After the hurricane: Buhari can’t sweep this mess alone

well-motivated or well-equipped, cannot be expected to sweep the resulting social, political, security and economic mess on his own; not even with an abundance of goodwill, ample resources and a carefully chosen team. Indeed, even as the goodwill is there, the resources are very meagre and he is yet to constitute his team, the task […]

well-motivated or well-equipped, cannot be expected to sweep the resulting social, political, security and economic mess on his own; not even with an abundance of goodwill, ample resources and a carefully chosen team. Indeed, even as the goodwill is there, the resources are very meagre and he is yet to constitute his team, the task of cleaning up and rebuilding this looted, ransacked and wrecked nation of ours requires the efforts of all of us. More daunting is the creeping realisation that we have not even seen the full extent of the devastation yet, despite the best efforts of the disaster assessment team, otherwise known as “the transition committee”.
True to his campaign promise of making security his first priority, Buhari has started by going to our immediate neighbours (Niger, Chad and Cameroun) and sending his second-in-command to the Sudan, because these are part of the theatre of the Boko Haram conflict, and are also victims of its murderous excesses, whose support we require to deny this vicious gang room for manoeuvre. He is currently attending the G-7 meeting in Germany hoping, it would appear, to convince the world’s wealthiest nations to help with our fight against the terrorists as well as with ways to turnaround our economy in an inclusive manner. We shall soon have a clearer picture of his immediate agenda and the “change team”. However, he can only do so much.
The next set of change agents we hope will be there for him are the Senators and Members of the two chambers of the National Assembly, being sworn-in today. Would these legislators change from being mere drainpipes of our meagre resources, and distinguish themselves by honourably representing us?  Would they initiate and pass the required laws without being “settled”? Would they agree to more realistic remunerations, allowances and privileges? Would they even sit for the minimum number of days required by the Constitution? Would they eschew corruption and running after contracts, licences and plots to really focus on “representing” us, and carrying out effective oversight? How would they go about changing the mindsets of their constituents who may come looking for financial assistance? How can they make it clear to their supporters that they do not execute anything or give out contracts but are only there to make laws and ensure effective governance? Perhaps they should start thinking of having a clear “legislative contracts” with the citizenry. Whatever they do, they have to ensure that the changes we need see the light of day.
Another arm of government that requires change if it is to facilitate the change we are clamouring for is our Judiciary. It is not under the President and is supposedly independent of any political party. Would it also accept “change” and become more efficient in dispensing justice and help in the fight against corruption? Can it heal itself of that ailment? Most judicial officers are honourable, but how would the Judiciary deal with the many bad eggs within it?  It would have to stop shielding the big thieves who can afford expensive lawyers, and stop giving ridiculous judgements in favour of the highest bidders, and issuing “perpetual injunctions” against investigating or arresting the rich and the powerful. When people know they can buy judgements they have no incentive to behave properly. If the judges themselves know they could be asked questions regarding the sources of their sudden wealth, and to pay taxes on them, maybe we would start getting somewhere. Would Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission (ICPC) be up to the task?
The Nigeria Police is another wahala. It is true that a people get the police they deserve; we do not fear committing crimes because we know we can bribe our way out. The police in turn get to behave as if anyone that is unfortunate enough to come in contact with them must part with something, guilty or not. Even if you are reporting some crime or suspicious activity you may have to “oil the wheel of justice”. Undoubtedly, there are many fine officers in the Force, and I can count many as friends I can vouch for. However, the vast majority may need to be re-trained, reoriented or shown the way out.  They need to be deployed to fight crime, and not just to guard VIPs. They also need to stop the habit of renting out policemen as security details to crooks. Change cannot be something abstract.
Which reminds me of some serious joke a friend sent me about a Pastor unlucky enough to meet a team of policemen on the highway. They wanted “something” from him but he was not prepared to “cooperate”. So they asked for his “patikulas”, and he gave them all the relevant papers. They were correct and up to date. Seeing he was proving “stubborn” they asked him to open the bonnet of the car. After a close scrutiny of the chassis number against what was on the papers they noticed that the letter U was written in such a way that it could be mistaken for the letter V. That was all that the policeman needed to shout “stolen vehicle!”
Sensing trouble, even though he knew he has not committed any offence, the Pastor called the Officer-in-Charge and introduced himself as a Priest, to which the officer relied “Oga, leave that Pastor thing jare. In any case, if you be Pastor where is your Bible?” When the priest promptly produced one, the officer said “Oya, read Mathew 5:25-26 to me.” The incredulous Pastor opened the passage and read: “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to a judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown in prison. I tell you the truth; you may not get out until you have paid the last penny.” Needless to add, even though he knew the chap was conveniently quoting the passage out of context, the man of God quickly made an “offering” of N1,000 to his newly found “preacher”. The officer said, “Now, go in peace, and argue no more.” On a deserted highway, or in the night it does not make sense to argue that you voted Buhari, who has promised “change”, just give them the change in your pocket and be on your way.
The moral of this story (though meant as a joke) is that any real change must involve judicial and policing reforms, spelling out to, and educating, the citizens on their rights and the limits of arresting powers, to check abuses and convenient distortions and misinterpretations by law by those in uniform. Petty corruption at these levels would influence people’s perception of official commitments to change more than any pronouncements and radio jingles. 
The All Progressives Congress (APC) as the ruling party must lead the way in motivating all of us to change our ways, in our homes, schools, working places and even while driving or going about our daily businesses. There is a limit to which we can leave everything to our leaders, expecting them to perform miracles. Let them concentrate on dealing with the official mess Jonathan and his cabal left behind. So even as Buhari, Osinbajo, his ministers, the service chiefs, the legislature and the Judiciary, and hopefully an efficient and effective SGF, we must support them by changing our ways. We must seize the time, and this small window of opportunity.