Nigeria The Beautiful Ship Stuck On Sand Bank. By Okundaye Israel Osarenagharu.

                                 Politics:
“Nigeria is to be measured not so much by the position it is currently but as obstacle she has to overcome while trying to succeed.” Okundaye Israel.

Mismanagement is likened to incompetency; it’s not about the rates of exchange expressed economically in a country. It is the policies introduced in the coffers of political erudite surrounding a particular government that drives the economic direction (Growth and Development, Recession or Depression) of a state like ours into macro healthy and sustained economic, social political activities. Government is in existence to take up, tackle issues and fix the problem of the state. There is hardly any dispensation in governance that has not had issues or societal hiccup to deal with, but should amass its arsenal in its wits and deep thought routed ideology to rescue the state from deepening societal economic political situation or its affairs.

The country Nigeria has gone through turbulent periods endangered and bastardized in the name of transition from one anchor to another through different government regime.   Some did about well to improve on the structure laid by the expatriates while others did doom and subjected Nigeria and its indigene to chaos and frustrations. The states have been driven through pot holes and wrong channels without adequate plans and stocks to acts as brakes, balance or accelerate in the time of needs, contingency and surplus. These regimes have consciously or indirectly contributed to the failure and status of its political being or image. There are queues and piles of  inadequate roads, poor power supply, stillborn projects, non constructive criticism on the parts of political opponents, abuse of office, poor government policies, poor execution and implementation of sound economic policies, cost of government operations, non-organized/ controlled check and balance among the arms of government, thuggery and electoral malpractice, bending the laws of the state, operations of government between the same class of people over a long period of time, the poor state and condition of public facilities, just to mention a few.

There where periods when Nigerian currency was at par with foreign currencies, these days the huge gap between currencies as related to naira is widening and worrisome. It’s unbecoming of the level of trust or confidence Nigerians invest in a particular government at one point or the other. Governments must strive to pay listening hear to the public and provide needs with utmost significance to its citizens because a responsible government is established to listen to the yearnings of its citizens by being responsive enough to economic issues rocking the state, “fixing them one after another at a considerable cost.” Over the years questions are asked begging for answer,

• ·         What is the state of our refinery?
• ·         Why do we ship crude oil abroad and refine them there?
• ·         Why do we pay more to enjoy substance from nature like petrol, gas, kerosene, etc?
• ·         How come our government is operated at a very huge cost?
• ·         What is the state of our treasury?
• ·         Why do we keep devaluating the naira?
• ·         Why do Politicians keep changing political platform every now and then?
• ·         Why do we negatively intercept religion with politics?
• ·         Why does politicking in Nigeria revolve around certain class of people?
• ·         What is the level of citizenry confidence in government?
• ·         Is governance becoming a revenge race?
• ·         The issues of graft?
• ·         Militancy/Terrorism new challenges.
• ·         Poor conditions of public assets.
• ·         The issues of deregulation, privatization and commercialization of public organizations.
• ·         The international perception of the brand name Nigeria.
• ·         Eroding Public health facilities and access.
• ·         The state of infrastructural amenities and the lack of public maintenance of public facilities on the parts of government and the Citizens.
• ·         The non all inclusive (political Rivalries) governments politicking in its operations.
• ·         The domain of the youth in Nigerian politics.
• ·         The place of women in Nigerian politics.

These are just few of the millions of un-answered questions as they affect the state. Our political leaders and people with political ambition must know that politicking or attaining any level of political office either in the form of appointments or sole elected into office is a call to service. Service means folding the sleeves to work, an unbiased in depth positive thinking that embraces national interest with economic development and not for stingy pocket or cheap political points nor fame. Due to various issues arising from the state, confidence invested into government in handling its affairs has hits the low elbow. The place of trust in Nigeria system of government is hitting the bell that hard. Personality or functions do not matter in a relationship, trust is what counts. An ounce of trust is worth a pound of love and efforts geared towards united bond between tiers of government, regions and communities.  When there exist breaches in trust in relationships, businesses, families, government, etc.  There will be break down in the system, structure established, pursuits for national rub off of shoulder or solidarity among st folks.

