Nigeria at 52: Moving Ahead Together

By Msonter Anzaa

It is 52 years since Nigeria became an independent nation. The story of how we became Nigeria has been told quite often. The challenges we have faced as a nation are great and humbling. The question of leadership has yet to be answered. The issue of genuine nationhood born out of a deep commitment down the hearts of citizens is still largely a mirage. At this moment in the life of our nation, what can we do as a people to place Nigeria on the path of development and true nationhood?

To begin with, we must address the issue of leadership. The trouble with Nigerian leadership begins at the process of election. While appreciable progress may appear to have been made in this regard, especially following the 2011 general elections and subsequent governorship elections, much still remains to be done. The Electoral Act has been amended often, but it still does not completely provide for confidence in the electoral process. The most controversially interpreted section of the Act is the one dealing with the lifetime of an election petition. The spirit of the 180 days was to avert a situation where politicians with bad cases employed delay tactics to drag the judicial process ad infinitum while they served out their tenure. However, in its first trial, it has revealed the fallacy of thinking laws alone can give us a trustworthy electoral system. In its interpretation of the 180 days given by law, the Supreme Court of Nigeria has held that the period applies to the entire life span of an election petition.

Consequently, we witnessed incidents where election tribunals had to pack up and go without delivering judgments in the cases they heard. It was the most dangerous period in the history of electoral justice in Nigeria. The question then arises of whether it is right to punish litigants for the inability of courts to use their time wisely. If the election tribunals were given an assignment with a deadline and they failed to deliver, shouldn’t there be a punishment for the judges? We have created a situation where judges can simply relax or indeed, aid in the wasting of time, knowing that as soon as the period is over, they can return to their homes without being accountable for anything. This practice has a potential for catapulting corruption to fearful levels in the polity. It has reduced confidence in the electoral system and has in fact, defeated the spirit behind that amendment. Another dimension introduced however, is that of what the judges can do to stop litigants or defendants from wasting the court’s time while still preserving their rights to argue their cases exhaustively. Whatever subsequent amendment is made to this section, these two issues must be taken into consideration.

With the electoral process fixed, leaders can begin to emerge that do not only obtain their power from the people, but who also are accountable to them. We can restore confidence in our system and in ourselves as a nation. The message would be sent that there is actually no alternative to obtaining power from the people. If votes are acquired through corruption of the electoral process, there would be a reliable judicial system for reclaiming the stolen mandate. This will reduce the tendency to unleash violence in the struggle for power. I believe we have politicians who are diligent enough to work for their electoral success if they are sure the hard work will pay. And this has actually been demonstrated in a number of states across the nation where elections have been held and won by hard-working political parties and candidates. For once in the history of Nigeria, governments have begun being close to the people. Nigeria is once again getting to where the Nigerian can plan his life and include a government role in it. That’s the way it should be. We should be able to expect service from government and get it; for that is the essence of government.

Secondly, with a vibrant and patriotic leadership, we will find within ourselves the courage to trust one another and look our challenges in the face. The issues we have with the structure of our federalism; the distribution of resources, and the protection of minority rights can then be discussed round a national table. We need sincerity, humility and commitment; we need selfless sacrifice to attain the level of truth we need to operate on. The Nigerian state as she is today is full of tribal and religious sentiments that make it impossible to move ahead meaningfully. We must convene a national dialogue and discuss how we are going to live together in peace. We must negotiate the terms of our existence, and define the conditions and what relationship shall exist among us. While not joining the call for a National Sovereign Conference, I believe we have come to a point in this nation where we have to talk. It could fall under whatever name; the important thing is that we have a forum where every subunit of the Nigerian state is represented adequately, where we can negotiate a workable mechanism for our existence as a nation.

Finally, at 52, Nigeria is still struggling to discover a direction for herself as a nation. The elementary issues of infrastructure like roads, power supply; economic questions of unemployment, corruption, lack of education and inadequate opportunities for all citizens still haunt us daily. The problem of lack of visionary and courageous leadership still exists. At this moment however, we must begin to build the foundation of our nationhood on dialogue and mutual understanding. If done sincerely with goodwill, the Nigerian state under God will be able to thrive again.