PRESIDING JUDGES AND RESIDING THIEVES

If justice is the bedrock of a just society, then the judiciary, being the upholder of justice, is the anchor of a just society. An unjust society is indicative of a discredited, retarded and failed judiciary. With a discredited, retarded and failed judiciary, democracy is a mockery and freedom is a mirage. If justice is skewed in favour of the privileged few and rough justice becomes the staple of the oppressed majority, society disintegrates and jungle justice becomes the order of the day. When the poor has nowhere else to turn, the rich becomes the staple diet. Why then are the corrupt rich so thick in the head not to realise that it’s only a matter of time before they’re consumed by the fury of those they deprive of their valid demand for justice, fairness and equity? Why exactly is justness a gutter word in the ears of the greedy and the wicked? Has anyone ever wondered why the corrupt in society are so inept? The psychological imbalance of their being is staggering.

What drove me to my mouse and keyboard today is the furore generated by the dawn raids on some allegedly corrupt judges. I shook my head in wonderment when some people cried foul at the treatment meted out to these people. What on earth are we supposed to do? Turn the other cheek and let them carry on regardless? Yes, the treatment might have been rough, but was it any different from what obtains on our streets every single day when people are arrested on suspicion of wrongdoing? Didn’t the DSS have mandated search and arrest warrants to carry out their tasks? Should these accosted people be accorded special treatments just because of their elevated positions in society? The whole fight against corruption has been turned into an imbroglio of unprecedented proportions. However, it’s not to be unexpected as the depth and width of corruption have reached unimaginable levels, and corruption is bound to fight back with ferocity.

Is the fight against corruption worth it? Maybe we need to consider the unforgettable words of Frank Serpico (b. April 14, 1936) “The fight for justice against corruption is never easy. It never has been and never will be. It exacts a toll on our self, our families, our friends, and especially our children. In the end, I believe, as in my case, the price we pay is well worth holding on to our dignity.” This, no doubt, is a position any well-meaning Nigerian ought to take. Instead of castigating the officers saddled with the responsibility of bringing crooks to book, we should be applauding them when they fearlessly go about their tasks. Yes, mistakes may be made and they must be swiftly reprimanded for such. However, shielding culprits under the guise of obedience to the rule of law, when in fact what such sympathizers had in mind was for the arresting officers to show obsequiousness to the alleged criminals, who never thought a day like that would ever come. They have pecuniarily tainted the noble profession and have turned the last hope of the common man to a place to be feared. The rich buy justice for themselves while grave injustice is meted out to the have-nots. Judges have turned the serious business of justice dispensation into a serious business of à la carte justice dispensation. Presiding Judges have become Residing Thieves.

It is plainly obvious that if the judiciary isn't sanitized, the whole war on corruption would be a farcical nonsense. Fighting corruption is not for the facile or the feeble, but the war must be just and fair. Those in the temple of justice must be, and be seen to be, above board and must not deprecate the hallowedness of their calling. Who are the poor and disadvantaged supposed to look up to when they are being dispossessed of their fundamental human rights? The rich can pay to have the poor imprisoned for no just cause. It is anyone's imagination how many poor souls are in prisons up and down the land that are there on the whims of the rich, abetted by the corrupt justice system. The citizens' fiducial relationship with the upholders of justice is dead and buried. Our courts are no longer places of refuge for the common man. Judges dish out indefinite injunctions like confetti in favour of the corrupt, as long as the price is right. Those people lamenting the violation of the human rights of the accused have conveniently forgotten that my human rights and those of tens of millions of Nigerians have been trampled upon for decades. Who fought for us? Now the shoe is on the other foot, human rights have shot to the forefront of considerations. Only in Nigeria,

My contention is that nothing that happened to those accused people (I use the term 'people' for them because that's what they are in the eyes of the law) was untoward. They will have their day in court and the whole world shall see the evidence against them. It's about time we struck fear into the hearts of the heartless and make them feel the pain Nigerians have been enduring since time immemorial.        

