Our hopeless democracy

Farouk Lawan did my head in.  I cannot think about the matter without getting terribly angry.  Two Igbo-speaking friends of mine were on AIT the other day discussing the same matter.  One of them advised Farouk to go and commit suicide! The other took the matter slam bang into the realm of tribalism, by saying […]

Farouk Lawan did my head in.  I cannot think about the matter without getting terribly angry.  Two Igbo-speaking friends of mine were on AIT the other day discussing the same matter.  One of them advised Farouk to go and commit suicide! The other took the matter slam bang into the realm of tribalism, by saying that he was not surprised that Farouk claimed to have reported to Hon Adams Jagaba and the IG of Police, that Mr Otedola was trying to bribe him (that Farouk only reported to northerners).  I looked up Jagaba and realised he must be from the Christian parts of Kaduna State.  In fact, he got his BA from ECWA Seminary!  But when things are like this, all hope seems to be lost, and every extremity is justified.  I placed a call to the programme anchor, telling her that what my friends said were quite outrageous.  But in no time, I had the same murderous feeling myself. What was Farouk thinking, for crying out loud?!

This Farouk saga, is the point at which all hope is lost in any redemptive possibilities from democracy as a system of government. Imagine.  The House of Representatives initiated a probe of the Capital Market the other day, only for the Committee head to be indicted for demanding a bribe.  They reconvened and removed him, appointing who?  Another corrupt Representative…  Then this too.  The last hope of Nigerians for a bit of redemption, was anchored on the fuel subsidy probe.  In January, most Nigerians had united – for the very first time – ignoring the attempts by government to divide us along religious, class and tribal lines.  We had fought the government to the ground over the issue of fuel subsidy.  The argument from the people was that a proper investigation should be carried out with regards to what was then believed to be a payment of N1.3 trillion as fuel subsidy to companies which the government itself said were a ‘Cabal’.

It is important to note that dishonesty will usually catch up with its perpetrators.  The same people who peddled the word ‘Cabal’ in the dying days of Yar’adua, were the same ones who dusted up the word and used it to describe their own friends in January.  Government sponsored adverts in the newspapers, radio and television, telling us that Easterners and Southerners do not care about our protests, since the rest of us had been enjoying cheap fuel at their expense.  Government showed a great deal of mindlessness and irresponsibility, by approving advertisements which sought to create a class uprising, by telling very poor people that anyone who owned a car was benefiting at their expense.  Those in government were well aware that they had themselves barricaded with all our policemen, civil defence and army, guarding them day and night.  But they are mistaken.  For a day is coming like no one has ever imagined.

People came out on the streets all the same.  Rich and poor.  Professors and peasants.  Muslims and Christians.  Young and old. Nigerian people said in January 2012, NEVER AGAIN!  The House of Reps took up the initiative and commenced an investigation, which showed very quickly, that what was paid out by government to those it called Cabal, was actually N2.5 trillion and not N1.3 trillion.  Invariably, the prime movers of the petroleum market deregulation had meant to hoodwink Nigerians by understating the figure.  For once they were able to get us all to agree to ‘full deregulation’, there would never have come a point where any proper investigation would be done with regards to the petroleum sector.  It would be a case of ‘let bygones be bygones’.

For ordinary Nigerians, it was a singular opportunity to slow down the unbridled spate of thievery for which the country had become world-famous.  The corruption in Nigeria had become nothing but mental illnesses.  We watch daily as public servants and private sector operatives alike, go on acquiring property and monies that they do not need and cannot spend.  The tempo of corruption has been raised even further under the current administration.  Perhaps because of the negative rhetoric which heralded the Goodluck government into office; that nonsense about a certain Yar’adua ‘Cabal’, about Turai stealing N40billion, all the nonsense about the north not wanting Jonathan to be president, about Muslims not wanting a Christian, about ‘it’s awa oyel’, the justification for unstoppable brigandage by a few powerful people – and ex-militants – from South-South Nigeria, has culminated into an era of mindless stealing like never before.  Since Yar’adua fell ill and Oga Jonathan took over, a few people started stealing in Trillions, no longer millions or billions.  Afterall, it is their ‘oyel’.   Nigeria has seen the acquisition of private jets like never before, even as excruciating poverty has increased like never before.

It is with all these nagging our minds that Nigerians trooped out in January and united like never before, to tell the Jonathan government not to unleash neo-colonialism on us.  Yar’adua had stayed the hands of the powerful western countries, had refused to increase the burden of governance on Nigerians.  But under Jonathan we saw a callous approach towards ‘deregulating’ us all out of existence.  As we speak, the same government is finalizing plans to ensure Nigerians pay top dollar, for non-existent electricity consumption.   In all this, Farouk positioned to do what they know how to do best in the National Assembly.  Nigerians should now categorically conclude that NOTHING GOOD can come out of Nigeria’s legislature – or is it the whole democracy?  As you read this, your representative, senator, governor, are busy mindlessly feathering their own nests with monies they could never spend in three lifetimes!

How could Farouk Lawan have deceived us all?    How could he have hoped to make money off the sweat and blood, of those who protested in Nigeria, and those who have died doing just that, in January 2012, and in times past?  What is this thing about Nigerians – and especially our politicians – about acquiring monies just to keep boosting their empty egos?  Why did Farouk help in completing the cycle of corruption, by proving that north and south, east and west, young and old, we are all fixated on the looting of the commonwealth?  What hope is there now, about our so-called democracy?  Why not scrap the damned democracy and think of another system of government?  Why would we keep doing things the same way, while expecting the results to be any different?  Is that not what they call insanity?  Why would anyone have any hope in Project Nigeria – a bastardised project, daily subjected to banality by the useless people who rule it?  Walahi, Farouk Lawan was the limit.  So much hope, so deep a betrayal.  I cannot get the image of his diminutive self, dodging about on Aso Drive in the unholy hours of the night, pocketing wads of cash.

With this insane quest for unusable wealth, no wonder people certify unfit planes to fly and kill dozens in Nigeria! Absolutely let down! Hopeless Democracy!