Any institution not corrugated upon trust and confidence of its stakeholders will just be demolishing the very bridge relevant in transiting and empowering that basic ingredients required running a fair, all embracing social and economic state. The country has witnessed transition from one government to another in series of decades which to large extents has deepening the woes and chaos of its enduring inhabitants drawn from the different tribes and region. One could hardly spots   selfless will of its leaders drawn from various region, era or regimes, military to democratic posits. Although there exist few honest and hearty Nigerian political actors who meant well and wanted to see through the aim of our founding Nigerian heroes or parents. These were few persons amidst the modern Nigerian Political Hustlers.

One could easily see their aim clear and hidden, the vision and mission is selfish, tricky or witty enough to pick the treasury pockets leaving a very wide hole that would take trillions of lorry or bulldozer to refill.   There is a betrayal on the parts of government such that the citizens have then and now taken a stand to doubt as whether to continue to follow or stuck to “get it  done with your era because we have moved on, we have the franchise, you don’t own the office as your appointments were issued or elected. Your day of reckoning is near. The day our power will be exercised to relieve you of your responsibility upon political, tribal, personal, religious and selfish interest over the supreme, societal or national interest.”

The Nigerian public and its trusts over the years have been relegated and abused or taken for granted at one point or another. However our modern leaders should pin it on their heart that our franchise is entrusted to them for all encompassing genuine service delivery which is to supersede all interest other than national zeal that is clearly spirited, seen or reflected in responsive governmental political and economic policies of the state.

It’s disheartening that the usual giants of Africa at this time engulfed in recession. One would support and expect government to come up with huge success strides and blueprints to convey Nigeria from the ill economic standard to the point of sustainable economic balance (equilibrium or break even points) if not more. Government should now be directing energy to reducing the huge cost of state operations across board. Starting from the top to bottom with considerations of all the arms of government. 

There are plethora areas in the government sector which spending needs to be checked properly, effectively and unbiased. There are obvious mountain of spending that are not productive or of economic significance to Nigeria and Nigerians. Government should begin to look into effective spending in its day to day activities to avoid cost implication and run down of important areas over non profitable sector to the common man. 

Government should begin to finance project that are of more benefit to the nation and way higher than its costs (Cost Benefit Techniques.) government should take up projects that are directly traced to the benefit of the common man over high fly class of citizens. Government should ensure taking up activities of economic or monetary benefits that move up the fiduciary gains in the national treasury. Government should now make room or plans for the future so to avert repetition of economic crises in ridicule. Government should begin to see media department in respect to journalism as a mirror to reflects on and right it wrongs after a taken activities and pay listening hear. 

Government should put in place structures to discourage the transfer or movement of members of different political platform because this activities results from self reasons. Government at all cost must strive to regain and restore confidence in its populace and the system respectively.  Government should rally round itself people with passion for the job and not the gains to benefit on the job as they unfold their sleeves attending to the issues of the state. Government should begin to look deep into universities, fresh graduates with brilliants performance and empower their service in governments. 

Government should look for cost effective ways of ascertaining the value figure or size of Nigeria’s population and make proximate adequate plans for the economy with it. Government should take up agricultural projects forefront by cultivating a large hectare of land in different agricultural produce while private establishment takes queue knowing full well this will boost food supply and job creation.           

Government should create rooms for criticisms and make improve adjustment where necessary so to get the ship started and moving. Criticism must come with clear hands and open heart. Critics must pen their paper with the country at heart and not in the mouth for a good take off to be attained. All stakeholders must realize that we are stuck such that hands be on deck to get the giants from slumber to work and healthy. All hands on deck mean responsibility for all, parenting, from youth restiveness to being active and engaging, open cuts clear leadership and zeal for national growth and developments. 

Institutions private or public must key into taking up responsibilities that are geared towards economic engagements for better boost of GDP. Structures and institutions must be properly placed to ensure fairness in all sector of the economy especially in the areas of human capital, say job creation, job security, patents and inventions, private sector participation in governance, conducive firm environments, education, health sector, information and communication, sensitization and orientation, equity and fairness in resource control and allocation, rooms for negotiation and negotiations and more negotiations, etc.

Hope would not be missing if hands surely get to the deck for smooth operations of the sleeping Nigeria, hands on deck in words, actions and confidence in government. “There is no better time than now when everyone must form a circle of love and hold hands in unity irrespective of race, tribe, religion or political class and domain.” This is where government role is necessary, open arms and door policy to all with the interest to strengthen a continuous and perpetual Nigeria.