SYCOPHANCIES AND DEMAGOGUES: THE BANE FOR POOR GOVERNANCE AND BAD LEADERSHIP IN NIGERIA

Twelve hours ago, Nigeria reached the milestone of sixty years of Political Independence from the erstwhile colonial master- Britain. The question is how free are we as a nation and a people? Sixty years after the symbolic handing over of the 1960 Constitution to our founding fathers principally consisted of the trio of Alhaji Tafawa Balewa, the first and only Prime Minister of the FRN, Dr Nnamid Azikwe, the first and the only indigenous Governor-General of the Nigeria State, and Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the first Premier of Western Region and the then Leader of the opposition; Nigeria and Nigerians appear to be in chain everywhere they go.

Let's look at it from three main perspectives of Social, Political, and Economic. Socially, almost all Nigerians concurred that at present, Nigeria is a mere 'geographical expression'; borrowing the words of Chief Obafemi Awolowo. An average Nigerian does not seem himself as a Nigerian first without first referencing his ethnic nationality. The Igbo man seems himself as an Igbo person before he sees himself as a Nigerian, so are the other ethnic nationalities including the Yorubas and the Hausas as well as other minority ethnic groups. It's even getting worse these days as since I became of age and based on my research, there is no time in our national history, perhaps with the exception of the Civil War of 1967 to 1970 that our frontlines have become more obvious as we've now, all thanks to ethnoreligious policies and decisions by the government of the day. For instance, how justifiable it is that for over five years, the security apparatus chiefs have been regimented to one particular section of the country despite hues and cries from people and their apparent failures against insecurities in the country? Same with appointments to offices and agencies. 

More than ever before, the spirit of nationalism and patriotism is fast becoming a foregone conclusion. Our social values of integrity, excellence, the dignity of labor, hard-working, patience, probity, accountability, among others are at low ebbs as never seen before. Our values and morals have been replaced with obsession for materialism and unconscionable corruption. Thus, socially, we've failed to make deservedly progress. 

Politically, the only thing we've to show forth is Democratic rules without its basic components of liberties, rule of laws, Independence of the Judiciary, vocal civil societies, enlighten citizens, responsible and responsive leadership, ideological political parties, among others. We claim to practice Federalism but what we've is unitarism, or what a scholar aptly described as 'Feeding Bottle Federalism'. Presidentialism is appearing a curse than a blessing to the Nigeria State considering the cost of governance today which is an anathema to the resources for governance. People don't contest for offices because of what they have to offer but what they stand to gain. Selfless leadership is an aberration in our today's political lexicon and experiment. 

Economically, there seems to be nothing to write home about. Until recent times, we've been declared as the World Capital of poverty with over 70% of the population unable to eat three square meals a day and afford $1 per day. Our debts are now in trillions with nothing to show for it. There is massive dwindling revenue accruing to all tiers of Government all thanks to falling oil prices. Our refineries are in comatose. Foreign Direct Investment is virtually on leave. Churches now occupy our factories. Agriculture is bedridden due to incessant herdsmen attacks and destruction. Small and Medium Scales firms are groping under the yoke of the heavy tax burden and unfavorable economic climates. Inflation is now at double digits. Interest rates from banks are unfriendly. Our roads are deplorable. Rails are not functioning.  Nothing seems to work. 

The question is how do we get here? I blame it on sycophancies and demagogues. Over the years, people at the corridor of powers and the Nigerian elites have failed to call a spade a spade. They paint black white and white black. No one is telling truth to power and the few who do are demonized and castigated. 

Power, Lord Acton, posits corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. You can never know the true colour of a man until you give him three things: money, woman, and power. You see with power, man feels and behaves like the gods. He dominates and exploits like there will never be tomorrow. Very few men know how to handle power without using to the detriment of the majority. Most times, people rush to get power not for the good of others but for selfish and parochial interests. The people who bear the brunts are their followers. 

It's in this regards that it becomes unfortunate when leaders surround themselves with sycophants and yes-sir men and women. What we've is a disservice to the generality of people and the nation at large. The worst illiterate as a scholar submitted is a political illiterate who does not know the cost of bread, of water, and grains is determined by what happened in the political terrains. Most people have not read or have failed to appropriate the import of 'Marxism' which says the superstructure determines what happened in the substructure.

This is because, politics according to Harold Laski has to do with 'who gets what, when, and how'; as it's 'authoritative allocation of values' in the words of David Easton. In fact, to me, it's the contest and contention of ideas and resources of the State. Unfortunately, our active political parties are populated by people who can hardly distinguish their lefts from the rights, so when a leader gives them peanuts, they go into praise singing at the detriment of the present and future generations. 

I hate to say it, but I must say it, our development, prosperity, and good governance do not lie with good leaders but responsible followers who will call the leaders to question at every deviation from the assigned duties and obligations. For some years now, I've asked these questions from fellow elite citizens about who their counselors are, chairmen are, Assemblymen are and federal legislators are, not up to 15% have been able to provide the needed response. But go and ask that pepper seller on the street, she is likely to know but lacks the capacity to call the leaders to question. Is it someone who doesn't know who his representative is, is it the person who will ask the right questions from him?

The crux of my argument is that our desired growth and development in whatever regards may continue to elude us until more enlighten men and women see the office of the citizens as the greatest Office in the country and through the Office call a spade a spade, tell truth to power without mincing words. As we mark our sixty years sojourn today, onions lie with the elites to rise to the occasion to defend our common heritage through responsible followership and participation in the political terrains. Parents also have a duty to nurture and build politically conscious and socially aware children for the prosperity of future generations.

*Sanmi Adekola* is a Social Commentator, Policy Strategist, and Serial Entrepreneur.