Nigerians docility against bad governance : Dangers in the horizon (1)
“Pressure for change is inevitable in countries where poverty and inequality are rife, and the quality of political and economic is poor.
Without pressure from citizens, a government may not perform and serve the public good”.
Nigeria is one of the very few countries in the world where politics is the most attractive human endeavour, where holding a political office is more profitable than running a business.
In Nigeria, politics is the easiest and quickest route to wealth, thanks to outrageous salaries and allowances.
Truth is, in Nigeria, politics is a quest for private gain rather than public good.
But nothing entrenches this perversity more than the lack of strong institutions and active citizenry.
For not only do the system and the citizens allow wrong politicians to get to power, but there’s also virtually no institutional or societal pressure to hold elected politicians accountable.
Nigerians have been lamenting dehumanising situations in the country as a result punitive economic policies and programmes of the APC led President Bola Tinubu Administrstion.
In a TV interview, Bishop Matthew Kukah, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, said: “The political class will continue to behave the way they do largely because we let them do so,” adding: “Our duty and responsibility is to constantly make those who govern us feel uncomfortable if they are not performing well.”
Professor Pat Utomi, renowned political economist, argued that “the major problem of Nigeria is the docility of its citizens,” saying: “Nigerians are at home with anything thrown at them.”
Some centuries ago, the philosopher Joseph de Maistre famously said: “Every nation gets the government it deserves.”
What he meant was that it’s up to the citizens of every nation not only to elect the right leaders but also to hold them accountable.
Unfortunately, Nigerians don’t perform these sacred duties; they don’t act as a bulwark against bad leadership.
To be continued………
