Prof. Kathleen Okafor SAN, in this piece however avers that the weakness of demographic institutions, nepotism, ethnicism and others…may have sustained the inordinate accumulation of wealth and power which attract chronic bank debtors, semi-literates, kleptocratic contractors, political thugs, lawless political bigots to this democratic enterprise. Inevitably, our society suddenly found itself in a morass of monetary barbarism…Excerpts:
Undoubtedly, many foreign and Nigerian companies have heavily benefited from the human, financial, material and natural resources of our country. Some foreign companies like Metaverse ($63.83 billion), Google ($1135 billion), Twitter ($44.454 billion), Amazon ($928 billion), Apple ($2.450 billion), MTN (N14.1 trillion), etc. command market capitalization above the entire aggregate GDP of Africa.
However, in the current cash crunch of the country, one had expected philanthropic intervention by corporations especially those granted duty waivers, and other tax reliefs so as to stabilise the polity with at least, humanitarian food and transportation support.
One had thought that corporations had realised that they can no longer sit idle as the urgency of good political leadership continues to ravage and bedevil our business operating environment. Rather, material support by some of our heavy-duty corporations was evident at Eagle Square during the primaries where delegates were seen carting away huge materials in corporate branded bags and vehicles of one political party or another. Sadly, most corporations missed the opportunity to create goodwill and the attendant surge in their profitability.
By this recent singular non-challant attitude to the plight of the Nigerian common man, companies have been complicit with most Nigerian politicians in exhibiting and demonstrating their indifference towards our current haemorrhage from economic and political malaise which deny us of effective political leadership.
Prior to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), headed by Mr. Godwin Emefiele’s currency reform, the country had been shamelessly bedevilled by defaced dirty notes without security features to the extent that counterfeits were not easily discernible. Fortunately, the CBN’s intervention has already unleashed idle and fresh money stashed away in private houses and vaults which is needed for on-lending and for development projects.
The price or sacrifice for this momentary restructuring is the temporary but necessary inconvenience of adjustment and migration to digital platforms. This intervention, as we have seen, will give us respectable and decent currency notes, reduce high cost of production of the currencies, combat kidnapping and banditry, and above all minimise vote buying by corrupt, clueless and non-performing politicians. The populace, rich and poor, who already use sophisticated and expensive phones can then easily apply the phones to more productive transactions, than watching videos and fake news, minimise use of road transportation, stabilize the Naira and prepare the country for SME Continental trading.
Multi-dimensionally, CBN’s intervention potentially addresses microeconomic stability and vote buying for freer and fairer elections and social justice.
Constitutionally, S.14 (1) & (1c) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) on Fundamental Objectives and directive principles of state policy provides for participation of the people based on the principles of democracy and social justice”, The section restates that composition of federal institutions and state and local government agencies and the conduct of their affairs shall be carried out in such a manner as to reflect the federal character of Nigeria and the need to promote national unity to involve ethnic or other sectional groups. Likewise, recognition of the diversity of the people and the need to promote a sense of belonging and loyalty among all the peoples of the Federation are enshrined in the Constitution.
Beyond these expressed terms, a literal interpretation rather than a purposive approach has been maintained in a rather simple definition of democracy as government of the people by the people and for the people.
This aphorism represents a more casual political expression given by Abraham Lincoln, a lawyer, some 150 years ago (circa 1865). Interestingly, many articles of association of corporations have actually provided for proportional representation and social justice to accommodate minorities in governance. Also, the German formula for stakeholder’s representation has adopted a 2 (x+y) formula for corporate democratic inclusiveness. Whilst the definition remains apposite, the application of the principles remains unsatisfactory, yielding unexpected operators.
Truly, although propounded by Greek philosophers like Plato and his cohorts Aristotle and Socrates about 2500 years ago, the world still has not formulated any better form of political governance than democracy with politicians hijacking the levers and structures of democratic governance.
The demography of weak institutions, nepotism, ethnicism and unbridled religious fanaticism, money politics and atavistic capitalism has sustained the inordinate accumulation of wealth and power which attract chronic bank debtors, semi-literates, kleptocratic contractors, political thugs, lawless political bigots to this democratic enterprise. Inevitably, our society suddenly found itself in a morass of monetary barbarism.
The weapons which our bourgeoisie used to fell feudalism and colonialism to the ground are now turned against the bourgeoisie itself. The generality of the working and trading classes has already been destabilised by poverty and political masonry.
The current classes of workers and employees exist only so long as they find work and so long as their labour increases systemic immoral capitalism. Recent events show that multinationals, and foreign governments and institutions are not so much our problem as our native political brinkmanship, public service prebendalism, institutional decadence and regulatory ineptitude.
The misapplication of principles of democracy has made our people to continue to experience longitudinal and horizontal conversion of the functions of the State into a superintendence of government for select private individuals through monopolies, oligopolies, budget paddling, misappropriation of huge security budgets and structured authoritarian kleptocracy.
