I am deeply troubled and disturbed about the current pattern that our civilian democracy is trending in Nigeria today. It is frightening and if not curtailed, will metamorphosed into a cancerous worm that will envelope the entire fabric of the society. Just recently, a former president of the country drew the nation’s attention to the already decayed moral standard that had permeated into the basic fabrics of the society. OBJ withdrew his zonal and regional affiliation with the ruling party under whose auspices, he won election to rule the country. Instead of Nigerians trying to understand the rationale behind such a crucial decision, paid pundits went on the frenzy to attack his character and person, rather than understanding the issues at stake.
I was almost beginning to stray from the main discourse of this write up when I consciously re-routed myself back on course. I am not one who delights in bashing the president, just to be on the bandwagon like everyone else. Currently, any attack on the president’s policies or decisions is perceived as a paid campaign from the “opposition” or “anti-Ijaw”, anti- south-south” “APC “propaganda or at best “Amaechi people”. The level of ethnic sentiment has risen to the pre-1966 era. Many people have chosen to view issues along a polarized volatile subjective perspective and as a result, common sense and good reasons is thrown away to the dogs.
In a country that complains and wonder why the U.S. president went to visit Ghana and not Nigeria, why this and why that…Why has the Ghana Cedi’s gained enormous strength against major world currencies, Nobody in the midst of such rhetorical wondering, ask why Nigerians have chosen Ghana as the port for tourism and vacation recreation, why many of Nigerian leaders send their children to school in Ghana rather than home. The answer is not farfetched. It is deeply rooted in their fight to eradicate corruption in their moral conscience and make transparency an integral part of nation life. Their Centralized Police command structure very akin to what obtains in Nigeria, has been fine-tuned and they are constantly training and sensitization of their collective responsibility “to serve, and to protect”. The police force in Ghana, have entered and signed several bi-lateral agreement with several countries including the U.S, such as extradition treaties. The point here is to elaborate how our closest counterpart rather than de-generating, are making effort to improve on their system. Many Nigerians who visit Ghana always come home with tales of safety, courteousness on the part of their host country and a higher level of civility.
For the past couple of years, Rivers State have become the show case highlighting the deplorable situation in the exercise of arbitrary power by the central government or their stooge enforcing task masters orders. I dare mention Rivers State here because, several incidences here have called to question moral judgment and leadership issues or lack of it. It was in Rivers State that the current president, meddled into the non-political, non-statutory Nigerian Governors forum, and publicly acknowledged the perceived loser as the winner in choosing the forum chair person. It was the same Rivers State that the wife of the President, broke official state protocol and decorum by snatching the micro-phone from the State governor while making a speech.
It is the same Rivers state that, an elected State party chairman, could issue “state Security threat” to a governor, who is the chief security officer of the state and who was voted for by the indigenes of the state. In the same state that the local party chairman feels protected because of connection from above and acts with impunity towards constituted authority of the state apparatus. It is from the same Rivers state that we all saw on live television, how hoodlum accompanied by about five honorable law makers and police escort and protection, behaved in a manner that caused public breach of trust and created an atmosphere of turmoil in the State assembly complex, under the guise of “coup” to take over the house leadership. Whoever enmeshed in the sub-consciousness of Nigerians that the only way to impeach the house leadership, is only through violent takeover of the mace, must have confused military coup’detat from civil society. It is from the same Rivers State that, the National assembly invoked and ascribed to themselves a “consent decree” to legislate the daily activities of the State. How the national assembly derive that power is still unclear. It is the same Rivers State that the Aviation department humiliated and prevented a State Governor and Speaker of the National Assembly from flying in their State owned Jet. It is interesting to note, that in the same Rivers State, the Police prevented law makers from going inside their chamber to do the job that voters elected them to do. It is the same police that is causing tax payers of Rivers State millions of Naira in salaries and compensation for such closure despite even the courts order. It is unheard of in many developed nations for such blatant disregard court order, more so if such disregard comes from the arm of government whose job is the defend the constitution and laws of the land-Police!
The most shocking news however and it may be one of the tragic anti-climax was the fast circulating picture yesterday of an honorable senator-Magnus Abe shown laying down in a dilapidated hospital following gunshot injuries from the Police! Once again, it happens in Rivers State. This creates plethora of questions that all the answers points largely to partisan affiliation of the police and undue meddling of the police in corrupt democratic setting. Several people have called for a discussion on the role of police. There have been argument by experts that the problem of centralized police produces negative result particularly in our ethnically divided nation. Many people have consistently argued for a decentralization of the police and the need for each state to be chartered alongside the police with autonomous status clearly delineated. I honestly think that we can reshape the professionalism of the police in Nigeria through conscious and concerted efforts geared towards creating a courteous and professional police, equipped and trained with adequate remuneration. To this end, the police housing accommodation should be scrapped and community policing tactics encouraged. Police in larger urban cities should be chartered to such urban cities, rural areas should be chartered under local government areas. State police responsibilities should be for state properties and officials.
The issue of political succession, election and police is interwoven in Nigeria. Politicians are known for manipulating the police to intimidate perceived political opponent during electioneering period. Therefore, many conclude that the recent issues in Rivers State and elsewhere is nothing short of that. Until Nigerian police changes their image, until Nigerians begin to believe the change in image, until police see their job as that of the impartial defender and protector of the laws and constitution, till thy kingdom come, nothing will change. Rivers State have become the Microcosm of the larger Nigerian Society. What obtains in Rivers State is definitely a reflection of what happens elsewhere.
