The country, Nigeria is blessed with a political history that outspans her colonization by the British Empire.
With a political
history that outdates her invasion, it would be assumed that Nigeria
would indeed be the political giant of the continent Africa.
The invasion of the then tribes, which constitutes today's Nigeria, met well constructed and stable pre-colonial structures.
The 1884/85 Berlin
conference which saw the then global powerhouses divide the African
continent, which was then tagged the Dark continent, was the beginning
of the fall of these structures which governed the living of the various
tribes then.
Respecting the political prowess of these tribes, the British Empire employed several worthy members as local representatives.
Some members eventually gained international recognition as they were extended political handshakes by the monarchy of the Empire.
Some members eventually gained international recognition as they were extended political handshakes by the monarchy of the Empire.
Centuries after the
invasion of the territories, which were almagameted to form Nigeria, the
nation was granted her independence and rights to her political system.
However, tribalism curbed the achievement of solidly unified political structures for several decades.
Also, the military,
taking a cue from global politics, seized and annihilated the several
political structures, playing the tit-tat game with the nation's
politics.
Every game eventually has an end and so after much ado, the military handed over the political rights to a democratic government and (partially) returned to the barracks. The whistle for the real political game was sounded and the match began. The last military Head of State, Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar handed over to a former military Head of State-turned-democrat, Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo (retd.).
Every game eventually has an end and so after much ado, the military handed over the political rights to a democratic government and (partially) returned to the barracks. The whistle for the real political game was sounded and the match began. The last military Head of State, Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar handed over to a former military Head of State-turned-democrat, Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo (retd.).
Under the political platform of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), the era of democracy was hoisted by the retired General.
As a saying goes, Once
a soldier, always a soldier, the retired General rode on the lack of
understanding of the real stance of democracy by the masses. Also, still
recovering from the brute rule of the military government gave the then
political system ability to toll an unnoticed governance of civilian
dictatorship.
The words of the then
Grand Commander of the Federal Republic and his caucus were law and
there was hardly any disputation to them.
As a democratic system
requires, there had to be the judiciary, legislative and executive.
These arms were overrun by factors of nepotism and favouritism which
only helped further in the coverup of the civilian dictatorship. Like a
hydra, any head which displayed the least epitome of rebellion was cut
off and another grown to replace the felled head. This played out in the
impeachment of multiple public officers, some of which were then
members of the ruling party who had been termed rebels by the power that
was.
The nation's
constitution gives room for only a two-term tenure for the position of
top executive positions. This caused controversies in the then ruling
party as there were speculations that an amendment of the constitution,
to increase the eligible executive term to three, was in play.
By this time, asides the disunity which this caused in the camp of the ruling party, the masses had come abreast with the laws in the constitution and therefore couldn't be easily waved aside and so implementation of the constitution amendment could not be achieved. Serious turbulence was already been experienced in the ruling party's camp, which saw the exodus of several top members and the formation of multiple political parties.
By this time, asides the disunity which this caused in the camp of the ruling party, the masses had come abreast with the laws in the constitution and therefore couldn't be easily waved aside and so implementation of the constitution amendment could not be achieved. Serious turbulence was already been experienced in the ruling party's camp, which saw the exodus of several top members and the formation of multiple political parties.
For several years, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
maintained its status as the ruling party while due to the fight which
the opposition parties always put up against themselves.
A saying goes, To fight a common enemy, even enemies have
to team up. The opposition parties, taking a cue from this saying,
retreated to the board and returned under a unified political platform
to battle the ruling party.
This party was given the name All Progressive Congress (APC).
This party was given the name All Progressive Congress (APC).
Investigations were then put in place to discover the
desires of the electorate. The summary of the electorates' desires was
that a change was needed and the then opposition party, APC, took up the
mantra of change and anti-corruption crusade.
It is a well known
fact that demons don't battle evil and a divided house can't stand,
hence the search began for an anti-corruption gladiator and there seemed
no worthier candidate than the retired General who championed the
anti-corruption crusade, War Against Indiscipline (WAI), during his time
as a military Head of State. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari was a man who had
disdain for corruption and it was not an alien fact to the masses.
