The last few weeks have exposed the intolerant, draconian and un-democratic stances of some of the nation’s once hardest critics and acclaimed progressives who brandished the name of Chief Obafemi Awolowo as a political slogan, ideology and symbol tho create relevance in political space, shouted to the high heavens against dictatorship and sought and got the support of several citizens as well as western liberal capitals in cash and kind in the name of struggle for the entrenchment of democracy in Nigeria .
Facing imminent economic failures and weak social cohesion added to unbridled political nepotism never witnessed in the history of the Nigerian nation, the Tinubu administration has gone crazy in the last few weeks exhibiting tendencies reminiscence of authoritarianism and totalitarianism never witnessed even during the reign of General Abacha, a regime which they have demonized since their days in NADECO.
When the senate of the federal republic under its worst leadership since 1999 decided to suspend Abdul Ningi over allegations regarding the 2024 budget padding, which remains unattended to, it was clear that the upper chamber has further sunk into all time abyss and many more terrible things are to be expected. The sacking of Ali Ndume is just the second in this series, but what is unfortunate and revealing was the message read on the floor of senate by Senator Akpabio, ‘the uncommon president’ of the senate that Senator Ndume has been asked by the Ganduje led leadership of the APC to resign from the party and look elsewhere since he is criticizing President Tinubu. This is the worst statement coming from the senate and a ruling party since the return to civil rule in 1999.
So President Tinubu who has criticized everybody since the reign of the military until the PDP fumbled between 2011 to 2015 which gave rise to the alliance of the Southwest and North that saw its defeat and the ascendency of the newly formed APC, a development which millions of Nigerians thought was a remarkable breakthrough in the emergence of democratic governance and resolution to the ugly problems the citizens were facing, does not want to criticized now that he is on the saddle?
I thought President Obasanjo was the worst civil dictator that the nation’s civil rule system would ever have until I came face to face with President Tinubu in the last few months. I have no doubt in my mind that the way the government is going, it is likely to be transited in 2027 no matter what they do unless radical and fundamental changes in the behavior and attitude of those who call the shots are achieved. I can see from the way majority of the citizens are feeling that all that is needed is an organized political class to provide leadership and the rest will be history.
From the suspension of Senator Ningi to the apparently secured ruling of the apex court against a clear constitutional provision on state-local government account to the sacking of Senator Ndume and the senate’s bill on creation of a caricature called the local government elections agency, one thing is clear, the rulers in Aso Rock are hell-bent in reconfiguring the nation’s political architecture at the cost of the constitution which is the root of not just a democratic system but importantly the federal system of government.
As a student of political science, I do know very well that the constitution of any nation is more of a political document than it is legal. A constitution is comprised of primarily political, social and economic statements expressed in legal vocabulary, simple! Sections 162 of the Nigerians constitution creates accounts across the tiers of government. 162 sub 6 clearly and unambiguously created the account which the Supreme Court is selfishly bent on eliminating.
In political reality, no court can rule against the provision of the constitution. The courts can only interpreted matters or provisions that are unclear. State-local government joint accounts is express and unambiguous. Why should the judiciary play this affront against the grand norm? This judgement in my view is unconstitutional and has to be disregarded and vacated. The apex court can make laws only by interpreting ambivalences not redefining and disregarding clear provisions.
This judicial ambush is a clear statement of what to expect between now and 2027 and I believe the onus is on state Governors to challenge the president and the nation’s central authorities in equal proportion otherwise the civil rule system is in jeopardy. This ambush is a calculated attempt to abuse the constitution and forcefully take over the role of the legislature to fulfill the desperate ambition of the Tinubu regime.
The same Lateef Fagemi who is the Attorney General today, I understand represented the Governors forum to secure a No! judgment from the same apex court when President Buhari desirous of same situation signed an executive order to abolish the SLGJA. What has changed now or what new reasons did the supreme court found that has altered the scenario and reality? The National Assembly leadership told the world that throughout the constitution amendment circus show between 2007 and 2023, it had passed the financial autonomy bill for local governments but for the refusal of concurrence by two-thirds of state house of assembly denied effectuation.
