Between Kwankwaso and Afenifere’s weird logic

ARG, a group specialized in executing the hatchet job of their paymasters under the guise of a larger Yoruba group, lost its cool against the person of Gov. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano State for calling against the amendment of the 1999 Constitution.Nigeria under the present administration is drifting into frightening abyss. Under this government, […]

ARG, a group specialized in executing the hatchet job of their paymasters under the guise of a larger Yoruba group, lost its cool against the person of Gov. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano State for calling against the amendment of the 1999 Constitution.
Nigeria under the present administration is drifting into frightening abyss. Under this government, systemic corruption and insecurity are fast eroding the fabric that wrapped and hold the nation as one. All good governance indices/tables have placed Jonathan administration at the relegation stage.
It’s obvious that there was ulterior motive behind the recently concluded National Conference as it was a plan by the presidency to achieve the selfish agenda of tenure elongation, disunite or even divide the country and further impoverish other parts of the Nigerian nation.
Displaying the group’s crass ignorance and weird logic, the Publicity Secretary of ARG, Kunle Famoriyo, blamed Gov. Kwankwaso “and other self-seeking Nigerians for endorsing the 1999 Constitution when it suits them and calling for its amendment when it does not.” According to him, “Kwankwanso, one of those who believe the 1999 Constitution is perfect for the country, has had two reasons to call for its amendment. He changed his stance on the agitation for state police when his security aides were withdrawn by ‘order from above’ during the Kano Emirship commotion.”
Now one is compelled to demand answer to this pertinent question: Is there any place in the four corners of the 1999 Constitution where the President got the right to withdraw the security of a serving governor? It is sheer abuse of the Constitution, which the Afenifere group is gleefully glossing. It’s both saddening and pitiful that a group which should otherwise be seen as a bastion of conscience is now losing its sense of righteousness.
There is no any time in the history of Nigeria that the unity of the country is at its lowest ebb than the present administration. No anytime in the checkered history of Nigeria that security of lives of Nigerians is threatened than now. There is no time in the history of Nigeria that corruption is fully institutionalised and whistle-blowers (rather than being honoured) are seen as enemies.
We had expected that in the smuggled Constitution, we shall see a provision that slams capital punishment on corruption or defines clannishness as treason, or demands outright resignation for cluelessness, or gives life sentence to a leader under whose eyes a part of the country is ceded. No! Surprisingly, what we are getting in the new constitution is the extension of the tenure of corrupt and incompetent government.
But what are the problems of Nigeria, solution which requires a brand new constitution? Will amending or changing the present Constitution to elongate the tenure of an incompetent leader eradicate poverty, or reduce corruption or provide stable electricity across Nigeria? Can anyone show Nigerians where the present 1999 Constitution stops the president from providing security of lives and property, or where the Constitution prevent the President from rescuing the abducted Chibok girls? Any section of the 1999 Constitution that bars the president from fighting corruption? Is there any section of the Constitution that allows the president to withdraw the security of a serving governor? What section bars the opposition politicians from attending rallies?
The primary responsibility of a government is ensuring the security of lives and property. Any government that fails in achieving this important aspect shouldn’t have the temerity to seek the mandate of Nigerians through whatever means. What is honourably needed for a government that fails it’s primary responsibility is to leave power.
The Afenifere group should therefore note that good leadership does not require a new constitution. It only requires commitment, transparency, vision and the willpower. In only two years as a governor, Kwankwaso established 24 new training institutes, established North West University, created 44 Technical Schools across the 44 LGAs of the state. While the federal government is sending a few hundreds of students abroad, Kwankwaso has, so far sponsored over 2,000 students on foreign scholarship to universities across the world. Did wait for a fresh constitution to do this?
While the federal government is helping the spread of Ebola through TAN rallies, Kwankwaso need not a new Constitution to take the required measures of checking the possible outbreak of the disease in the state. In the health sector, Kwankwaso administration has achieved positive results through building new hospitals and overhauling/upgrading the existing ones. Free medical service to antenatal and emergency services are being offered, while mobile ambulance service tagged ‘Kwankwasiyya Medical Outreach’ was introduced in the state. Modern medical facilities were installed in our major hospital, just as constant supply of electricity to hospitals was made a mandatory task. What section of 1999 Constitution bars the FG from doing this at, say National Hospital?
While the federal government is making frenetic efforts to acquire foreign loan despite squandering trillions on security, Kwankwaso has so far offset about N50 billion from the N70 billion he inherited from his processor. All these were achieved by the special grace of the 1999 Constitution, under which Kwankwaso, Fashola, Akbabio and a few others are wonderfully performing.
Of this, Afenifere Renewal Group should know that tenure elongation is tantamount to elongation of incompetent leadership, insecurity, hardship and disunity.
Chinwendu, a public affairs analyst, wrote in from Apapa, Lagos