DIVIDED BY FAITH, UNITED BY FATE

The title may be misconstrued somewhat, but the intended message therein is both unequivocal and unimpeachable. By faith, I'm not, in the slightest, referring to religion, but rather our individual faith, a total lack of it, or differing levels of it, in the so-called ruling (or ruinous) elite. We have been on this of attitudinal, moral and economic renaissance with President Buhari and his APC government now for the better part of sixteen months. There's no contending the fact that it's been hard, real hard, for the vast majority of us. The pain cuts across boundaries (age, ethnicity, religion, business, profession, educational attainment, gender, and so on.) The very few people that have remained largely untouched are those that are still bleeding us dry and bitterly fighting to continue feasting on the ignorance of the vast majority of us. Many of us are ignorant, or else we wouldn't be supporting the cause of those that have been asked to give account of the sources of their incredible wealth; and lending credence to the cries of persecution and witch-hunting by the accused. Many of us are ignorant because we steadfastly refuse to attribute our hardscrabble existence to the evil perpetrated, and still being perpetrated, by those in the corridors of power.
The promise of the future has been severely compromised by the consummate evil of the past, and yet we turn  our nose up at any attempt to extract our pound of flesh. I often hear some say 'the past is the past; let bygone be bygone.' I thoroughly agree with the first phrase, but not the second. The wrongs of the past have to be righted for the promise of the future to be attained. While I do not subscribe to whataboutery (which is often used by irresponsible and unresponsive leaders the world over), I consider it an obligation for any responsible government to go after our stolen commonwealth wherever it may be, and with whomsoever it may be, in order to reward the longanimity of the vast majority of Nigerians. While it is praiseworthy to right the wrongs of the past, the wrongs of the present have to be dealt with with even more vigour. Allegations of corruption in the current government must not be swept under the carpet, and absolute transparency must be brought to the fore. Had it been that Nigerians, by and large, were not endowed with an irrepressible sense of joie de vivre, even in circumstances that are not entirely eudemonic, many a Nigerian would have sunk in the sea of despair and buried under the mound of utter desperation.
The slogan of 'change' has been demonized by many, been derided by many more and been laughed at by even many more. There may be some reservations in its execution, but should that be enough reason to discount it outright? The slow pace of change may be vexatious, but should change be substituted with inertia, thereby oiling the status quo? I have particular problems (as indeed most Nigerians) with the pace of change, but shouldn't we take a look at all the organs of government, with particular attention paid to our peculiar judiciary? Isn't justice delayed justice denied? The other day I watched an interview with a so-called anti-corruption crusader doubling up as Patience Jonathan's legal advocate (Devil's Advocate?) and I sobbed all the way to bed! How on earth could this man have qualified as a lawyer? Such was his incoherence and inconsistence that he was even arguing with himself in a language no one would have recognized, in a zillion years, as English! That's indicative of the sorry level to which the 'learned' profession has sunk in our dear country. Now, how many days so far in this legislative calendar have the Senate and the House of Representatives sat? They have more recesses than the most incontinent of pigs, and spend more than half the days they sit bickering. For the life of me, I don't know how they qualify as lawmakers. Yet, we expect Buhari to morph into a necromancer and turn the country's fortunes around overnight.
The longer we tolerate idiocy and mediocrity in our political system, and the more we are accepting of the disgraceful ways we're being governed and treated, the darker Nigeria's future would be.
We deserve better and we should demand better. As I said in my last piece, to effect change we, ourselves, must change. Our change must begin by acknowledging our own shortcomings in the way we have embraced and 'rankadede'd' the thieves in office. We must wake up to the fact that we're united by fate, and must not let ourselves be divided by our faith in them. Our faith in them must be shattered to smithereens until there's a sea change in their individual and collective behaviours,  and we must begin to vehemently and uncompromisingly demand conscientiousness in public office.
Change is difficult and can be hard to stomach at times, but to improve our lot, stomach it we must. As I write this, the words of  Arnold Bennett (May 27 1867 - March 27 1931) echo in my ears, "Any change, even a change for the better, is always accompanied by drawbacks and discomforts." In unambiguous agreement was Mitchell Baker when he said "I've learned that for many people, change is uncomfortable. Maybe they want to go through it, and they can see the benefit of it, but at a gut level, change is uncomfortable."
As unremarkable and uncomfortable as the journey thus far may have been, it would be remiss not to wish Nigerians a Happy Independence Day ahead of Saturday. I wish our great nation a better deal in the coming years; and may the pace of real change quicken up and may the promise of a brighter future be realized.
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria and its beautiful people. 

A UNIQUE DERIVATIVE

The new citizen awareness and social orientation initiative dubbed "Change Begins With Me" launched by President Buhari today may turn out to be a timely jolt in the arm for us Nigerians. It is without prejudice that I claim that most of us are swift to blame the government for all the ills of society while absolving ourselves of blame for complicity. Let me put it this way for clarity: how many of us, in truth, could say "you know what? I'm part of the disease afflicting this nation state of mine"? The sad truth is that only a very few Nigerians would readily concur the most verifiable of misconducts in all of our dealings and comportment. Of course not all citizens would be of good behaviour in any given country of the world, but where deplorable behaviour is the default, then such a country has got problems, really big ones. This is where we are at in Nigeria, and it's been decades of decadence, avarice, impunity and all the attendant offshoots such as armed robberies, kidnapping, political assassinations, and so on. Where money is king, morality becomes a swear sword. Where the paragons of decency are derided and purveyors of good conscience are relegated in the scheme of things, then evil prevails. Is it a surprise then that we're all paying the price for our proclivity for mindless greed and insatiable quest for wealth? Why exactly are we crying wolf when we have, by and large, brought this upon ourselves? No matter how much we say, or how often we say it, we have to go back to basics. The basics being we must become exemplars of good conscience and behaviour. We must stop seeing others as prime targets for scams; we must stop looking to the government to correct all the faults in the system; we must treat one another with respect, love and understanding; we must understand that we owe a duty of care to one another and realise that we all share one destiny so long as we believe that the progress of this country depends on each and everyone of us. Some may consider these necessary ingredients of a just society as an agitation for some utopian model, but I say, with due respect, they couldn't be more wrong. What all of these components produce, in the end, is a country that prides itself on the quality of its citizenry; a country that can rely on its people to produce their individual and collective best in the quest for that for which we all clamour: a society that rewards hard work, honesty of purpose and progressive governments. We must acknowledge the fact that without trust and accountability there can be no progress, nor can there be peace in the land. We must come together and forge a phalanx, because we have a common purpose.Why must we continually live in fear and anxiety? Why can't I be my brother's keeper instead of his killer? Why do we have to turn our homes into prisons for fear of being victims? It's now almost impossible to render or get help on the motorway should anyone have a breakdown. Instead of watching over each other, we're watching out for one another! This isn't the kind of life we should bequeath to our children and following generations. 

