I wrote this http://jideakej.blogspot.com.ng/2014/11/top-bottom.html
almost two years ago and my opinion has not changed about a Top-Bottom approach
for changing the country.
The president during the week launched a campaign about
change starting with Nigerians and he's been heavily criticized or mocked
depending on the 'politico-sentimental' inclinations of the individuals
concerned. I understand the reason(s) for the backlash especially with the
risen cost of goods and services. Any sensible Nigerian will be outraged to
find out like I did a few weeks ago at 'Census' Market in Surulere Lagos (where
I do most of my shopping) that locally milled rice and the imported variant both
cost ₦17,000 per bag.
I know a mere slogan like "Yes we can" or
"Black lives matter" is not necessarily guaranteed to achieve the
intended impact but that really is how movements start whether positive or
negative. Even Trump's "Make America great again" is quite effective
as we all can see.
Has President Buhari transferred the full responsibility to
change Nigeria to regular Nigerians like some people have suggested? I do not
think so. Many may not like his methods but the truth is that things are not
like they used to be and that is indeed change already. It is such that even
elitist Nigerians are not happy and this includes those who are supposed to be
loyal to the president.
Is it not amazing when we hear individuals from both major
parties say stuff like "the presidency has been hijacked" or
"the president has surrounded himself with his older nephew and an overly
devoted chief of staff?" Who did they expect him to have as his closest
advisers? Dino Melaye or Doyin Okupe? They are those who have been with PMB for
decades now especially when he lost back to back to back elections. They could
have easily moved to the PDP to earn massively but did not, even PMB like
certain members of the then APP/ANPP could have moved on to the PDP and become
their flag bearer.
Nigerians should realize that we have serious issues and
enemies within who have been nurtured by corruption for decades now and these
ones will do whatever it takes be it blackmail, violence or threats of
violence, sabotage etc to ensure a return to status quo. They have attempted to
or successfully blackmailed every president since 1999 and PMB will not be
spared.
How do we justify the actions of a few who regularly got paid
huge sums as amnesty for over 6years but who now sabotage oil installations and
claim neglect? How do we justify Nigerians who continue to sow seeds of discord
by generating false news which exploit our religious and ethnic fault lines?
Nigerians see and read these things and do not raise objections or question saboteurs
or warmongers. How do we think we will make progress like this?
Do we really think Nigeria will change just by President
Buhari coming on air to make declarations? The same people condemning him now
will still do so and call him a tyrant. The President is not all powerful, his
major source of power is from the people who put him there. He cannot just wake
up and meddle into the affairs of the legislative and judiciary arms of
government (these arms have been more of a problem to Nigeria); that would be
dictatorial. The President is made to appear weak when actions to stem
insecurity and corruption in the land are resisted by the same Nigerians who
have been repeatedly exploited by the minority elite in the land. "Leave
our brother alone," "is he/she the only one who stole,"
"the fight is one sided," etc etc. Many times, the elites in search
of status quo, control or attempt to control the media so that the people would
turn against the government. This perhaps is one of the points which certain
individuals appointed by the government to disseminate information attempt to
convey albeit in very unfortunate, inappropriate and insensitive ways.
There should be a message in the newly adopted slogan
especially for those of us who insist on a 'Top to Bottom' approach. The slogan
may sound as a reversal of this circuit but the truth is that in every sector
of Nigeria, there are those at the top and those at the bottom as rightly
described by a former NSCDC spokesman who was interviewed a few years ago on Channels
TV. There is always an 'Oga at the top' who should lead in the banking sector,
civil service, sports, business, health sector, education etc. I'm certain that
the president believes he has showed the way to go and read the riot act to his
lieutenants. It is our collective duty to ensure this is relayed and supervised
at every level.
What we have had in Nigeria is an oga at the top saying one
thing and those who should ensure instructions got followed at the lower levels
doing another thing. President Buhari needs help and support from the people,
the serious governors need help also. Those in charge of our security need the
people to assist them in identifying and preventing potential threats. We do
not have the sufficient military man power to handle threats on many fronts
simultaneously. I am not certain we have over 150,000 combatant soldiers to
fight terror or internal conflicts across the nation at the same time so we
should be careful with how we deliberately stoke fires or let ourselves be easy
prey for opportunists who exploit our religious frailties or other like
sentiments. We should not shout suspected herdsmen attacks where there is none
or support separatist groups who only preach enmity or bomb oil and gas
installations. If katakata burst, we no get enough fire fighters o and I'm sure
most of us will run to China or Greenland for amnesty. Why should the Christian
Association of Nigeria be raising unnecessary dust about the role of the Sultan
of Sokoto in the 'declaration' of notable Islamic celebrations?
Our actions and inaction as a people can either develop or
retard us; I don't believe it is too much to ask Nigerians to identity with
this campaign to curb indiscipline and other vices we know render us
chronically stunted.
This is how I ended my post two years ago and I believe it is
still relevant;
"A top to bottom approach followed by a reciprocal
bottom up change of behavior I believe is the way to curb corruption and limit
its effect."
God bless all Nigerians.
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