I have always said it. The insecurity in Nigeria is the result of our individual attitude, behaviour, action or inaction to all aspects of our lives. We have come a long way of many wrongs, and if change or consolidation of governments during elections is to right our many wrongs, then we need to change our ways.
One of the wrongs we need to change outright is the encouragement of rampant laziness, at every level of the hierarchies of life and those of leadership, from the family to the highest level of government. And we know how we missed many points in child upbringing, letting the kids to do so many wishes that took out the senses in them and eventually we become their slaves.
Well that is for the kids of the rich some will say. But for the kid of the poor, it is, sometimes, worse. In their case it is even neglect, abandon and even disowning. The street kids and the almajiri syndrome is the gravest at the moment. Those who derail the debate on reform are agents of the selfserving.
They should be checked and warned. They are the nation’s longterm liabilities. It will not be solved if we don’t address the roots of the problem: parental ownership of, and care for, their kids, good upbringing and good formal and informal training, all to be reinforced by the relevant law, may be the CRA.
This is because any attempts from above to take-on the stems in the stead of the roots will always come with strong suspicion from the grassroots, especially from the culprits, the accomplice and the guilty of child abuse, neglect and traffics.
They are like “want to use western ideas to mislead us on, and spoil, our children.” Look at how much we disagree on the recent FGN’s purport to ban the almajiri issue. So we need to take them from the roots, from the family, community
That is why the campaign for child rights and the implementation and part-implementation of the Child Rights Act (CRA) of 2003 is proving difficult for the FGN and some state governments in all zones of the country. it has been a futile efforts of huge waste of resources, and we care less because we a wasteful nation.
We need a strong system of coordinated of law enforcement manned by the honest, hardworking, sincere and responsible agents of the law to get culprits sue the custodians of children for any of neglect, abandon, abuse and traffics. The teams should include dedicated civil society groups and NGOs.
Trafficking is last because it relies on the previous. Where can a trafficker find a cared-for child to take away? It is an individual responsibility parents must take and we can see how individual persons, opinion and interest punish us even as a government, for their selfish ends in this country.
How can a national government give a directive or policy statement and one person or groups stand bold to say ‘NO’? I just know that the RUGA plan suspension isn’t for the protests. It can’t be. Not the PMB I know. It would be a huge national ridicule. The insecurity sponsors tried many times to shake him and the government all his first years to no avail. Rats can’t.
It is only possible in Nigeria. Across the border in Niger, a citizen cannot be so arrogant in the freedom of expression or opinion as it is so cheap and easy in Nigeria. And in the same country, may be same individuals will say the almajiri or the herder has no right to care or settlement wherever they want. God must be the most merciful and most patience with this thing called Nigerian human brand.
And then the utilisation of the scarce resources disposed to governments, particularly state governments. There is so much to do and there is little incentive for even the strongest will to do. We have asked for, and got, new governments. But we seem to care less how those we elected will do it. We have loads of expectations for them to do. Yet we don’t care how they can get the means to do that.
One way they can enhance their delivery is to take the only true but hated way: to cut on recurrents. This is offensive because it touches the direct interest of all political office holders who cannot do with their monthly pay only. That monthly pay that most of us think is too much for them; it is not enough for their loads of interests choked by same us.
But then cutting recurrents is right, true and perhaps the only option. It is the only immediate means by which to start off. Governors need PMB’s resistance skills and patience: carpet their requests and ignore their rants. It is the only way. Crooked people need crooked ways.
In many cases, such recurrents go to the stupid triviality of human development: making loopholes for persons to continue to rely on public funds for the only reason they are associates, relations, boys or colleagues of those in charge of government. They include many with good jobs, enviable jobs.
It is wrong. It remains wrong. It is cheat. Many more Nigerians are patient with small or no jobs. It is not in their character to overburden governments. God will bless their lives and get them the best of many contents.
Political adverts are back. But maybe that is as a result of natural cause of economic things that the FGN policies are informing. Some of us deny the progress still. But it is true. Anything bad previously but retaking form now must be of changed face. It is the new way of doing things.
Infact most of those poladverts I see in Daily Trust largely from the north and northerners are non-state-sponsored. They are mainly sponsored by a business head, group of friends, former classmates and associates, congratulating remarkable ascension of theirs to public fame or limelight by appointment or election. We are changing. But we need more change in many areas.
That is a huge development from the current economic policies. Thanks to PMB’s example, influence and leadership. Thanks to the Vice President and the many good men working for the interest of all. Their immense services have taken control of the immodest way poladverts were rolled out every day at the cost of the state in the past. I am happy for the press. I am happy for the country.
But we still have some work to do with some related money-hunt-habits. Take the big political billboards congratulating a governor, or the party shops and stands opened at junctions, roundabouts and other strategic locations seeking the attention of the principal.
It is okay if they are erected out of passion or loyalty or love for party or governor. It is fine. But they are not, in most cases. They are mere outlets for getting money through followup courtesies and cheap sycophancy for public money. It is often tact to waylay the principal for an upcoming proposal or expression of contract interest.
Again, if the contract or proposal is for the interest of the public there is no problem. But then, experience has shown that most of them are just aimed at the getting the money and once released, the work is hardly done; it may be half-done or poorly done.
Anyway, anyhow, they are shortchanging the public. It is a way of taking money for no return of accruing value. It is criminal and haraam. We should find those involved and send them to football academies to learn to get up to professional levels and play for Euromillion clubs. Nigerian cannot afford their kind of ambit-money
Last week, the labour council asked governors who said cannot pay the new minimum wage to stop charting planes for their travels. It is right. It is another area to look at. It is painful when as a proud aide of HE, your wife hears you are not on the entourage this time.
But you will be on the next, one with the furthest distance and more days to spend in, say, Abuja. It has to be rotational in order to help HE meet up> when he does, your walk by him will be taller, prouder.
Cutting down unnecessary travels, size of delegation on travels and the purpose of such travels are all matters that our governors – at least those we have already seen the result of their consciences (God bless them) – should consider. It will go a distance in bits to reduce cost of public expenditure.
Unfortunately it is an invite to hatred. The bulk of the problem is part of the followership. We see governance as selfserving. They don’t believe a governor can be selfless so why should they be? But that is bad. It is possible for a governor or any political office holder to be selfless.
What we often envy and accuse them for is the privilege of office, which they cannot share with you, no matter the place you want to take it. It is called executive privilege and it is from God – halaal to the roots. God bless the four HEs so far who have started on a good not. Please help them to be.
It is time you and yours faithfully change heart and begin to see our public servants with new eyeglasses. There are many of good persons we now have all over who are determined to effect change with much difference, with ideas of their own. Let them be. Do not corrupt them. Stay away. Let them work for the millions they don’t know.
It should touch the conscience of all of us who have personals with public officials to desist from pushing them to do wrong. If it is the public we have brought them to do serve, let them do so.
Remove your interest from both the process and the resources of good governance. This is a public appeal to the ‘well-connected.’ Please stop it.
Hassan Alhaji Hassan can be contacted on 08032829772/08050551220 (text only with full names and address)a[email protected]
The views expressed in this article are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect WikkiTimes’ editorial stance.
