By Braeyi Ekiye

One wonders why those in the commanding heights of political power across the African continent are hostile to history.

Going by recent happenings in the Nigerian State, across the West African sub-region, East Africa and the Sahel, it is disheartening to note that lessons are yet to be learnt on the consequences of perpetuating evil and vicious governance in the affairs of African countries.

The recent Kenyan experience of youth and civil society revolt comes readily to mind. And how that a Kenyan legislator at the wake of the revolt tendered his resignation to the sovereign people of Kenya, haven realised that both the legislature and executive arms of government have, over the years, been nothing but kleptocratic in their communication of governance to the people of Kenya. How sad.

Fast backward: The Arab Spring; a series of sudden anti-government violent protests, uprising and armed rebellions that spread across much of the Arab world in the early 2010s, is still very fresh in our minds. Wikipedia summation of the consequences of the Arab revolt is instructive; leadership instantly changed and even as regimes were held accountable and power vacuums opening up across the Arab world. Ultimately, it resulted in a contentious battle between a consolation of power by religious elites and the growing support for democracy in many muslim majority states.

In addition, the disastrous economic effects on the Arab world and by implication, the world at large, is also still fresh in our minds. The collapse in oil production, the region’s main product and revenue source, and the “concomitant fall in non-oil GDP led to the overall real GDP falling by a staggering 62 percent in the region.

It is noteworthy that many of the uprisings were led by students and other young people frustrated by government corruption and lack of economic opportunities as a result of bad governance in the respective African states. This scenario still persists in the West African sub-region and other parts of the African continent. It clearly shows African rulers’ hostility to history. Why is it that “upstarts and self-seeking rulers of these countries think that the world started on the day of their own opportunism?”, with apologies to Chief Harold Dappa-Biriye.

It reminds us of this nationalist and famous minority rights advocate, late Chief Harold J. Dappa-Biriye, who bemoaned the sad situation of elected representatives of government and political appointees’ penchant for corrupt practices and the twisting of history to suit their whims and caprices, and in the process, commence along the lines of “their cheats and misdeeds”. This, no doubt, has unfortunately brought Nigeria and other African countries to the slippery floors of under-development and stunted socio-economic growth and development and infrastructural transformation.

Taking a cue from Chief Biriye’s regret and subsequent admonition of our political class and their conniving allies in the continued despoliation of the public treasury (our common wealth), and oppressive governmental systems that have held citizens of these countries hostage, former President Goodluck Jonathan, who fortuitously ruled this country between 2010 to 2015, came to the rescue at a recent public outing. His outbursts, coming from his heart, and love of the country, and indeed, the African continent, dwelt on the need to forestall further desecration of governance in the continent in order to evolve a purposeful and result-oriented democratic rule.

Hear former President Jonathan: “We, politicians and those of us who are in the security services sometimes become blinded in our service delivery to the people. But society is changing. We must learn to adapt to this change. We must blend, we must admonish ourselves. And civil society is becoming very active. And certain things we probably would have done in the past and get away with, may prove detrimental to our peace and security as a nation. If we take laws into our hands and try to squeeze society, the young people will react”.

President Jonathan recalled what happened in a sister country, Burkina Faso, during his tenure as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He said that the political, economic and security consequences in Burkina Faso then, was far reaching, adding that, there was break down of law and order, leading to a state of anarchy, until the military was forced to seize power to instil sanity in the country.

President Jonathan therefore, advised that, because of the changing times in our political landscape, and in recognition of the consequences of youth restiveness and civil society organizations activism and awareness, the political class “should do everything based on the rule of law”.

Perhaps, it would be pertinent at this junction, to interrogate the trending news on the looming nation-wide protests against biting economic policies of the present President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration by youths and civil society organizations. While it is advisable for would-be protesters to walk and work the path of caution, discretion and utmost decorum, government on its part, should introspectively, and with a repentant heart, plug the continued profligacy in the administration of public offices and funds, and the glaring kleptocratic tendencies of public office holders.

Is it rocket science for a government that seeks to protect the interest of the people and secure their welfare and security to divest itself from humongous perquisites of office that insult the sensibilities of the “sovereign”? Why must we, as a nation, particularly her political class be blinded to the unbearable biting poverty and sufferings of the masses who make up over ninety percent of Nigeria’s estimated two hundred (200) million population? Why must our political class, especially elected representatives and political appointees continue to live in stupendous opulence and carry on with detestable ostentatious living in the midst of the harrowing socio-economic pains suffered by the toiling masses, as if they are too blind to see and feel the negative realities of the current economic crunch on the people. Why should a choice class leverage itself as a “chosen generation” be oblivious of the looming dangers of their acts of omission and commission against the sovereign they swore to on oath to protect, provide and secure? Why should the nation’s leadership, especially a President Tinubu administration not see through the lenses of the binocular, the sufferings of the people of the land?

We recall His Majesty, Ogiame Atuwase, the Olu of Warri captivating and wise counsel to Africa and her political class during the GEJ Foundation Democracy Dialogue, 2023 series with the theme: “Breaking New Grounds in Democracy – Development Nexus in Africa”.

His Majesty Atuwase: “The black man is not respected across the world no matter his social and academic attainment because the world is yet to find a black nation that is excellent”.

Now, the big one: “No matter the symbol of authority on a leader, be it a crown, be it a constitutional seal or whatever, it is way important that the people and the interest of the people to be governed are carried along”.

What is happening in the African continent, nay the Nigerian State, in terms of governance and service delivery is appalling. While the “common man” in their droves are called upon to make sacrifices, to tighten their belts, those in authority are growing fat and adding more weight and living large at the expense of the people.

Let Nigeria not wait until the Arab Spring, the Burkina Faso Revolt, and the recent Kenya youth and civil society uprising to replay itself and inflame her relatively peaceful and calm environment.

The consequences of such uprising would be better imagined than experienced. Those who have the courage to speak to power with decorum on national issues that are threatening the peace and security of the Nigerian state should be taken seriously and applauded. Their advice should be taken with candour and long-lasting solutions proffered to arrest the looming crises in the country.

Braeyi Ekiye, Publisher, EnvironmentWatch, writes from Yenagoa, Bayelsa State

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