Leadership, integrity, sacrifice

However, the pleasure one should derive from this economic bright light is missing because it is growth without development. Nigeria still is a very poor country with almost 70% of the population living below the poverty line while a smaller number live in opulence. In June 2014, the World Bank President classified Nigeria among the […]

However, the pleasure one should derive from this economic bright light is missing because it is growth without development. Nigeria still is a very poor country with almost 70% of the population living below the poverty line while a smaller number live in opulence. In June 2014, the World Bank President classified Nigeria among the world’s five extreme poor countries.
In spite of the 75% growth of our economy the majority of Nigerians still live without electricity supply and potable water. We have the highest number of out of school children in the world and our maternal mortality and morbidity rates also remain one of the highest in the world. We still contend with potholes on our roads. ‘No Nigerian city has potable water for up to 30% of inhabitants. South Africa has a population of 52 million people compared to Nigeria’s 170 million. South Africa’s GDP per capita is however $7,508 compared to $1,555 for Nigeria according to 2012 statistics. South Africa’s electricity production is 40,000 megawatts and will double by 2025 to continue feeding its large industrial base while in Nigeria; we are currently struggling to produce 3,000 megawatts.
 Another devastating reality is the insecurity we are living with as the insurgency that is ravaging the Northeast zone takes its toll on lives and property. More than 200 of our girls were abducted from their school in Chibok, Borno State by Boko Haram insurgents. They are still missing. We are praying for their safe return and saying it loud, #Bring Back Our Girls. Nigeria now has the highest number of internally displaced people in the world. They are homeless, hungry, angry, alienated and traumatised.
Several factors hinder our development efforts. One is leadership deficit and another is high level of corruption in all critical sectors of life. Our leaders do not give priority to achieving the needs of the majority of citizens. They concentrate on dipping their hands into public treasury, perpetrating monumental scams, stealing more money than they will ever spend in their life time and leaving the majority to eke out a living on the periphery. Our anti corruption agencies have been politicized and remain toothless bull dogs.
On leadership deficit, let’s compare one of our Governors with former US President Bill Clinton. Recently, the Governor of Akwa Ibom state Mr. Godswill Akpabio decided to give himself a pension allowance that will enable him to continue with his opulent lifestyle after office. He sent a bill to legislators to approve a mind boggling package for himself. Akpabio demanded an annual pay of N200 million at the rate of a monthly pension for life equivalent to his current salary, a 5-bedroom mansion in Abuja or in Akwa Ibom. Mr. Akpabio demanded brand new cars for as long as he lives and up to $50,000.00 per month allegedly to hire cooks, chauffeurs and security guards.
He asked for free medical services for himself and his spouse “at a sum not exceeding N100 million or an equivalent of $600,000.00. Other demands were furniture allowance of 300 per cent of annual basic salary once in every four years; yearly maintenance and fuelling of vehicle allowance of 300 per cent of annual basic salary; severance gratuity allowance of 300 per cent of annual basic salary as at the time the officer leaves office; yearly utility allowance of 100 per cent of annual salary; and entertainment allowance of 100 per cent of annual basic salary. Akpabio is not alone a few other states in Nigeria have similar laws; aimed at providing for former chief executives once they are out of office. However the Akpabio package however beat them all. It is as callous as it is self-serving. Are leaders supposed to do this to their people?
It is imperative to compare our designer leaders with the former US President Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary Clinton who told us last week that she and hubby Bill Clinton were “dead broke” after leaving the White House and “struggled” to make ends meet. “We came out of the White House not only dead broke, but in debt,” Clinton said in an interview. “We had no money when we got there, and we struggled to, you know, piece together the resources for mortgages, for houses, for Chelsea’s education. You know, it was not easy.” The couple worked hard and raised money from public speaking.
This will not happen in Nigeria. Our own leaders will move into obscene mansions built by grateful contractors with whom they colluded to inflate contract costs. They will evade taxes and promote their proxy companies to continue oil bunkering and cornering juicy contracts.
We as civil society activists are not folding our hands and wallowing in helplessness. We are mobilizing to unite and address our problem. Africans Against Corruption is asking us to sign a petition and collecting signatures to demand accountability. It observed that ‘very few profiting and stealing over US148billion a year from the millions of Africans. It outlined the cost of corruption on Africans: Substandard health and educational institutions: Poor and dangerous public and private transportation services and infrastructure. Demand for additional unofficial costs for essential goods and services by private and public sector workers. Months of delayed salaries, pensions, payment for services and goods. Corrupt public officials and the elite get away with impunity. Electoral votes don’t count. A culture where work ethic and competence are not rewarded has led to brain drain through legal and illegal migration.
Public funds used to build personal assets and as gifts and hospitality to influence personal gain. Public funds used for electoral purposes and gain. Public funds used to influence the judiciary, undermine its independence and process. Lack of public accountability.  Integrity Nigeria is mobilizing Nigerians to act! ‘It is time to demand accountability from all in positions of public trust.”
Increasingly, the level of impunity exhibited by government officials and flagrant disregard for consequences of certain actions or inactions is reminiscent of the military era: Accountability to the people was low; people considered as threats were framed up; “activists” who dared to oppose the government were hounded or exterminated; human rights were abused; public funds were embezzled and even though the country became a pariah state, these individuals got away with it”