For fear of this piece being considered a megillah, I'll quickly point out a few salient points. All the tohubohu in the Nigerian society today is symptomatic of one inalienable phenomenon, which is the affinal relationship between corruption and poverty. Insecurity, unrest, anxiety, homelessness, joblessness, hopelessness, helplessness, ill health and high levels of crime all have their roots in corruption. If we all pulled together in the same progressive direction where misdemeanours in whatever form were swiftly and comprehensively punished according to the law, we would begin to have faith in the justice system and begin to believe, once again, that hard work and diligence are virtues to be proud of rather than burdens to be borne.

If the government indeed wants us to take this initiative seriously and not treat it just like any other fancy slogan, it must step up its efforts in tackling corruption and its causes while upping the ante in its prosecution and recovery efforts so that we may begin to have confidence again in Project Nigeria. I believe the "Change Begins With Me" initiative is a unique derivative of the Change mantra, but the government has to realise that to effect change we need more than initiatives and slogans, we need the government to show the way.  

I wish all my Muslim fellow Nigerians a safe and very happy Eid-el-Kabir.



BUHARI: A FAILING PRESIDENT?

I would be in self-denial if I didn't think our President had had quite a shambolic and utterly woeful fourteen months in office. I would be untrue to myself if I didn't feel disappointed in our President, despite the mountain of undesirables, both economic and structural, that he inherited in 2015. I, like tens of millions of my fellow Nigerians, feel distinctly disillusioned and utterly let down.

Leading to the general elections last year, the vast majority of Nigerians (as shown in the election results) had had enough of the gravy train government of Jonathan and had, in almost unison, embraced the slogan of 'Change' adopted by the APC. We put our hope in that change that had Buhari as its spearhead. Has that spearhead now morphed to a figurehead? How has our hope been dashed so soon? Why have our aspirations for a better government been smashed in such a little space of time? I was prepared to give Buhari and his government a year in which to come to grips with the dire economic woes bedeviling the country; a year I had hoped would herald in a series of initiatives and policies that would mark a new beginning and direction for our country in both economic and social terms. What has become of the determined and resolute Buhari I knew? Millions of Nigerians, both at home and in the diaspora, are asking the same question; wondering when and if things are going to get better for the long-suffering and dying masses. Pointing a finger of blame at prior administrations just doesn't cut it any more, and we're done hoping against hope as a people.

This isn't saying that no good has come from Buhari and his ministerial team, but the 'good' hasn't been good enough. If the pace of progress were any slower, it would grind to a halt, and it virtually has! Nigerians are simply fed up with slow action, inaction and excuses, that is the truth of the matter. We have, so far, been shortchanged and we feel conned by the 'Change' thingy. It's okay to pursue and retrieve stolen monies, and drag the incorrigibles through the law courts, but the population is fast becoming weary of the protracted court cases and claims of selective prosecutions persist.

People are malnourished and dying of hunger on an hourly basis; the UN is helping to feed our IDPs; the vast majority of states haven't paid workers' salaries for over six months; the education and health systems are still in disarray; no discernible forward movement on the shameful issue of lack power supply; oil pipelines being bombed with reckless abandon. For goodness' sake, this is Nigeria in 2016!!

Buhari now has to wake up and get to grips with the ever-depressing situation we are in.

The general perception, and in fact, reality, now is that this government has no clear-cut policy direction, nor does it seem to have any action plan as to how to deal with the insurgency in the Niger Delta, having scored a commendable, even though a not-yet-decisive, victory over Boko Haram. Nobody has a clue as to what plans there are about the badly-needed infrastructural revamp, and a coherent economic policy that we so desperately need.

