“Our government teaches the whole people by its example. If the government becomes the lawbreaker, it breeds contempt for law; it invites every man to become a law unto himself; it invites anarchy. Often time than not, we yap over act instead of act over yap; we get engrossed in myopic politicking when our health system is amongst the worst in Africa, our education is deteriorating every day, corruption is escalating on exponential scale and employment is killing our national potential, insecurity and terrorism have claimed several lives most among whom are productive youths“.
‘The unleashing viperous cult like Boko Haram on peaceful citizens qualifies as a crime against humanity, and deserves that very dimension in its resolution. If a people must survive, the reign of impunity must end. Truth – in all available detail – is in the interest, not only of Nigeria, the sub-region and the continent, but of the international community whose aid we so belatedly moved to seek’’. - Professor Wole Soyinka – The Wages of Impunity
The clearest way to show what the rule of law means to us in everyday life is to recall what has happened when there is no rule of law. As with any other species, human populations are shaped by the usual forces of natural selection, like famine, disease or climate. A strong culture of impunity has come to stay in Nigerian polity. No matter how you try to kill the truth, it has a phenomenal way of self resurrection. To say we are enjoying good governance in the Nigeria of today is a real thesis that needs no defence for validation. The rule behind the conspiracy scheme of governance in Nigeria is self explanatory. Nigeria has moved towards what the philosophers have identified as nihilism, in which its advocates disavow all institutions. They don’t believe in law and due process. I wonder if the current government are not close nihilists. When you don’t obey the law and breach protocol all for personal gain and you disdain institutions. You are a nihilist, if you don’t know. If you had employ the service of a negotiator to look into a matter and the result of his investigation points accusing fingers to your political associate and on that basis you refuse to take the proper action under the law, it is safe to conclude that you are a nihilist. No doubt our presidency is climbing the ladder of success wrong by wrong when it comes to proper governance.
We are blessed with all manner of blessings under the sun but the blessings and geniuses in us are hindered because of corruption occasioned by the priority and perpetuation of self above the interest of the citizenry. It could well argued that some of the problems began with inherited colonial state which made it a point of duty to isolate itself from the entire citizenry but with the extent of government transition, we should have gotten it right. Nigeria’s role in the world and African affairs had declined significantly. The democracy we celebrate is one representation narrowly concerned with rights, mainly political rights but hardly participatory or deliberative in the sense of harnessing the energies of communities let alone making them the focus of governance. There is always the shortage of many of the things that makes life and living meaningful in every part of the country. It is more or less diarchy. It is just a mockery of the government of popular reflection.
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Our government teaches the whole people by its example. If the government becomes the lawbreaker, it breeds contempt for law; it invites every man to become a law unto himself; it invites anarchy. Often time than not, we yap over act instead of act over yap; we get engrossed in myopic politicking when our health system is amongst the worst in Africa, our education is deteriorating every day, corruption is escalating on exponential scale and employment is killing our national potential, insecurity and terrorism have claimed several lives most among whom are productive youths. And above all, are the Chibok school girls that were carted away from school without a national security responsive other than a mockery of our political will power and national dignity. The Boko Haram issue is a complete mockery of our national dignity and it is actually a manifestation of the degenerations in every department of our national architecture. I believe strongly that some people are working day and night to disintegrate our great nation. Unfortunately for us, they are more purposeful and better co-ordinated than our leaders across boards. They are more dedicated to their mission than our leaders and even more disciplined. Even if we think they are fallen angels that were let loose from hell, they are still purposeful to their cause. Why can’t the government of the day be responsive enough to quash them completely? The government should better learn the basics of dedication to a cause from the fallen angels that are threatening our safety. The safety of Nigerians should be the highest law of the land. Afteral, the law protects you from being abused. It doesn’t threaten your lifestyle for someone else to have the right to exhibit their lifestyle. The government must tread where angels feared to tread.
As at today, we are not still sure about the capone of Boko Haram. Accusing fingers are directed towards the Grand commander himself others believes that it is the Northern leaders in a bid to make governance in 2015 etc. We don’t even know who to believe. Different version of truth are been spoken everyday and we forget about them easily. The fact still remains that there are innocent youths in captivity whose society and governance have failed their existence. Some persons have even taken the issue to be political rather than coming together to put an end to the problem at large. I guess one of the fundamentals of a political party is to represent platforms of ideas, policy options and visionary goals around which the electorate is invited to gather. It is rather an assemblage of power hungry individuals that wish to exhibit their nihilist abilities. It’s essentially a club of elites for the motive of sharing oil rents and political spoils. Sanity has lost its position in our governmental affairs. It’s a nihilistic affair.
It should be noted that Nigerians are tired of digesting concoctions that are filled with empty promises rather proactive actions should be taken. The law should be blind to race, gender and sexual orientation, just as it claims to be blind to wealth and power. There should be no specially protected groups of any kind, except for children, the severely disabled and the elderly, whose physical frailty demands society’s care. To prove that this government is not nihilist in doings, people that are find wanton on our security issues should be prosecuted with immediate effect. We are not supposed to be all equal. Let’s just forget that. We are supposed to have equal rights under law. If we do that, we have done enough. The same right that the government have in prosecuting individuals over alleged corruption acts should be extended to those that are been suspected to be the backbone of the fallen angels that are threatening our survival. We must reject the idea that every time a law’s broken, society is guilty rather than the lawbreaker. It is time to restore precept that each individual is accountable for his actions. It may be true that the law cannot make a man love, but it can keep him from lynching, and I think that’s pretty important. No man is justified in doing evil on the grounds of expediency. For this sake of this generation and generation to come, the federal government should please BRING BACK OUR HONOUR.
WHYTE HABEEB IBIDAPO is a United Nations Award winner, Africa International Arbitration Award winner and Coca cola/ The Nation Campuslife Award Winner.
Source: Abusidiqu
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