The LEAD Project Foundation: The Next Level in Nigeria: Democracy To Dictatorsh...

The LEAD Project Foundation: The Next Level in Nigeria: Democracy To Dictatorsh...: "A dictator is a political leader that holds absolute power over a country. No one is allowed to oppose their leadership and they are...

Nigeria's #AtikulatedObi is the solution to a deeply divided society and underperforming economy

Professor Ben Nwabueze embraces His Excellency, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in a recent Visit to Enugu State, South-East Nigeria. Photo: Facebook
A keen observer of contemporary politics would easily agree that today Nigeria is increasingly divided against itself, with a partial government whose motive is soley power grips. Failure of national governance should be a huge cause for concern. Our people deserve better than this and desperately needs a new leadership that will 'confront these realities head on'. #AtikulatedObi represents this yearning gap. Today, Africa's most populous country and largest economy has now become the world's poverty capital, with mass unemployment, rising debts and delapidated infrastructure to provide work for the citizens. According to Guardian newspaper, Nigeria; The Head Statistician of the National Bureau of Statistics says there's no money to provide official data for unemployment. Investors are fleeing in large numbers due to a political climate of fear and terror. The global oil prices has become unpredictable. The country faces persistence of poverty, stagnation, insecurity and instability with 'incalculable consequences for our well-being and social cohesion' and the government of the day has become a bewildered bystander blaming previous governments instead of offering innovative solutions, while resisting the national call for the restructuring of the dysfunctional political system widely identified as the reason for bad governance and state failure-inability to achieve economic growth. Despite the imperative to develop human capital and key infrastructure for development, the government focuses on fighting yesterday's battle of resource and territorial control with major focus on resettling the herdsmen across the country, not minding the consequences on national security and prosperity. The government seems to have lost its sense of direction, now resorts to full blown dictatorship and there is a general sense of fear in the polity that the country's nascent democracy would be derailed, this could be avoided. In the words of Will Hutton; "The country needs to revitalise its economy, modernise its institutions, rewrite the contract between the members of its society and recover its self-esteem", this is the statement that #AtikulatedObi is making; a new leadership that will develop a new programme of action to put Nigeria back on its feet, while guaranteeing the 'civilising values of an inclusive society'. In the 21st century, It's amoral to run a society that excludes the majority from 'decent living standards' and a political system that is expensive, wasteful , discriminatory and dictatorial using conquering techniques to undermine the wealth-generating process and capabilities of its own citizens. The demands of today requires overhaul of the monstrous political system to address the interconnectedness of trust, participation and inclusion which #AtikulatedObi offers. #AtikulatedObi understands that a well-functioning market economy requires skilled labour, better public services including education and healthcare services, schools, training centres and world-class public infrastructure so we need a leadership that places greater  premium in these values instead of political bias, favouritism, fear and terror as we are currently witnessing. The truth is Authoritarian rule in ethnically diverse society is no longer acceptable, neither is a unitary centralised system desirable, that's the whole point. The World Economic Forum has identified global top ten risks for doing business all are evident in today's Nigeria: -Unemployment and Underemployment, -Failure of National Governance, -Energy Price Shock, -Fiscal Crisis, -Cyber attacks, -Profound Social Instability, -Failure of Financial Mechanism or Institution, -Failure of Critical Infrastructure, -Terrorist attacks; [These are the top risks for doing businesses around the world, Aengus Collins ; World Economic Forum, 12 November 2018], this is a wake up call to think different. The task of building a new prosperous society starts with the choice we make in the next election come February 2019. Abuse of power is a national plaque that must be overthrown at the next election to lift people out of poverty. Economic performance, social well-being and political governance are interdependent, so persistence of poverty and stagnation is as a result of the political system which must be restructured to address the interconnectedness of trust, governance and growth. The whole problem starts here and must not be allowed to continue.  There comes a point in history where even the blind are compelled to recognise this glaring reality and do something about it. According to the Emir of Kano Muhammadu Sanusi 11 ; "the population of Nigeria in 1960 was 45 million, today its about 200 million , the medium age is 19 and in the next 20 years, we're going to have 100 million Nigerians between the ages of 20 and 40. What will we do? Is the civil service going to employ them? Is the banking industry going to employ them?"; [Rising Population May Escalate Insurgency, Sanusi Warns; The Guardian 14 November 2018] . However,  the presidency says "there are too many people talking lazily about restructuring. People are not asking them individually what they mean by restructuring? What form do they want restructuring to take"; [There are too many people talking lazily about restructuring, Buhari, Vanguard, November 13, 2018]. It's a bit surprising that a government  that promised the country restructuring on its manifesto  to win the 2015 presidential elections  and subsequently sets up an inter- party committee in that regard now seem to pretend not to understand the meaning of restructuring. No doubt this statement tends to confirm the position of Afenifere and Ohaneze Nidigbo cultural organisations which has recently concluded that Preseident Buhari and his Vice-President, Professor Osibanjo are deceitful about restructuring the country;[ Restructuring: Buhari, Osibanjo deceitful says Afenifere, Ohaneze, Punch , November 14, 2018]. A political system which permits centralising political and economic power and which deny democratic systems of accountability must be restructured. The choice is very clear and it's very obvious that this government does not represent that choice to effect the desired change. The next election will be a unique moment as we now have a real possibility of moving the country in a new direction under a new democratic leadership that will guarantee inclusion and economic growth. We will continue to do our best to help raise awareness and help shift thinking so that ordinary people will recognise that the status-quo does not hold further promises of change. Change is a fundamental aspect of all areas of life so growth requires change. #AtikulatedObi is the revolution we want in Nigeria, we must embrace it.
Uche Okeke is a Statistician, Social Entrepreneur/ Political Economist. He's the Founder of The LEAD Project Foundation. He lives in London.
Read More:

Nigeria: #AtikulatedObi Provides The Answer To Our National Predicament- Good Governance, Economic Development. http://www.theleadprojectfoundation.com/2018/10/atikulatedobi-provides-answer-to-our.html

Nigeria needs and must have a modern constitutional settlement to achieve growth; growth requires change

"Our people deserve better. What is required is creative institution building , a democratic opening and a confidence that men and women can shape their world"- Will Hutton. Photo: Uche Okeke

Nigeria needs and must have a modern constitutional settlement to address the ugly issue of abuse of power, autocratic government, ‘’arrogant executive discretion’’, centralisation of power and the lack of citizen engagement.  The time is now as the current system is no longer sustainable. The population is booming and will go on growing, mass unemployment are alarming, persistence of poverty, insecurity, low wages, income inequality and wasted talents are widespread and will continue to widen, unless we restructure the country. The unitary centralised system of government in Nigeria must be overhauled to empower people. The choice before us is very clear. The sad lessons of the mistake of destiny; 'brutish authoritarianism' and 'medieval fantasies' is a constant reminder of inaction.  People should not let themselves become the 'useful idiots' of a government that is yet to realise that the world has changed. Restructuring Nigeria is about satisfying citizens aspirations for full integration into governance- a proper constitution, a proper democratic governance. Restructuring Nigeria is a development intervention whose time has come. In the modern era, all forms of exploitative abuse must cease. We must seek a political system that is fair and equitable. Restructuring Nigeria is the biggest challenge we face, as the country sits on a time bomb if ignored so restructuring is the 'bold change' we collectively deserve. In a rapidily changing world , it's up to the Nigerian people to decide the future they want, whether to move forward to a brighter future or continue with persistence of poverty and stagnation, more divisions, discrimination, abuse of power, income inequality, wastes on white elephant projects, insecurity, instability and uncertainty. The pace of change will continue to widen up, unfortunately it does not care about those societies who willingly choose to be left behind.  We need to wake-up to the realities and reject dishonesty and manipulations of politicians who have lived their lives, only driving us to sleepwalk into a miserable future. Restructuring Nigeria is about responding to the needs of the future and contributing to building a flourishing  and sustainable society.

Find out more soon as we continue to look at the the big political question of our time; restructuring Nigeria through the lens of Political Economy.  

Sixtus Uche Okeke is a  Statistician , Social Entrepreneur, Political Economist;  the Founder of The LEAD Project Foundation. He lives in London.

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