Let the truth be told, every single one of Buhari's ministers has been a colossal failure, and thinking that it took Buhari almost six months to select them, it isn't uncharitable to say that he couldn't have selected a worse bunch of under-performers and downright non-performers. For the life of me, I don't fathom why Lai Mohammed should be anywhere near the corridors of power, he's the most useless of a useless bunch. Fashola has massively disappointed, even though we didn't expect any magic from him, the expectation was that he would bring his usual diligence to bear in his roles. Still, why he was saddled with so many ministries is beyond the comprehension of most mortals. I think Amaechi needs to be declared missing! Has anyone heard of him lately? Adeosun hasn't lived up to her billing in any shape or form, the economy is in doldrums and she hasn't reassured us that she is the woman to turn things around. What exactly is the Vice President (I can't even remember his name!) about? What is he doing about dragging our legislature kicking and screaming into the 21st century? What is the myriad of advisers about? What are they advising on? Communication with the population is zero! The country is no better now than it was pre-2015 elections, that's a fact; if anything, it's gone backwards. Why?

FDIs are virtually zero; after all, which foreign investor would wish to invest in a stagnant and directionless economy? Local businesses cannot borrow to invest because of a lack of reason and incentive to do so, talk less of the crippling interest rates. Inflation, unemployment and underemployment are getting worse by the day. Why?

I have said it in the past, I have no time for sentiments. I don't care about the APC or PDP or any political party for that matter. What most of us care about is to better the lot of Nigerians, and quickly. The first step for Buhari to take in retrieving his goodwill is for him to replace his deadwood of a cabinet with proven experts who have no political capital at stake, and who would be guided by what is right and just. We have them in abundance, and Buhari must take a firm and decisive action before the question 'BUHARI: A FAILING PRESIDENT?' becomes the narration: 'BUHARI: A FAILED PRESIDENT'. I most sincerely hope it never comes to that because the alternative is too scary to contemplate.        

THE INSANITY OF INANITY

When a crook is confronted with the reality of his ways, he naturally retreats into the denial mode. Is it then a wonder why, with almost no exception, those who have helped themselves to our common riches have pled not guilty when hauled before the courts. The basic tenet of law which stipulates that an accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty has been stretched to incredulous limits, even in the face of the most undeniable of evidences and money trails. They are also aided and abetted by those unscrupulous semi-humans called SANs who utilize all manner of delay tactics to frustrate the efforts of the State at clawing back that which was stolen. Then you have senators (who might as well be called detonators of national wealth) who troop along to the courts in 'solidarity' with their accused own. All of these have portrayed the EFCC, and other agencies saddled with the recovery of our stolen assets, in an unflattering light. The EFCC, in particular, has been accused of incompetence and heavy-handedness, and even contempt of court in some cases. Intimidation of the courts and spurious counter-allegations against sitting judges are the order of the day. What could be more insane than the shameless show of inanity by these rogues in politics? Isn't Nigeria then deserving of the tag of a 'fantastically corrupt' country? However strong the whiff of hypocrisy in David Cameron's pronouncement on Nigeria, he was essentially right. It is incumbent upon us to shed the shameful tag of being fantastically corrupt and the only way to do this is to behead the dragon of corruption that is destroying the very fabric of our national identity. A spade is a spade, no matter what one calls it.

The deregulation of the downstream sector of the petroleum industry has attracted mixed reactions, and accusations and insults have been flying all over the place. This was to be expected, so it isn't a novelty that a change in government policy would evoke such mixed emotions, and it is a healthy development. Whether one is for or against deregulation, the courage of the government in bringing about this policy cannot be denied. I was one of those who kicked against the previous government's attempt to adopt this policy and I had my reasons then. The tsunami of corruption at the time would have prevented ordinary Nigerians the benefits accruable from such a policy. In this era of intolerance to corruption, individuals and corporate entities alike will be able to enter the downstream market that has hitherto been the premise of the very few privileged. This will lead to more and better competition which can only be good for the consumer in the longer term. The hundreds of billions of Naira that will be saved from axing the fuel subsidy will be readily available to be expended on capital projects which will be of tangible benefit to all of us. I'm pretty certain that, over time, Nigerians will realize the absolute necessity of this course of action. The days of unencumbered economic sabotage by the thieving cabal are definitely coming to an end.

Now that the budget has been signed into law, can Nigerians now heave a sigh of relief? Well, much depends on the implementation. What we're crying out for is timely and diligent implementation. There can be no more excuses, no rigmaroles, no ifs, no buts. Nigerians expect that the only way should be up now. The APC government is now on trial, the honeymoon period is well and truly over.

Oh, by the way, it is pertinent to implore David Cameron to now put his money where his mouth is and expedite the return of our pilfered assets, both in the UK and in its Crown Dependencies, so that Nigeria could become a fantastically robust economy. Ah, almost forgot, David, why don't you confront the allegations of electoral malpractices leveled against your Tory Party before you go round insulting Nigeria again. That would be most helpful, bro.          

