The Years Eaten By The Locusts In The Nigerian Polity

Rev. Fr. Ferdinand Okafor

Democracy in Nigeria from 1999 till date can rightly be regarded as the years eaten by the locusts. These locusts are the dubious political leaders who came in sheep clothing but are ravenous wolves devouring the national cake like a termite devouring wood. Now the time for change has come. The change we need in Nigeria today include a drastic reduction in the cost of maintaining those in the three tiers of government, the salaries of the members of Senate and House of Representative. It is unthinkable that in a country were the actual labour forces of the nation (those who make things happen) are scouting for a minimum wage of 18,000 naira per month (216, 000 naira per annum) even though most Governors are claiming that they will not be able to pay unless the Federal Allocation is increased, Senators and members of the House of Representative are receiving fabulous salaries, 25 per cent of the nation's budget. Where is the justice and equality then?
The last administration was indeed wasted years. Despite the numerous lootings carried out by the members of the House of representative, yet cars that were purchased at the sum of 4.6 million naira each for the members of the House of Representative were auctioned for N850, 000 for outgone members of the House of Representative. What is the rationale behind the sale of the cars? Why were the cars retained as government property or even if they had to sold, why they not sold to the common Nigerians? If those who looted for four or eight years could be given such privilege, then what is the privilege given to those who have served as a civil servants for many years? Indeed, our leaders take delight in wasting the country's resources.
No doubt, the causes of discord in the world are: economic inequalities, bad leadership and quest for power. These trio viruses have eaten the Nigerian unity. In order to restore harmony there must be a downward review and not consolidation of the allowances and privileges of the legislators and ministers alike by Revenue Allocation Mobilization and Allocation and Fiscal Commission in order to bridge the economic inequality that exists between the legislators and the people they are suppose to serve. The Greek philosopher, Plato, maintained in his republic that to promote civil peace and good government, social inequality must be minimized. We must therefore reduce the social inequality that exists among us.
Besides, the Nigerian political system has become an avenue where people who are illiterate and incapacitated are steering the nation in their own interest and giving instructions to citizens who are far enlightened and educated than they are. In short, members of the Senate and House of representative should be people who are well educated and groomed in the acts and principles of law making. Not riff raffs, looters and business tycoons who do not know the difference between moving a motion and passing a bill. The political system in Nigeria needs serious and urgent sanitization. In short we need to be delivered from wastage and self-interest as a nation. This is part of the change we need. One of the bills to be proposed and passed into law is that those who aspire to Senatorial position and House of representative must be vast in law-making. In short, as Plato suggested, the state should be governed by the philosopher kings. These philosopher kings in our own context are those who have the wherewithal to move this nation forward both morally and intellectually.
In order that this administration will not be eaten up by locusts, the President must choose ministers who are selfless and ready to serve the nation. He must wake up to tackle the two tragedies that are troubling this nation: the tragedies of bombing and kidnapping. While in the Northern part of the Country, bombing and Boko haram crises are holding sway, in the Southern part it is the issue of robbery and kidnapping. These are all issues of threat to human life. The president needs to come up forcefully before the problems become outrightly out of control. Not coming to tell us that terrorism is common to all the nations of the world. This is not what Nigerians want to hear. He should rather tackle the problem from the root by providing Security in the nation and at the boarders where most of these weapons are shipped into the country. Otherwise he will be giving Nigerians the impression that he is incapable to deliver the dividend of democracy especially with regard to security. Security is one of the basic needs of every human being. What Nigerians are asking for are not extra-ordinary things but basic human needs.
The president should therefore not disappoint Nigerians who because of the confidence they have in him voted for him massively. In order to succeed in this task he needs not to be afraid to lose friends who are not ready to make sacrifice. To fail to provide basic needs for Nigerians is to have failed in his administration.