Most political elders, political have-beens, the ‘wanna-bes’, the political godfathers, who have been decimated by inflation and political exclusivity, and even many pastoralists who know the game engage in sinfully anointing evil men and women for short term and personal aggrandisement.
Presently, the present elections are now polarised between the proletariat and the thresholds of bourgeoisie. The rich and the Poor, the Political dynasties and labour classes, the enthroned men against exclusivist women. The men vegetate side by side with the rising bourgeoisie, controlling land allocations, political appointments, and our commonwealth over an illiterate, battered and pauperised populace.
Gradually but consistently, stubborn historical facts disperse and delude us of the mortal effects of unimpeded impunity, gross immorality, disruptive capitalism on democracy and practice of real federalism.
Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels in their book No: 20, on the communist Manifesto, foresaw succinctly our present predicament, thus: “that universal laziness has overtaken our systems as the bourgeoisies’ society ought long ago to have gone to the dogs through sheer idleness”. Rather, most of our politicians still find cheap political popularity and unwarranted societal relevance and recognition. How? Why?
Our executive structures are but committees for managing the common affairs of the whole bourgeoisies. Indeed, the Nigerian bourgeoisies have pitilessly ricocheted and torn under the motley feudal ties that bound man to his natural superiors leaving no other interest between man and man than naked self-interest, immoral capitalism, and callous cash payments. We have all been resolved into their personal worth in exchange value. They have veiled political and religious freedoms with shameless brutal exploitation, bequeathing our social musings by subjugating physicians, lawyers, scientists, etc. into underpaid wage labourers.
All we need to do now, particularly the women, is to formulate immediate creative means for one or two weeks to feed the family till after the elections for normalcy to return. Even spouses who hitherto had hidden cash in mattresses can now keep the money in banks and password their phones. Presumably, we can have a level playing field for the rich and poor politicians and more credible election of our representatives.
The urgency of Now is that Women and workers have become two critical groups who must strongly collaborate in the forthcoming elections to uproot enthroned Kleptocratic, corrupt and inept political structures.
To vote wisely, women and workers MUST be aware of the utmost urgency of the moment using the following checklist to vote for the next President, Governors, Senators, e.t.c.
The President must be the father of the North, South, East, West and all minorities. So much work needs to be done, and fast. He must: a. Preserve order and security, b. Unify all Nigerians, c. Banish tribalism and nepotism, promote entrepreneurship, d. Act in the bonafide interest of the country, e. Provide effective de-tribalised leadership, f. Be sensitive to the feelings of all tribes and people, g. Be impartial and objective, h. Maintain an effective working relationship with the Legislature and Judiciary, i. Be approachable and listen to all tribes, j. Ensure that new Legislators are properly inducted and oriented, k. Project a good image of the country, especially globally, l. Be firm in decision making, yet, not arrogant, m. Develop Rolling Plans, n. Ensure that Governors act honestly and practice good governance, o. Have sound knowledge and experience of the work of the President, p. Formulate an annual work plan for the Federal Executive Council against agreed objectives and goals and play an active role in setting agenda for the country, q. Demonstrate Business judgement and Industry knowledge, r. Harness the time and resources of technocrats, s. Maintain close relationships with international and local stakeholders, t. Honesty, no conflict of his/her duty and interest, u. Ensure prosecution of future corrupt officers.
Undoubtedly, Nigerian women have suffered enough in the hands of politicians although they possess the wisdom and political sagacity to elect better leaders.
In 1929, our women forced the colonial Government to consider proper taxation for the common good of the people. Women can do more again. The time has come for women across all parties, to negotiate their involvement in economic and political spaces for the good of the Nation.
In pre-independence days and paucity of missionary churches, women travelled 5 kilometers daily to attend church services and bush markets. They can ferry themselves and voters to the polling booths during the next elections. Cash or no cash. They can exchange their aso-ebi, jewellery for transport and food.
Mohandas Ghandi once published some ‘Social Sins’, as Wealth without work, pleasure without conscience; knowledge without character, commerce without morality, worship without sacrifice and Politics without principle.
Indeed, wealth without work seems to be the order of the current politicians and is responsible for the crave for political power.
Women must engage the political space to do things differently. The next president has to attack corruption and mismanagement of corporations, tax evasion, petroleum subsidy, e.t.c. Only responsible representation can make Nigeria work again.
Women and men must ensure that people vote. Use your cars to transport voters to the booths. Provide food for your communities.
Women Leaders, Town Hall Presidents. Prepare to participate in the next elections. This sacrifice is part of our worship of God. We urge President Buhari to ensure credible elections so that we can forgive him easily of his mistakes in the past eight (8) years.
Prof. Kathleen Okafor, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Lectures at Baze University, Writes from Abuja.