THY WILL SHALL NOT BE DONE

To the wicked, the voice of reason is inane; to the kindhearted, it is soothing. Doing what is right isn't an option, but a duty, for the kindhearted; for the wicked, it is a onerous and an undesirable endeavour. Wrongdoing is an unjustifiable and inexcusable engagement and it is even the more galling if a perpetrator of such has been put in a position of trust. I'm not preaching to the converted, but appealing to the false-hearted. For how much longer can we, as Nigerians, afford to make combating corruption and graft in government the biggest talking point? When do we actually begin to take our welfare, and wellbeing, into proper consideration? Why do we keep attacking each other while our common enemy has a field day at the expense of our immature attitude to the affairs of state? Where is the alternative route to progress when the so-called elite are just a bunch of sycophants and pretentious experts at everything? A case in point was when Nigeria entered into a currency swap deal with China and some so-called educated people went berserk! Many of them don't even have the vaguest idea of what a currency swap deal is all about. Do they know how many highly industrialized countries have similar deals with China? The United Kingdom, South Korea, and Singapore are just a few examples. Have they given our situation and circumstances the due care and attention they deserve? With the utmost respect, I'll refer them to the following:

http://www.reuters.com/article/china-uzbekistan-swap-idUSB9E7EN02P20110419

http://uzpedia.blogspot.com/2011/04/uzbekistan-signs-currency-swap-deal.html

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2009-03/31/content_7635007.htm

If only people could stop being lazy armchair critics and know-all-experts, there's a fountain of knowledge available out there to educate themselves with, and have informed ideas about what they say and think. It's only when we are adequately knowledgeable about what we're talking about could we give constructive criticisms and suggest alternatives. Must we just try to pull down those trying their very best to do the right thing by all of us? Why is our collective mind so beclouded with prejudice and intolerance? These questions, and more, should be occupying our thoughts so as to create a pathway to social justice, collective progress, peace and unity.

I keep on saying that I don't have time for people who criticize just for the sake of it when they don't have anything positive to contribute in facing up to the challenges that face our country's survival as a viable entity. What exactly is the problem with trying to right the wrongs that have been done to us? Is it really an issue trying to haul back the hundreds of billions of dollars that have been stolen from us over the years? Is it unjust to punish the guilty according to the law, and deter others? It is beyond my understanding why, with the incontrovertible evidence of mass pilferage of our resources, some people still take umbrage at attempts to do the right and just thing. If anything, Buhari is too slow and docile in confronting the biggest threat that we face, and that is corruption. How long would it take before the judiciary is reformed to prevent the abuse of court processes? Venal justices and judges are in situ and prolong the dispensation of justice. Lawyers whose pecuniary interests are at odds with their conscience dominate the legal system and have become a clog in the wheel of national progress. Yet, in the eyes of Buhari's detractors, Nigeria is going back to the Iron Age! What a load of codswallop! Yes, Buhari hasn't done many things right and we have a collective right to take him to task on those; but what is our justification for crucifying him when he attempts to do the right thing? We can't eat our cake and have it. Would it be beneficial to return to the old days of free-for-all stealing? I'm sure that is not what the suffering people of our country desire. Some may wish that, but I can assure those that do that thy will shall not be done.

I'm sick and tired of having to waste time on Saraki and his ilk. Saraki's humiliation must be total and complete, for he has taken us for a ride for far too long. Every single one of the thieves must be equally humiliated, I don't give a rat's ar*e which political party they belong to. In addition, every single name contained in the Mossack Fonseca revelatory list must be probed. I don't care about the APC, nor do I give a monkey's about the PDP. A thief is a thief and the law must be equally applied to each and everyone of them if the fight against corruption is to be total. Nigerians get sicker by the day with revelation after revelation of new fraudulent cases and indictments. We need to know what monies have been recovered and how, where and when they are going to be utilized. We need to know how many of these thieves are being banged up in prison for their treasonous exploits. It is only when these begin to happen that Nigerians would have confidence in the direction the government is taking. Hope would be restored and despair would recede. This life of incessant power outage and lack of petroleum products must have an end point. No jobs, no money, no power, no petrol, no hope! Why? The suffering is now intolerable.

On another note, the Fulani herdsmen rampaging through communities all over the country must be dealt with promptly and most severely. Enough of the killing and maiming of residents and landowners. Why are they being treated differently from Boko Haram or those blowing up oil pipelines? They are all terrorists. If those herdsmen are left to continue with their killing spree, Buhari would have a lot to answer for and he would justifiably be regarded as being complicit in the wanton destruction of lives and properties. It cannot be one rule for some and another for others. Peaceful coexistence should not be jeopardized by a few bloodthirsty herdsmen who think they own Nigeria.

On a final note, I have serious concerns about the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mahmud Mohammed. If he hasn't been compromised, he really has to put his skates on and begin the much needed reform of the Justice system. Enough of these endless adjournments of corruption cases, and the flagrant abuse of court processes being perpetrated by the so-called learned profession. Enough said.           