Coupled with the past
administration's failure to tackle the state of insurgency of the
nation, the then major opposition party, APC, achieved the impossible
feat of defeating an incumbent government at the polls.
Elections in the nation are usually associated with appellation of the results at the tribunal so it came, to most, as a shock when the immediate past President, Goodluck Jonathan, conceeded defeat and congratulated the retired General, despite calls from PDP party members that the results be contested at an election tribunal.
Elections in the nation are usually associated with appellation of the results at the tribunal so it came, to most, as a shock when the immediate past President, Goodluck Jonathan, conceeded defeat and congratulated the retired General, despite calls from PDP party members that the results be contested at an election tribunal.
A new era of democracy was supposedly ushered in, amidst
massive celebration by the pro-APC faction of the nation. As every
campaign entails, several promises were made during the journey to
victory and the promises of the present administration gave the masses a
high level of hope.
Encomiums was showered on the present administration when
upon assumption of office, public declaration of assets and liabilities
were implemented. Prosecution of some top public officers, some members
of the ruling party, drew further accolades from the masses. However,
like every journey, this was only the beginning. The contents of the
book were yet to be shown to the masses, who had already judged the book
by its cover.
Accusations and counter-accusations were issued as the
present administration almost declared economic and financial
bankruptcy, decrying total drainage of the nation's treasury by its
predecessor. However, the past administration has regularly debunked
allegations tendered against it.
As expected, President
Muhammadu Buhari, being an anti-corruption gladiator, immediately
commenced the war against corruption. Several sham deals carried out by
the past administration were brought to the spotlight and prosecution of
individuals involved began in earnest. This once again led to applauses
being rendered the present administration by the masses.
However, as the anti-corruption war escalated, speculations arose as it came to the notice of the masses that the bitter drug of nepotism was being injected into the supposedly impartial crusade. Only supporters and friends of the past administration, who had refused to jump ship and maintained loyalty to their ex-Captain, were invited, indicted and prosecuted. Reports of recovered loots hit the airwaves as several properties were raided and seized, bank accounts traced and frozen and more invitations were sent by anti-corruption agencies.
However, as the anti-corruption war escalated, speculations arose as it came to the notice of the masses that the bitter drug of nepotism was being injected into the supposedly impartial crusade. Only supporters and friends of the past administration, who had refused to jump ship and maintained loyalty to their ex-Captain, were invited, indicted and prosecuted. Reports of recovered loots hit the airwaves as several properties were raided and seized, bank accounts traced and frozen and more invitations were sent by anti-corruption agencies.
All these happenings
didn't alter the situation of the masses as months of salaries were
unpaid in various states. There was consecutive outcries which led to
strikes by several factions of the National Labour Congress (NLC). A
shutdown by the striking factions of the workforce dealt further blows
on the already-suffering economy and the Federal Government waded in to
prevent a total economic shutdown. Bailout funds were issued to states
in a bid to lessen the sufferings of the masses and prevent dire
consequences.
A hope of salvation was seen in the bailout funds by the
masses. This was however not the end result as the bailout funds ended
up in the pockets of "unknown" officials whose prosecutions are yet to
see the four walls of a courtroom.
The nation is one in
which development (financially and physically) can hardly be achieved
without the annual budget been signed into law by the President.
Consisting of the revenue allocation for all the states of the
Federation, the financial oars of various states solely rested on the
budget.
The 2016 budget, which is tagged Budget of Change, has been a puzzle game to the APC-led administration until early May. With the budget first declared missing, there had been several other reports which delayed the signing of the budget continuously. Amendment and re-amendment had to be carried out, as the Presidency decried padding as the reason behind the non-approval of the budget, before the President finally affixed his signature.
The 2016 budget, which is tagged Budget of Change, has been a puzzle game to the APC-led administration until early May. With the budget first declared missing, there had been several other reports which delayed the signing of the budget continuously. Amendment and re-amendment had to be carried out, as the Presidency decried padding as the reason behind the non-approval of the budget, before the President finally affixed his signature.
One of the many
campaign promises of the present administration was the reduction of the
foreign exchange rate which under its predecessor fluctuated between
N200/$ to N250/$.
This was welcomed as an excellent agenda arising from the fact that the dollar was a factor in the global economy and also the international trading currency of the nation.
