By Honest Offor
Nigeria gained the respect and admiration of advanced democracies when on March 28th with the power of the thumb; we effected a change that was uncommon in African politics. The commonsense revolution that ended the 16 years reign of the PDP was predicated on the need for change. Barely one month after that progressive change, the new party in charge, the All Progressive Congress, has shown that the only thing that has changed is the name of the party in power.
It is the same transactional politics of greed that saw 16 years of civil rule yield scant dividends that is fuelling the power sharing crisis in the ruling party. The shameful fight on the floor of the House of Representatives is about who gets what and who assumes what position. They are not concerned about the upsurge of terrorist activities in the North East, they are not worried about the violent flood that is threatening major cities, the ugly plight of internally displaced persons is not causing them any discomfort neither are they troubled by the scandalous level of unemployment in the country.
It has become clear that unless urgent and drastic citizenship action is taken, the change we voted for will be hijacked by the same elements that have held our progress by the jugular. The various interests that congregated to dislodge the PDP have drawn their daggers to carve out their share of the national cake even when it is evident that our economy is in tatters. It behooves on ordinary Nigerians whose votes conferred the legitimacy and authority on these legislatures to call their representatives to order.
Certain behavior should not be condoned on the hallowed chambers of the national assembly and when such unbecoming misdemeanors are displayed, they should be met with appropriate sanctions by the citizenry. In 2010 when the House of representative witnessed a fiasco of this sort, the key actors in that shameful debacle ought to have been sanctioned. Unfortunately, one of them has gone on to become a senator and is even nursing the ambition to become a governor. Until a member is recalled by his constituents for actions that embarrass decency, commonsense will not prevail in the way business is conducted in the National Assembly.
The point being made here is that the ruling party has so far shown that they lack the coherence to enforce the change on which premise they rode into power. It is discomfiting that nearly one month after inauguration, the new government is yet to come up with an administration that can tackle the myriads of problems facing our country. Nigerians must therefore move quickly to assert their authority as the real custodians of power and must demand from the ruling party a change in the way government is run. Citizens must prove the truism in the assertion that ‘the power of the people is stronger than the people in power’
Starting from the National Assembly, the era of fiscal profligacy and opaque handling of salaries and allowances must give way to transparency and fiscal conservatism. Nigerians must insist that financial books of the 8th Assembly should be an open secret. The era where ministers are ferried in private jets and are lodged in luxury 5 star hotels should have ended with the last administration. The new Ministers in this dispensation of change must accept to live by a different set of rules dictated by financial prudence, accountability and discipline. Governors cannot revel in opulence when civil servants and citizens are hungry. Such inhumane actions should be confronted with civil disobedience.
The duty of citizens did not end with the elections, in fact, it started with the elections. We must vigilantly guard the revolution we kick started on March 28th to ensure that it yields the positive change we desperately desire. The ruling party will do well do get its act together or be ready to face citizenship action. Time is ticking and the patience of our countrymen is waning!
© Honest Offor
offorhonest@gmail.com
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