FACTIS NON VERBIS

Sometimes one cannot but wonder why Nigeria is so plagued on so many fronts at the same time. What the heck is wrong with, and about, our country? The quicksand of misfortune seems to be rooted in our country and nobody seems to have credible solutions to the myriad of largely self-inflicted wounds destroying the very fabric of our being and tearing apart the very wool that our commonwealth was woven with. Now, you may ask what the reason for my ire is today and I can honestly contend that the reasons are far too many for my humble brain to comprehend. All for us seem to understand the ‘why’ but not the ‘how’. We’re, for the most part, so pretentious in our individual belief that we know exactly how to solve our nation’s woes. Self-appointed intellectuals and experts, not to talk of those who have turned mudslinging into an art form, often come up with one ‘panacea’ or the other. Flip-flopping is the new trend, today they are for and tomorrow they are against. For and against what exactly? ‘Principle’ has become a swear word in the ears of Nigerians; it’s now a case of ‘touch ye not my anointed, he’s from my tribe or clan’. Trying to clamp down on corruption is now tagged ‘witch-hunting’ even when the facts are stacked to the high heavens. Judges, lawyers and bankers are in cahoots against the very notion of nationhood, their ever-bulging pockets unfillable. Politicians? Don’t get me started on the slugs! How and why on earth did we deserve these scumbags?

Define the thought of going back to the days of military regimes a retrograde one, but can anyone, in all honesty, say we’re better off now than we were during even the worst of military regimes? I can’t believe I’m saying this, but the crass brazenness of our modern day ‘politicians’ gives me no option. Though not clamouring for a return to those dark days of our evolution, but a brief return wouldn’t do us any harm, if only to round up those who have destroyed Nigeria, and wasted millions of lives in the blind pursuit of riches, and bang them all up until they have coughed up their illegal acquisitions and accumulations. These shameless armed robbers that call themselves politicians incessantly bang on about fundamental human rights. What about the human rights of over 180 million Nigerians they have ruthlessly thrashed and mercilessly trampled upon? What about the destinies of tens of millions of young people that have been decimated? What about the entitlements of millions of pensioners they have appropriated to themselves thereby sending them into penury and early graves?

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Ninety-nine point nine per cent of Nigerian politicians are worse than armed robbers! Ninety-nine point nine per cent of Nigerian lawyers are worse than armed robbers! Ninety-nine point nine per cent of Nigerian judges are worse than armed robbers! Ninety-nine point nine per cent of Nigerian bankers are worse than armed robbers! Need I say more? If Buhari is alone in this fight against corruption, he will lose. There’s no doubt about that. We, ordinary Nigerians, are complicit in this fight against sanity because we make excuses for the armed robbers and condone their remorseless attack on our common destiny.

Look at the state of play today. Corruption cases going on forever while many have been abandoned altogether. Looters burying money like corpses and pleading not guilty in the face of overwhelming evidence. Still, we defend them just because we hate the face of Buhari. What these apologists for corruption fail to see is that Buhari isn’t even fighting for himself, he doesn’t have to. As poor as he claims to be, he’s still not begging for food and struggling for survival like most Nigerians currently do. He is fighting for you and me, for our children and grandchildren, and those yet unborn. It is only in Nigeria that I see people attacking the very person who is fighting their corner. What sense does that make? Many of us, in our comfort zones in the UK, US and other places, abuse our keyboards thinking that we’re feeling the pains of Nigerians. Utter nonsense! Many of Buhari’s traducers wouldn’t survive the harsh realities in Nigeria for six months and they see themselves as experts in the art of governance. We all need to readjust our expectations and refocus on the real issues that need confronting if Nigeria is to cease being a laughing stock and a basket case.

We’re not in a democracy in Nigeria, but rather a kakistocracy; that much is abundantly clear. When you have eighty senators tagging along to court with Saraki, with scores of SANs. Can any sane person imagine that absurdity? When you have a half-educated excuse of a governor, gaining notoriety by the hour, proving beyond any doubt that he actually is a heartless thug, taking it upon himself to destroy any notion of nation-rebuilding that we all should work tirelessly to engage in? What an absolute nudnik!

Lest you deduce from the aforesaid that I am giving Buhari an unalloyed thumbs-up; I am not, not by any stretch of the imagination. He has made avoidable mistakes and we have a right, and an expectation, to take him to task on those from time to time. Fundamental human rights must be protected, even in the face of unimaginable transgressions. That’s for another time. What I cannot fault him for is his strive to bring a semblance of accountability to governance and to deracinate corruption and confront its unrepentant perpetrators. In that quest, I believe, he deserves our total and perpetual support. It should be one for all, all for one. We should not only say it, but our deeds must  from now on portray our desire. Factis non verbis.     

DAMN! DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT

Ten months into the Buhari administration, Nigerians are predictably, and I'd contend, justifiably restless. I always had the belief that the novelty of Buhari would begin to wear thin round about this time, I didn't  even know that my level of optimism was unrealistically high. Nigerians are neither foolish nor naive. We knew from the get-go that things were pretty dire and that it would take a bit of time for the nascent government to find its feet and begin to fashion out a new era of hope for our country. We voted for a new and better approach to governance; we voted based on our belief that Buhari was best placed to herald in that new era. The APC shouldn't be under the illusion that Nigerians voted along Party lines, most voters that went for them did so because of Buhari. After all, quite a sizable number of shakers and movers in APC are PDP defectors. Old wine in new bottle, as far as Nigerians are concerned. Period!