The meaning of this affront therefore is where the legislature and the executive arms have failed to change a constitutional order, the judiciary is the bulwark to do the dirty job. This is as illegal as it is unconstitutional because it has gone further to convince all well- meaning citizens that the judiciary in particular and legal profession in general may be responsible for God-forbid any eventuality that such crass irresponsibility and abuse of constitutional order may bring to the nation.
If responsible Nigerians and the Governors of the 36 states would allow this to happen, it is certain that the so called local government elections agency that senate is contemplating will see the light of the day and thus a return to centrism and collapse of the federal system in Nigeria. This is what the Tinubu government is working towards. A president who was said to have fought against military dictatorship for the entrenchment of democracy is unfortunately undermining democracy in a manner that is more injurious and dangerous.
Agreeing with President Tinubu is the beginning of wisdom we are told, otherwise how can the senate and the APC interdict one of its central characters simply because he spoke his mind about the way the government is run and the difficulties that Nigerians are facing? This same Ali Ndume was Akpabio’s campaign Director General when he contested to become the president of senate. It is the same Akpabio who who is shamelessly announcing his sack in complete disregard of what the nation and the rest of the world would see and say about it. It means that only wretched of the earth like me can shout and complain about misrule.
The Tinubu regime and the APC are absolutely sinking deeper and it is unlikely they would realize how dangerous it is until it is too late. Nigerians are angry! This is not an imagination of the opposition but a subsisting reality. It is the reality which everyone except the few who sit in the corridors of power know. Like Dele Momodu said, truth and sensibility evade those who live in the villa. This what President Jonathan suffered due to the recalcitrance of his mostly self serving lieutenants and it appears President Tinubu and his team are going the same path.
Nigerians cannot be trembled upon with impunity as those who are in power seem to be doing. This is just a year and a few months into office, there is enough time for the governments to change and do the right thing if it wants to avert the anger of Nigerians. The economic and social difficulties the people are facing is being mixed with political blunder of the few privileged. This is dangerous to a government that claims to serve the majority.
Do not treat any criticism as mere ranting of the opposition class. No! Majority of the people are often in opposition the moment the election is fought and won. This is natural and should not be seen as a new thing. Very soon, sentiments of region would set in. Muslims across the country are laughing at themselves over their doggedness in bringing on board a so-called Muslim-Muslim ticket. Their lives are worst off than when non Muslims were on the saddle.
I can see what the Tinubu government is trying to achieve. Emasculate every force, impoverish the people and create new political dynamics. Can he succeed? I doubt, not even now that he is pale and old. The government’s economic think-tank is failing by the day, the kabu-kabu economic policies that critics are talking about is further deepening the prospects of getting better. The IMF is beginning to distance itself from the economic policies of the government. This is what the Washington consensus group does after you swallow their bitter pills.
The Naira is among if not the worst performing currency in the world. The Sefa in French West Africa is a more stable and stronger currency that is why even the menial labour that crossed borders to Nigeria are better-off in their home countries as such aren’t coming as they used to anymore. About two years ago I was in Rwanda and when my colleagues changed a hundred dollars, they received 120,000 Rwandan Francs. At that time a hundred dollars in black market in Nigeria would have fetched about 75,000 Naira. Today, a hundred dollars will go for between 150,000 to 160,000 Naira. What a progress in such a short period of time? This can’t continue definitely.
I am convinced that the economic policy makers of this government are deploying a trial and error strategy. This is the reality that is bringing untold hardships to the people and there is a limit to which this experiment can go. I share Senator Ndume’s views that the President is cut-off from the reality of what is happening in the country by those around him. The times are hard and the road is rough.
Dictatorship cannot stand at thus material time I am optimistic. It is easier to fall as a dictator than as a democrat. President Tinubu and his men are confusing the two.
