The challenges that confront us as a nation aren’t being addressed head-on, mostly due to a mix of overt patriotism or, rather, hostility from an audience that is uneducated or, though schooled, filled with enthusiasm for their candidate or party. As such, they are capable of unleashing their aggression on anyone who calls their subject to order or account, regardless of the genuineness of the calling. Unfortunately, this has been our poor tradition over the years, and it shouldn’t be allowed to persist, as it derails good citizens of conscience from holding government officials accountable for their promises and mandates.
There is a strong quote by the German dramatist Bertolt Brecht that, for me, drives home the point about how leadership and accountability work in our society:
“Nowadays, anyone who wishes to combat lies and ignorance and to write the truth must overcome at least five difficulties. He must have the courage to write the truth when truth is everywhere opposed; the keenness to recognize it, although it is everywhere concealed; the skill to manipulate it as a weapon; the judgment to select those in whose hands it will be effective; and the running to spread the truth among such persons.”
The brutal reality is that most educated citizens of this great country have lost faith in any government budget, whether at the state or national level. That being said, I have personally chosen to applaud fantastic budget implementation rather than a mere budget proposal.
As it always turns out, our budget does not focus on the citizens. That’s the bitter truth. Over the years, we have seen budget proposals projecting hope for the nation, which should have, long ago, led to positive developments. But here we are, still advocating for the same social amenities that past budgets supposedly covered and buried. The truth is that for people to truly believe in this system, all they need is genuine transparency and trust, which we are currently lacking from the political class that governs our affairs.
It was appropriate for the red chamber to criticize and penalize Senator Abdul Ningi for his controversial allegation of budget padding to the tune of N3 trillion in the 2024 budget. But his removal, sanction, and feelings of alienation did not lead him to withdraw his words. Moreover, given the corruption scandals that have plagued the national assembly in the past, it is difficult to see the red chamber as having moral authority in this dilemma. However, the facts are there: the national assembly increased its allocation from N197.93 billion to N344.85 billion, a 74.23% increase and the highest allocation ever.
We should not get lost in this discourse, where there is already a consensus among Nigerians that the interests of those in power do not align with what the country needs. The turmoil over the subsidy removal has highlighted the need for both leaders and citizens to move away from squandering and mismanagement. But, as always, there is a limit to the public’s tolerance of their leaders’ extravagances while they are forced to live with the bare minimum, often at others’ expense.
I am not an economist, but from my peripheral experience in project management, I know that most of our budgets are faulty in two senses. First, part of the budgets serve as a facade for unsustainable practices that were never intended for a genuine cause. Second, there is an extreme lack of checks and balances within the system to report these discrepancies. Therefore, it has become imperative for people passionate about the progress of the country to contribute their expertise to halt this iniquitous development.
When the masses cry out that the government does not live up to its promises and commitments, the national assembly has no excuse for folding its hands and failing to act as the true representatives of the people. They cannot afford to rest on their laurels while things get out of hand. This is the practice globally.
Amid the masses’ protests over the state of affairs, a shocking and unimaginable utterance came from the Senate President of the Federation. To quote Mr. Akpabio: “You can protest, but we will be eating.” This is a national blunder, considering the position he occupies, and Mr. Godswill Akpabio was sworn in to stand for the truth without fear or favor. Many in the national assembly, and by extension some party members or loyalists, see nothing wrong with this statement, which is alarming. And why? He was never called to order!
I, for one, believe they have misunderstood the public’s outrage, claiming that the protests were fueled by political opposition alone. The pain and hardship are visible for all to see. Nigerians have been pushed beyond their limits, leaving them with no other option than protests against bad governance to express their frustration. The public’s outcry goes beyond the government’s betrayal; it also serves as a call for all political figures to be held accountable for their actions and inactions.
Before the protests, Prof. Lillian Orogbu, a member of the House of Representatives, representing the Awka North/South Federal Constituency of Anambra State, expressed similar sentiments. While contributing to the debate about the nation’s 25 years of uninterrupted democracy, she said:
“We are celebrating 25 years of an unbroken democratic system. This celebration comes with mixed feelings because Nigerians are watching us. Our people are hungry back home. To be honest with you, Mr. Speaker, there is nothing to celebrate. We should be celebrating food security and access to healthcare.”
These statements from a lawmaker and Professor of Business Administration illustrate the painful reality that Nigerians have not benefited from good governance under the democratic system, including the current administration. Her reasons for speaking out are a debate for another day, but it is clear that she is not disconnected from society and her community.
It is surreal that, despite the pervasive hardship and escalating costs of basic necessities like food and healthcare, a senator thought it appropriate to support his constituency with burial materials. What an irony – unless we are made to believe that other pressing matters have already been addressed.
The naked truth is that many of our politicians are out of touch with the masses’ predicaments. There is a need for our representatives at all levels of government to bridge the gap between their external schedules and their constituents’ realities by adopting universally accepted Town Hall meetings to truly be the people’s representatives – the people’s servants, not the other way around. The lack of coherence in the system hampers our transformation and the delivery of democratic dividends. Our leaders either don’t care or don’t realize that humans need to be intellectually engaged. In a democratic system, you need to carry the people along, and if you don’t, they will find a way to make their dissatisfaction known. This has been a major factor in turning citizens against their leaders.
Nigerians are among the most religious people in the world, yet we fail to understand that simply believing in God and going through religious rituals is not enough. We must also strive to be good human beings. Some secular Western countries practice far more religious values than we do, particularly in how they protect their citizens and uphold justice. True faith teaches us to stand firm against injustice in society – that is the hallmark of religion. It is deeply troubling that we have politicians who, in their pursuit of wealth, adopt self-righteous and intolerant attitudes that are repugnant to the spirit of faith.
I will conclude with the words of Senator Austin Akobundu of Abia State, from his personal statement on the 25th anniversary of Nigeria’s democracy: “But we must do more by imbibing the spirit of courage and boldness of our founding fathers to always insist on freedom of expression, equity, justice, and the rule of law. These are the pillars that will ensure that our democracy thrives and becomes sustainable.”
Abdulkadir Musa Hausawa DKF. Mr. Abdulkadir is a United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) scholar and has completed a Masterclass in Project Management from Courtney Associate, England. He can be reached at musacoach@gmail.com