Unearthing and fighting corruption to a standstill was one of Buhari's promises, but not the only one. Make no mistake, we applaud the stout effort on this front but we didn't envisage it would be as cumbersome and intractable as it has turned out to be. Again, we are not stupid because we anticipated the inherent difficulties in dislodging highly-positioned corrupt persons from their perches. We are nonetheless grateful that meaningful strides are being, and have been, made to bring to our awareness the extent of skullduggery that permeated the prior government. What is unnerving Nigerians mainly is that no visible and tangible result has been achieved despite the spate of investigations and indictments of these politically-exposed persons. When, the other day, Buhari was asked about this legitimately-held concern, he responded by querying what we were doing when these atrocities were taking place. That was not Presidential at all. With due respect, Buhari needs to be educated in the very fine art of responding to questions without betraying his emotions in such a disgraceful manner. He must grow his level of tolerance to an unimaginable level if he is to be the success that most Nigerians envisaged and prayed for. He is doing a great job of alienating the very people that got him into that exalted office and he must begin to claw back the goodwill of the people he is losing and lost.

The first anniversary of Buhari's inauguration into office is fast approaching and it is about time Nigerians started to feel his impact in the real sense of the word. He must identify with the main difficulties of the people as a matter of urgency because we are getting weary of excuses, and we are certainly tired of listening to the same old line of blaming the past government(s). We voted Buhari into power to bring about the change we so desired and deserve. It no longer washes blaming vandalism and sabotage for the lack of power supply. Damn! Do something about it. It is barmy to keep blaming speculators for the painful uncertainties in the currency markets. Damn! Do something about it. We are sick of hearing that the legal profession is hindering the effort in the fight against corruption. Damn! Do something about it. What's all about this dream team of Ministers he too so long to assemble? I don't think any Nigerian could say with a straight face that even one of them has lived up to the billing. I don't give a rat's arse what goes on behind the scenes, Osinbajo has been a let-down too. We need and expect visible action, not just Press releases churning out banalities. Direction is needed on all fronts, and fast. The honeymoon is well and truly over.

If I'm honest, I have to admit that Buhari's performance to date has been disappointingly underwhelming. He should up his game and begin to show Nigerians that we did not make an error in pinning our hopes on him. He should begin to understand and address the plight of people before it's too late. If Buhari fails, I genuinely fear for the future of this country. For Buhari not to fail though, he has to transform his government from one of excuses and inaction to one of action in the superlative order and hope for the hapless citizens of Nigeria. Time is ticking by fast.

TO DEVALUE OR NOT TO DEVALUE: A CRITIQUE

The reluctance of the Buhari government to devalue the Naira is causing quite a lot of consternation in some circles, and the furore generated thereof is causing even a lot more consternation in others. The depth of the passion whipped up on both sides of the argument is quite instructive, yet neither side has yet provided a cohesive and comprehensible analysis in support of their argument. Admittedly, neither argument is tangential to the real issue at hand, but it would be pertinent to explore the real reasons one side has proposed devaluation while the other is dead set against it.
In the first instance, there are a number of salient questions to be answered, the first of which is (though blatantly obvious) does Nigeria operate a fixed or a floating exchange rate system? The equally blatantly answer is yes, we do operate a fixed exchange rate system, as the official Naira:dollar is 197:1. That is fixed, and this is central to the argument at hand. What is clearly happening is that agitators for depreciation are, with due respect, confusing devaluation with depreciation. Depreciation can only occur in a floating exchange rate system, and it is not determined by government; the laws of supply and demand strictly apply in this context.
With this clarity in mind, many of the agitators for depreciation might want to reconsider, and reshape the nature of, their argument. Rather than agitate for a devaluation, they might want to press for a case for the government to consider unpegging the Naira from the dollar. Only then could depreciation be feasible, as the Naira would then find its own level, just like the proverbial water. This would be totally devoid of government intervention. However, we are where we are and as such, the issue of devaluation can be debated without the attendant prior confusion.
The economic benefits to be accrued from devaluation are, unfortunately, somewhat limited by the very nature of our economic architecture, and its obvious obtuseness. In a more and better structured market economy with readily discernible and verifiable economic indicators, one might expect, firstly, devaluation to make exports cheaper (increasing demand for exports) and imports pricier (reducing demand for imports). The resultant effect of both of the aforementioned instances would be higher economic growth and therefore, increased aggregate demand. These are much desired possible outcomes because overall, GDP should head north (improving the current account balance); the caveat being that inflation most inevitably heads in the same direction.
Moreover, even though the world economy is not technically in recession (as the growth rate is only easing, instigated by the slowdown in Chinese and other emerging economies), demand would be helped upwards and if growth rate increases, growth in demand would be even higher. As the world economy is not in boom time, runaway inflation resulting from a currency devaluation could be safely discounted. Now, the final and perhaps the most pertinent question of all is why exactly does the currency need to be devalued? If it is to increase competitiveness, then devaluation could be a desirable and necessary monetary tool. On the flip side, if it is just to target a specific exchange rate, its effect may even be counterproductive.
My contention, therefore, is that many of the agitators of Naira devaluation (some of my good friends included) have comprehensively failed to articulate the real need for a devaluation in the current Nigerian economic and political climate. For the reasons I alluded to earlier, our economy, being overwhelmingly mono-product-based coupled with the lack of reliable and verifiable economic indicators, would not benefit from a devaluation were it to be done at this moment. How are we supposed to benefit from increased export earnings when we hardly produce and export anything, apart from crude oil? Nigeria is overwhelmingly a consuming, rather than a producing, economy. In addition, with the recent and current travails in the global energy market, how are we supposed to benefit from increased earnings from our oil exports? We are currently chasing around for buyers in a very depressed global energy market. What competitive advantage is potentially accruable from a Naira devaluation? It is increasingly appearing to me that the agitation for a Naira devaluation has an emotional undertone rather than borne out of any economic rationalization and reality. Emotion ought to be detached from reality.
In summary, rather than follow the path of currency devaluation, I am of the humble opinion that we need to focus our collective minds and effort on devaluing corruption. It was corruption and criminal impunity that got us where we are. We frittered away our economic advantages for many years when a barrel of oil sold at an average of $110. We failed to fix the roof while the sun shone and we thought the party and the jolliness would last forever. The boom years were boon times for the thieving political elite and we should concentrate all our efforts on taking back what was stolen from us. Can anyone imagine the difference it would make if we got back even only 10% of what was stolen, and the recovered funds judiciously utilized? I'm sure nobody would even be thinking of any movement either way in currency positions. So, first thing first. Let's get our house in order and then have a solid basis on which to formulate sound economic and fiscal policies fit for the 21st century.
The raft of ongoing criminal prosecutions should be expedited and other suspects speedily indicted. We need the money, and the culprits severely punished, like yesterday!
              

