By Tabia Prince will
Watching the UK Conservative Party’s change of leadership which resulted in Theresa May succeeding David Cameron as the country’s Prime Minister, I was struck by the many parallels between good and bad behaviour in the UK and Nigeria.

The smooth way with which the Conservative Party resolved its leadership tussle should be something to be studied by fledgling democracies such as ours, where to contest for leadership is hardly ever about ideas and service to one’s country but rather about the promise of corruption and economic recklessness.

Theresa May’s main opponent, Andrea Leadsom dropped out of the race when she realised she was no longer the party favourite: her unfortunate comments about Mrs May’s childlessness aside, her willingness to put the party’s interests first is something almost unheard of in Nigeria (after all, she didn’t invade her party’s headquarters with thugs).

I’m left feeling wistful every time politicians in other climes exhibit behaviour which is so far from the norm in Nigeria. When will we see our own Obamas, Camerons and Theresa Mays? Men and women who were raised with principles, who are not motivated by money alone? People with an agenda beyond ethnicity and religious manipulation?

Senator Oluremi Tinubu and Dino Melaye

Religious  manipulation

Neither candidate threatened secession or civil war nor did the loser claim that a cabal, or a government within the government is behind her woes and preventing her rise to power. In fact, it is quite amazing (by Nigerian political standards) that neither of these two women has ever been accused of corruption, forgery, embezzlement, or sordid sexual proclivities or any of the many heinous things Nigerian politicians take for granted.

Our nation’s grandees’ lack of propriety or principles is no longer news. The Nasarawa State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress recently announced the state government borrowed N28 billion from different banks, from 2011 to date, and therefore demands payment of workers’ salaries.

But a bigger question remains: what did the state do with N28 billion? It’s not enough to get angry at Cameron for calling Nigeria “fantastically corrupt”. Rather, we should be angry at those who’ve consistently done little for the common good and whose greed has left our states so poor.

We are the butt of international jokes about poverty and corruption. Rather than being angry at those who laugh at us, we should be angry at those who make it so easy for us to be laughed at.

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council has called on Nigerians to ignore Festus Keyamo, a lawyer and popular public commentator who says Dr. Uche Ogah should be sworn in as Governor of Abia State as the election of the incumbent governor has been invalidated.

I always wonder who exactly is behind the so-called youth groups in Nigeria who curiously only speak about political issues but never about the real every day matters which affect Nigerians. Even more strange is the fact that these youth groups seem to be the antithesis of everything youth in other parts of the world stands for: openness, oneness in the pursuit of common opportunities for development, justice for all rather than sectional, ethno-religious interests, etc.

Are the youth groups who attend UN summits, campaigning for reconciliation between peoples, from Mars? No, they are cut from the same cloth as the Theresa Mays, Camerons, etc, which I mentioned earlier. Their education and not simply their wealth, makes them part of a thinking elite which knows that service to politicians does not mean service to one’s community. We must not just yearn for a country where our contemporaries hold these beliefs as true but work towards it.

I’ll end by encouraging us to think about a shocking incident, which one person concerned has since partly denied, that is the alleged altercation between Senators Dino Melaye and Remi Tinubu. But before that, let’s go back to Theresa May and David Cameron, it’s an interesting parallel.

You see, following the #Brexit vote, then Prime Minister, David Cameron, promptly resigned and no one within his party or the society said he should receive a Nobel prize for doing what was right. When the public so blatantly disagrees with a leaders’ policy or direction, honourable men and women in civilised societies leave way for others.

This is not Nigerian thinking, ours is a more “do-or-die” approach where militancy avenges only the interests of the powerful, an attitude whereby sabotage and petty jealousy feature heavily.

Notice how Mrs May hasn’t hinted that Cameron’s people in Number 10 sabotaged her in any way, as the civil service is apolitical, unlike ours; so transitions are smooth no matter what persons or parties are in power. What a democracy! Cameron showed little ego in stepping down. He was full of good humour, and quips, some about himself, saying: “I was the future once” (in reference to a wisecrack he made about Tony Blair when he, Cameron, was a young Member of Parliament). The confidence and certitude that there is a future outside of politics enables men like Cameron to walk away serenely, their honour and good name intact. In our society, one must ask about most politicians: who were they, what was their call to fame, or simply, their occupation, before public office?

Enter Dino Melaye. In defence of his “friend”, the Senate President, Mr Melaye’s alleged behaviour seems to have been the total opposite of what is allowed or encouraged in saner climes. I’m sure Mr Cameron also has friends in Parliament.

It is intriguing that none were alleged to have threatened to beat or rape a female colleague for daring to suggest that the institution they represent shouldn’t be dragged into any one individual’s court cases.

Dragging on his  premiership

One can also easily surmise that if Cameron were accused of corruption, he would resign to clear his name. But what would Theresa May have responded to Dino Melaye? The exchange would never occur because Mr Melaye has no equivalent in the UK Parliament.

Even Trump, as careless with his words as he has been, hasn’t been accused of saying he would “rape” or “beat” Hillary Clinton. Cameron did the right thing for his country by refusing to drag on his premiership. On the opposite end, we in Nigeria routinely excuse and explain away bad behaviour or as we call it “mere allegations”.

Take Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim, a former governor of Yobe State who, in defence of Bukola Saraki reportedly said: “I can assure you that 99 percent of senators are behind Saraki for the simple reason that we are all human beings, and we do make mistakes.

When you are a governor for eight years, there is no way you can account for every kobo. So, if anybody wants to investigate you thoroughly, he will find a fault here and there.”

Where does one begin, without being choked by bile and disgust for the system that enables such a thought process? In the words of Thomas Jefferson: “I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that is justice cannot sleep forever”.

Alleged dismissal of judges

The Nigeria Judicial  Council, NJC, has reportedly dismissed Justice Mohammed Yunusa for granting an  injunction stopping the EFCC from probing Stella Oduah. It seems Thomas Jefferson was right. Let me clarify, it’s not about witch-hunting anyone. Rather, it’s about everyone with a case to answer having their day in court, as is done all over the world.

Obanikoro

The EFCC has apparently been interrogating the former Minister’s daughter, in relation to an alleged N800 million transaction. One must wonder, again, if Cameron, Theresa May or any one of their associates’ children have access to such sums and what makes these things, if proven true, possible in Nigeria. Mrs Obanikoro who was also interrogated, is said to suffer from high blood pressure.