anthology of woes, President
\nJonathan, at his inauguration on May 29, 2011 pledged transformative leadership
\nin all the critical sectors. He said: \u201cWe must demonstrate the leadership,
\nstatesmanship, vision, capacity, and sacrifice to transform our nation\u201d.<\/p>\n
Assuring \u201cstrength to the weak and protection to the
\ndefenceless\u201d, Jonathan promised that his leadership \u201cmust grow the economy,
\ncreate jobs, and generate happiness for our people\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo drive our overall economy, he continued, \u201cthe power
\nsector reform is at the heart of our industrialisation strategy\u201d, assuring also
\nthat \u201cin the next four years, attention will be focused on rebuilding our
\ninfrastructure, \u2026 creating greater access to quality education and improving
\nhealthcare delivery\u201d.<\/p>\n
Pledging to place premium on the agricultural sector to
\nensure food security and massive job creation for our people\u201d, President
\nJonathan promised \u201caffordable public transport system\u201d, \u201caccess to first class
\neducation for the citizenry\u201d and to banish corruption with \u201coverwhelming
\nforce\u201d.<\/p>\n
With those kinds of promises, expectations were very high
\nwhen Jonathan emerged the elected President in the 2011 polls. Even before his
\nemergence, he reportedly harped on power sector reform and security at campaign
\nrallies.<\/p>\n
In fact, documentation by the International Press Centre
\n(IPC), Lagos, in conjunction with the Institute for War and Peace Reporting,
\nindicated that between February and March 2011, Jonathan, as the Presidential
\ncandidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), made some specific promises on
\npower. The document quoted him as promising amongst others:<\/p>\n
\u201cTo deliver stable, constant supply of electricity, To
\nprovide stable power supply by the year 2015 so that small and medium scale
\nindustries can thrive again, to ensure that Nigerians do not use generators
\nmore than two times in a week; to explore the coal deposits in Benue and Kogi
\nStates for improved power supply; to construct more dams to build more
\nhydro-power stations; to reduce the importation of generators by at least 90
\nper cent in the next four years; to raise power generation to about 4,747
\nmegawatts by December 2011 and to put an end to epileptic power supply in the
\ncountry just as fuel queues at petrol stations were ended\u201d.<\/p>\n
On security, the IPC documentation says Jonathan promised,
\namongst others:<\/p>\n
\u201cTo make anyone caught breaching the public peace to face
\nthe full wrath of the law; To make sure that no part of the country is allowed
\nto be a sanctuary for criminals anymore, be they armed robbers or kidnappers;
\nto make a complete transformation of national security architecture; To
\nconfront headlong ethno-religious violence in the country; to ensure there is
\nno sacred cow in the fight against corruption; all crimes will be investigated
\nas security is key; Not to interfere with corruption cases; to strengthen the
\nEFCC and ICPC to fight crime; to eradicate kidnapping impeding entrepreneurship
\nin Eastern Zone; to pursue all bombers and terrorists and to adopt modern
\nmethod to tackle the problem of political violence\u201d.<\/p>\n
Expectedly, the Jonathan administration’s performance on the
\npromises would be appraised against the backdrop of high expectations from the
\npeople as the nation marks her 52 years of independence; high expectations
\narising from the failure or inability of most past administrations to fix the
\nNigerian project.<\/p>\n
Critics of the Jonathan administration have persistently
\nfaulted the President’s security measures as being insufficient enough to
\ntackle the nation’s ever-growing in security breaches. They argure that Boko
\nHaram’s incessant attacks which have claimed many lives have worsened, as
\nstories of bombings and killings have become a daily affair. Next to this is
\nthe power sector reform in which the administration has received more knocks
\nthan kudos. But the good news here is that there is now a roadmap for the
\nsuccessful reform of the sector as winners have emerged from among the firms that
\nbidded for slots in the unbundling of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria
\n(PHCN). Also, from a meager 2,200 megawatts upon inauguration, power generation
\nis already more than 4,400 megawatts. The administration has also assured that
\nby December this year, 1,000 megawatt will be added to that figure with a view
\nto reducing the problems arising from power outage.<\/p>\n
Again, while one may be tempted to score this administration
\nlow in the fight against crime, kidnapping, malfeasance and rancid corruption,
\nthere are indeed very positive steps taken and which have started paying of.
\nAlso, its achievements in health and educational sectors are commendable. The
\nAcademic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) which had a running battle with
\nPresident Olusegun Obasanjo had their outstanding issues settled amicably,
\nthrough dialogue.<\/p>\n
And even if some analysts might consider the petroleum
\nsubsidy issue as a sore point of this administration, the fact remains that the
\npeople were to later see reasons why government had to take the stance it took
\nas those involved in the subsidy scam are now facing various charges in the law
\ncourt in the public interest.<\/p>\n
What with the Niger Delta question. Though the case for
\nfiscal federalism is getting stronger by the day, the Niger Delta youth
\nrestiveness in the creeks has since given way for rehabilitation and
\nreconstruction of the region, in fulfillment of the president’s promise.<\/p>\n
Only recently, President Jonathan himself admitted at a
\nforum that the Boko Haram insurgency was distracting his administration from
\nfully actualizing his mandate of delivering democracy dividends to the people.
\nAssuring that he would not be deterred from the focus of his administration, he
\nvowed to work assiduously to enthrone peace and security in the land.<\/p>\n
No doubt, more is still needed to be done by the Jonathan
\nadministration to correct the ills of the past and inspire, not just
\npsychological reliefs, but confidence in the system and deliver happiness to
\nthe citizenry.<\/p>\n
Aware of the enormous tasks and great challenges ahead,
\nPresident Jonathan has, at a every available opportunity, pleaded for patience
\nto sort things out; a plea most analysts say may be given some consideration as
\nhe has only spent 16 months in office as President and Commander-in-Chief.<\/p>\n
As it is, what is required now is a general reconstruction.
\nThe country’s infrastructure which is lamentably in disarray must be fixed. We
\nneed to rebuild the bridges between the state and the civil society, empower
\nthe people and strengthen the state. In fact, the ideology of governance must
\nbe reviewed to give full effect to true federalism as enshrined in the
\nconstitution so that such hallowed values as equity, fairness and justice must
\nremain sacrosanct.<\/p>\n
Again, the country’s social infrastructure must be made to
\nbecome more active and efficient. Our hospitals and educational institutions
\nmust be well equipped to standards obtainable in other climes and the public
\nservice made more efficient.<\/p>\n
More importantly, considering the present age of economics
\nwe live in, coupled with the stark reality of globalization, international
\nfinance and statelessness of capital, the leadership must ensure that Nigeria
\nis moved beyond the limitations of the past and be part of the future. In this
\nway dashed hopes would have been rekindled and the nation galvanized to greater
\nheights.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Victor Tew<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
As usual, pomp and fanfare would overwhelm the land today in observance of the annual rites of remembering October, 1, 1960; a symbolic day; a phenomenal moment encapsulating the collective agenda of a people’s desire for identity, self determination and recognition. Today is significant in two respects. First, independence was achieved through dialogue and negotiation […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":43,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-52432","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-interview"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thetidenewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52432","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thetidenewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thetidenewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetidenewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/43"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetidenewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=52432"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetidenewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52432\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thetidenewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=52432"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetidenewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=52432"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetidenewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=52432"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}