STATE OF AFFAIRS; AFFAIRS OF STATE

At first it was slow-mo and it is now like Buhari is on a steroids-amphetamines combo. Who would have thought it? Derided for much of his first six months in office and even now more derided for moving at a frantic pace against the beasts who have virtually crippled our economy through sheer greed and unmatchable impunity. What can the poor man do to forestall the torrent of abuse and accusations flowing his way? One thing is for sure, I’d not like it one bit to be in his shoes. One’s perception of the way Buhari is conducting the affairs of state depends on one’s perception of the state of affairs. However, I’m bold to affirm that most of these criticisms are a contemptuous case of nit-picking.

Allow me to state my case, please.

As much as it pains me to have to refer to the state of affairs pre-Buhari, I simply have to, if only to draw our attention to the sad situation we found ourselves in. I’m not going into a ‘rage’ mode, I’m past all that, as indeed most forward-looking Nigerians. Would all the financial madness that was prevalent then have been revealed now if Jonathan had remained President? If the revelations, so far, of financial impropriety are not maddening enough to send one into a deep state of anguish, I’d question the sanity of that individual. With the wretchedness of the Jonathan administration now in clear perception, what would Buhari’s detractors have him do? To ignore all that has gone on before and high-five the thieves and pat them on the back?

All these accusations of tribalism and sectionalism simply have no basis in fact, as a matter of fact. If the list of scumbags so far arraigned or being investigated is objectively appraised, it is beyond doubt this is neither a political witch-hunt nor a trivial tribal pursuit. With the Naira in free-fall on the parallel market and the anaemic economy barely showing any signs of recovery, uninformed and/or uneducated minds, and dimwitted cynics, are pointing the finger of blame at Buhari. It is no use conversing or dialoguing with those stale minds because they can hardly see past their noses.

As for the vast majority of Nigerians, what we need to see more of is the revelation of scandalous behaviours of the Jonathan regime and the swift prosecution of those cases. It’s no use having protracted court proceedings regarding cases of glaring financial misdemeanours and Osinbajo should see to it that the judiciary is welded to the new regime of swift dispensation of justice so that funds can be quickly recovered and utilized for the benefit of long-suffering Nigerians, and fund the much-needed rebalancing of our economy.

The only beef I have with the current situation is the letting-off of those crooks being left off the hook once they’ve returned some of their stolen loot. What kind of justice is that? Thieves must be punished in accordance with the law. If someone who stole N10,000 should be jailed for 18 months, why should those who stole billions go scot-free? It is grave injustice and such practice must be discontinued. A clear message should be sent to those intending to follow the same path that graft would be punished in all circumstances.

Nigerians expect the judiciary to depart from the ways of old and play its part in ridding our country of fraudsters in political garb and give hope of a better future to Nigerians and repair the significant damage that has been done to our reputation as a country and as a people. No one should be above the laws of the land and transgressors should be held to account at all times. We should lay the foundation now for propriety in our public and private lives; it is only then that the expectations of a greater Nigeria can be actualized. For me, the state of affairs are affairs of state, and we're all players.

Nigeria needs help and it is only Nigerians that can help her.