There was a euphoric feeling across the land as millions of jubilant Nigerians celebrated the triumph of Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress in the just concluded presidential election. The chant: Sai Buhari, Sai Baba rented the air. The defeat of the much touted largest party in Africa, the Peoples Democratic Party, and its presidential candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan, was seen by many as offering Nigeria an opportunity for a new and wondrous beginning.Given this scenario, the first 100 days in office of Buhari as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria are going to be critical days – in fact the defining period of his Presidency. The stakes are high, just as the high expectations of traumatised Nigerians. As the saying goes, morning shows the day, so the morning of the Buhari Presidency will indicate if it is going to be good day for the country. As a former Head of State and someone who had thrice doggedly fought for this trophy, it is expected that the General already has a blueprint of public governance to be rolled out, at the go. It cannot be seen as misplaced high expectations. The challenge, therefore, for President-elect Buhari is being able to take off in a dead run – right from inauguration day on May 29, 2015.
I believe the President-elect has appropriately defined the arduous task ahead of him with that evocative caption of his acceptance speech – The Die is cast – on being presented with his certificate of return by the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega. The Nigerian people gave him their votes because they are frustrated with the underperforming government of President Jonathan and were no longer willing to give the “humble boy” from Otuoke, Bayelsa State, the benefit of the doubt for another term. So, in line with philosopher John Locke’s “Doctrine of Social Contract” between the people, as the popular sovereign authority in a democracy, and the agents they elect into government, the electorate exercised its right by terminating the social contract with the Jonathan Presidency and awarding the governance contract to Buhari. Apparently, the President-elect understood this “social contract” philosophy when in his acceptance speech, he declared : “There shall be no ruling party again: The APC will be your governing party. We shall faithfully serve you. We shall never rule over the people as if they were subservient to government.” The practice had been that the agent becomes the Overlord of the people.
Buhari earned his reputation on LAW and Order, that has endured for 30 years since his first coming as military Head of State in December 1983. The day now beckons for him to go on “Action Station” for a repeat performance. It is therefore no surprise that he identified the twin evils of corruption and insecurity/terrorism as the two major woes facing the country which he is resolved to battle, resolutely. While pledging to demonstrate State Power in decisively tackling the Boko Haram insurgency, he sees corruption as worse than terrorism and vowed: “We shall strongly battle the evil of corruption …Corruption attacks and seeks to destroy our national institutions and character…By misdirecting into selfish hands funds intended for public purpose, corruption distorts the economy (and) creates a class of unjustly-enriched people.” He noted that such filthy rich will attempt to buy government and pledged his resolve: “We shall end this threat to our economic development and democratic survival… I repeat that corruption will not be tolerated by this administration.”
Strong words. Reassuring words. Now, the die is truly cast for President-elect Buhari to translate words into action. He invites us to make input, by way of suggestions – “I seek your voice and input as we tackle these problems”. I take him up on the offer and suggests as follows :
WANTED – AN AGENCY FOR PUBLIC ORDER. Protection of life and property is the primary obligation of government and deserves top priority attention. There has to be a unified, holistic approach to tackling endemic insecurity in the land that has created pervasive fear and shut down night economy, as people abandon the night hours to marauding, violent criminals. It got to a point that a police chief even advised people against night travel as robbers waylaid motorists during night journeys! It was a police surrender to criminals. So, today, life is very cheap in Nigeria, as people get killed on a daily basis, with impunity, even by police officers paid to protect lives. The prevalent general disorder and indiscipline throughout the country highlight the FAILURE of relevant REGULATORY AGENCIES. Therefore, a Public Order institution or commission, whatever name that may be appropriate, headed by a passionate individual and committed rank and file, has become imperative, to tackle the pervasive lawlessness in the country. Such activist Public Order Agency, working in collaboration with the National Human Rights Commission and Servicom, should have as its focus the activities of The Nigeria Police and the Federal Road Safety Commission among others, the two being institutions of government whose inefficiencies, compromises and connivance have contributed largely to lack of safety at home, at work and on the road. The Nigeria Police, an institution central to public order, has lost credibility with people with tragic consequences for all. This must be urgently reversed. The government would be seen to be pro-people if one of its first acts is to announce that heads of police jurisdictions, Divisional Police Officers, et al, will henceforth be liable for criminal activities in their jurisdictions and sanctioned appropriately and speedily, where they fail to effectively discharge their responsibilities. This is enforcing RESPONSIBILITY and ACCOUNTABILITY, both of which have been lacking in many government agencies. Establishment of a hotline, perhaps in The Presidency, where people can report compromised police officers will be a measure of performance monitoring by the public. The impunity of police brutality, which alienates the public, must be stopped as the first step to restoring a much needed police-people friendly relations. When the demons in the Nigeria Police are exorcised, the people would be more willing to volunteer information about criminals, a prerequisite for police effectiveness. It is instructive that within the police leadership, there was a former reformist Inspector-General of Police who scrapped police roadblocks, where many people had been killed and maimed by police officers, with impunity. The cover-up of such killer policemen, as documented by the NHRC, should be reviewed with prosecution by the proposed Public Order Agency or the Ministry of Justice. These measures, which should attract saturation publicity, will boost public confidence in The Presidency as people-oriented and strengthen reformists within the police. When people fear, rather than have faith in, the Police, it can only be to the advantage of criminals.
With regard to the FRSC, it is saddening that succeeding governments/leaders and agencies have not shown any outrage about the horrendous killings on the roads where thousands have lost their lives. The Buhari Presidency can begin to make a difference here as part of security of lives. The establishment of the FRSC is a recognition of the grave situation of road killings (road accident is a misnomer) by homicidal drivers, even in governors’ motorcades, and where thousands more are maimed for life and rendered economic liabilities . Killer drivers often go scot free to continue their homicidal rampage on the roads. Unfortunately, the FRSC has turned out just another government employment agency with poor service delivery. Vigorous enforcement of road safety regulations will be a plus to the new administration. For instance, relevant laws can be reviewed such that reckless drivers, who caused death within built up communities, should not enjoy bail while, as part of preventive measures, commuters can report reckless drivers who may have their licences withdrawn before they do harm.
For the FRSC, its inability to ensure road discipline and safe motoring on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, the main artery of Nigeria’s economic and social activities, thereby making motorists to suffer harrowing traffic gridlocks, and be prey to robbers, is a manifest instance of its incompetence. As a columnist with the Peoples Daily newspaper, I wrote a piece in my February 28, 2011 column captioned, “Wanted: Road Accident Prosecution and Relief Agency” in which I indicted the FRSC for lacking passion in executing its core mandate where it lapses into civil service indolence, but very enthusiastic when it comes to cornering licensing revenue. The then Corps Marshall of the FRSC, Osita Chidoka, now Minister of Aviation, had invited me to Abuja, from Iwo, where I am a teacher, to see their operations, apparently to disabuse my mind. I was at the FRSC headquarters, Abuja, on June 1, 2011 and taken on a tour of its facilities by an assistant director. In fairness to Chidoka, the FRSC under his watch is a reservoir of data on various aspects of road management ranging from road fatalities, injuries, type and number of vehicles involved, driving licence approvals, speed limit violations and crashes by governors’ motorcades etc. So, while the FRSC may be strong in terms of database, it is very poor in its practical responsibility of ensuring road safety. And that has to change.
Dr. Olawunmi, Lecturer, Department of Mass Communication, Bowen University, Iwo, wrote in via olawunmibisi@yahoo.com: 0803 364 7571
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