The reverse became the case as the foreign exchange rate skyrocketed to between N300/$ to N400/$ at the parallel market.
This was welcomed as an excellent agenda arising from the fact that the dollar was a factor in the global economy and also the international trading currency of the nation.
The reverse became the case as the foreign exchange rate skyrocketed to between N300/$ to N400/$ at the parallel market.
The situation was even
made worse as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), with the backing of
the Federal Government, barred the use of the nation's banks electronic
cards outside the shores of the nation. This adversely affected
Nigerians abroad, especially those who are studying.
The President, when confronted by the media on the issue, was quoted as insisting that the Federal Government could no longer afford to provide foreign exchange for Nigerians abroad and asked that they should source for it elsewhere. When reminded that he had wards abroad, he bluntly commented that he could afford it.
The President, when confronted by the media on the issue, was quoted as insisting that the Federal Government could no longer afford to provide foreign exchange for Nigerians abroad and asked that they should source for it elsewhere. When reminded that he had wards abroad, he bluntly commented that he could afford it.
Another failed
campaign promise of the APC-led administration is the reduction of the
Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol or fuel to
Nigerians.
Now a tell-tale of the past, the promise has been besieged by intervals of scarcity of the daily needed product.
During the past administration, the subsidy on the substance was given a removal deliberation and this invoked the wrath of several groups, notable amongst them was the Occupy Nigeria group, who threatened hail and brimstone if the removal was actualized.
Recently, the Federal Government removed the subsidy skyrocketing the official price of the product to N145/litre. It is to be noted that the honourable Minister of Petroleum is none other than President Muhammadu Buhari, as it was during his time as a military dictator.
Now a tell-tale of the past, the promise has been besieged by intervals of scarcity of the daily needed product.
During the past administration, the subsidy on the substance was given a removal deliberation and this invoked the wrath of several groups, notable amongst them was the Occupy Nigeria group, who threatened hail and brimstone if the removal was actualized.
Recently, the Federal Government removed the subsidy skyrocketing the official price of the product to N145/litre. It is to be noted that the honourable Minister of Petroleum is none other than President Muhammadu Buhari, as it was during his time as a military dictator.
Devaluation of a
nation's currency affects her economy positively and negatively. It
improves international trading (importation and exportation) but also
skyrockets the foreign exchange rate at the parallel market. Critics and
opposition parties/groups verbally attacked the past administration for
devaluing the currency, with the present vowing never to devalue the
nation's currency while debunking claims that the IMF chairman,
Christine Lagarde, visited the nation for that purpose.
Recently, it was discovered that the Federal Government secretly met with the international monetary body, agreed to its terms and devalued the currency.
This would definitely have its tell on the masses as the official foreign exchange rate has skyrocketed to N360/$ at the parallel market.
Recently, it was discovered that the Federal Government secretly met with the international monetary body, agreed to its terms and devalued the currency.
This would definitely have its tell on the masses as the official foreign exchange rate has skyrocketed to N360/$ at the parallel market.
More analysis of the
current economic/financial state of the nation would only lead to an
enumeration of the woes and sufferings of the masses.
At the 2015 electoral polls, Nigerians demanded change but the only change they have been receiving are little denominations denominations of money, which is referred to by Nigerians as change.
At the 2015 electoral polls, Nigerians demanded change but the only change they have been receiving are little denominations denominations of money, which is referred to by Nigerians as change.
All that can be hoped upon is the 2019 general elections, where the masses can once again exercise their electoral franchise.
However, it can take only a real seer or prophet to tell its outcomes and the only true one (Time) rarely speaks.
However, it can take only a real seer or prophet to tell its outcomes and the only true one (Time) rarely speaks.
Article by Agwah Michael
(Founder 247NewsUpdate Blog, Researcher, Human Rights Activist, Social Critic and Political Analyst)
Twitter: @AgwahMichael
LinkedIn: Agwah Michael
(Founder 247NewsUpdate Blog, Researcher, Human Rights Activist, Social Critic and Political Analyst)
Twitter: @AgwahMichael
LinkedIn: Agwah Michael
Subscribe by Email and Get Free Updates To Your Inbox.
No comments:
Post a Comment