Again, the cycle of electioneering is here. Unfortunately, in Nigeria, this period, since Nigeria returned to civilian rule in 1999, which, usually, commences in the year preceding new election exercise, is dominated by politicking rather than the sacred duty of governance.
But President Muhammadu Buhari, this week, in Abuja, warned ministers, permanent secretaries and heads of government agencies not to abandon the business of governance for electioneering purposes. “Any infraction will be viewed seriously,”
The President issued the directive at the closing ceremony of the 2022 Ministerial Performance Review Retreat.
According to the President, in spite of the commencement of campaigns for the 2023 general elections, the business of governance must not be relegated to the background. Rather, he said, governance should continue to receive the needed attention during this period.
“Consequently, all ministers, permanent secretaries and heads of agencies must remain focused in the discharge of their duties, as any infraction will be viewed seriously,” he said. “Our collective goal is to map out a transition plan for the incoming administration to ensure proper documentation of all the policies, programmes and projects of government with up-to-date status of implementation.”
This warning from the President, of course, is apt. for too long and for serious consequences to the nation, often, in the year preceding elections, politicians and government officials in this part of the world neglect governance and, by extension, people, their welfare and even peace of the land.
The years penultimate to elections are, usually, dominated by the politics of succession to the extent that little or no governance takes place as politicians conveniently relegate to the sides, their core duties of fulfilling constitutional duties for the people.
In such a year, elected officials devote more time to jostling for self-succession or angling for new elective positions when the situation need not be so, just as the President has pointed out.
Government officials should be mindful of the fact that their mandates are yet to expire and they should, therefore, pay attention to the task of governance instead of short-changing the electorate by wasting resources on electioneering campaigns.
Among those standing for elections are serving governors and legislators, who are being egged on by various self-serving groups. The legislators, sadly, often abandon their legislative duties of making laws for good governance to mount campaign. for the executive arm they ought to be keeping in check.
At a time when there are many security and economic issues confronting the nation, governance cannot be relegated to the background. Otherwise, there may not be nation and officials to conduct elections when 2023 comes.
To be fair, it is within the rights of every citizen to aspire to any elective position. Indeed, without electioneering, democracy cannot thrive. But a situation where serving officials concentrate on getting elected again at the expense of governance is disconcerting, horrible and, therefore, unacceptable.
Yes, it is an undeniable fact that every politician is entitled to his aspirations but it must be remembered that election is still some months away and that Nigeria is enmeshed in internal problems of insecurity, depressed economy, increasing poverty, senseless and inhuman killings of innocent citizens, among others. At a time like this, all efforts must be concentrated in resolving these myriads of problems.
The media have a role to play in steering the debate in the direction of governance issues rather than propping only the agenda of the aspirants. Although the political economy of production disposes the media to follow political trends as dictated by political actors, efforts must be made to remind the polity of the greater issues of the proper and effective governance at all levels.
Indeed, the media have been accused of being largely the “agents of power” but there have been critical moments when the media have stirred the polity back to germane issues and have ensured that governments are held accountable to the people. This is the time to do that again!
This is the time, too, for public officials, including the ministers, permanent secretaries and heads of government agencies to step-up, double their efforts and work to deliver the Buhari-led administration’s set targets.
In the end, everyone must align themselves with the position of the President and understand that only good governance and greater attention to the welfare of the people can ensure better electoral participation.
88 garlands for General Yakubu Gowon
President Muhammadu has felicitated with the former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (Rtd), on the occasion of his 88th birthday.
October 19, 2022, was, precisely, the day of birth of the former military general and head of state. Yakubu Gowon, also called Jack Gowon, was born on October 19, 1934, in Pankshin L.G.C. of Plateau State. Gowon served as the Nigerian military leader between 1966 and 1975).
Gowon was educated in Zaria, Kaduna State, and he later became a career army officer. He was trained in Ghana and in England at Sandhurst and twice served in the Congo region as part of Nigeria’s peacekeeping force there in the early 1960s.
In Nigeria, after the coup of January 1966, he was appointed chief of staff to the late General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, then country’s new leader. Northern officers staged a countercoup in July 1966 and Gowon emerged as the head of the new government.
Gowon tried to resolve the ethnic tensions that threatened to fatally divide Nigeria. Although he was eventually successful in ending attacks against Igbo in the North, he was unable to engender lasting peace.
In a final attempt to resolve the conflict, on May 27, 1967, Gowon declared a state of emergency and divided Nigeria’s four regions into 12 states. Three days later, the then eastern region declared itself the independent state of Biafra, with Odumegwu Ojukwu as its leader, and armed conflict between Biafra and the Nigerian government began in July.
Gowon directed government forces to remember that they were essentially fighting Nigerians, who were to be encouraged to rejoin the country. He also allowed a team of international observers to monitor the conduct of his troops.
After the government victory in January 1970, a remarkable reconciliation took place between victors and vanquished, largely attributable to Gowon’s personal influence. By the mid-1970s Gowon was emerging as an international leader and he was involved in the establishment of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
On July 29, 1975, however, while Gowon was in Uganda for an Organisation of African Unity summit meeting, the Army removed him from office.
After his overthrow, Gowon settled in Great Britain. In addition, he was stripped of his rank for allegedly participating in the assassination of his successor, the late General Murtala Mohammed, in 1976.
However, he was pardoned by the late president Shehu Shagari in 1981, and his rank was restored by former president Ibrahim Babangida in 1987.
Having earned a Ph.D. at Warwick University in 1983, Gowon had become a professor of political science at the University of Jos in the mid-1980s and attained the status of an elder statesman in Nigeria.
Today, like Buhari has pointed out, Gowon’s words of wisdom, prayers and sacrifices continue to bring goodwill to the country.
His dedication to duty and the roles he played in pursuance of unity, peace and progress of Nigeria, West Africa and the African continent will continue to be respected.
As a former Nigeria’s head of state, Gowon’s years were committed to building the nation, through policies his government initiated like the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Reintegration (3Rs) which sought to unite the country’s people after the war and propel the nation’s development.
Thus, it is crucial that Buhari joined millions of other well-wishers to congratulate Gowon on his birthday and pray for his good state of health, strength and longer life and continuous ability to contribute to the process of development of the country.
After all, Gowon, the youngest person to lead the country at 32 years, has consistently championed a movement to always pray for Nigeria.
Thus, Nigerians, irrespective of their religion and or region, say happy birthday to a truly magnificent and committed leader whose leadership style will continue to be remembered for its inspiration.
Sir, may your birthday bless you with all the courage and strength you require to continue performing your advisory role as outstandingly as you do.
