The last general election was fought on the line of change and
transformation mantra. Eventually, the Change mantra carried the day. We
can conveniently say therefore that we craved for change, we yearned for
change, we aspired and strived for change, we went for change and we got
the platform to effect a change.
The mandate we have with the voice of change right now is nothing but a
mere opportunity. And like all opportunities, it can be missed, mismanaged
and wasted or it can actually be ceased upon and translated to great
benefit of all parties for whom it (the opportunity) surfaces for
From May 29th, few days from now, a new set of people will mount the
podium to pilot the affairs of the nation. These men have the opportunity
because they promised us change. What nature or type of change it will be,
we were not told.
Therefore, we have the responsibility to define and prescribe the type of
change, the drivers of change and the scope of change that we envisaged
when we voted for it on 28th March
Like some of us maintained during the electioneering, the change we look
forward to is more than mere event. It is a process that is on-going. This
process includes the way we think/ reason, the way we do/act, the way we
perceive/look at governance, leadership vis-a-viz follower-ship, etc.
Towards the end of last century, there were several
predictions/permutations as to what will be the hallmark and strength of
this 21st century. One of the men was Charles Handy, An Irish
author/philosopher specialises in organisational behaviour and management.
He tagged this century as an era that is for the men of unreason. That is,
“an era when change is constant, random, and, as discontinuous. An era
where it be necessary to break out of old ways of thinking in order to use
change to the advantage of humanity.
These views which he enunciated in a book titled “The Age of Unreason,
Examines how dramatic changes are transforming business, education, and
the nature of work; how astounding new developments in technology, shift
in demand from manual to cerebral skills, and in the virtual disappearance
of lifelong, full-time jobs.
Just as Handy maintains that “”discontinuous change requires
discontinuous, upside-down thinking, and discusses the need for new kind
of organizations, new approaches to work, new types of schools, and new
ideas about the nature of our society”, We are expecting a total change in
all ramifications and from all stakeholders involved in the building of
this nation – Nigeria in the new phase of the democratic experiment that
we are about entering into.
The stakeholders includes the politicians in both the Executive,
legislative arms of Government at the different tier and the pseudo –
politicians in the judiciary, the civil servants, the business men who
transact business with the government, the organised private sector,
opinion leaders in both the religious and cultural setting, and the
followers that cut across the different strata of the society.
The politicians, the civil servants, and policy makers have to think
outside the box in terms of funds generation and management. Governments
at all levels of governance should plan their spending on zero basis
allocation from the oil and gas sector. They should operate from the
perspective that all the oil wells in the Niger-Delta has dried up
This thinking will force a critical and radical thinking and focus on the
current existing but neglected and abandoned revenue sources as well as
evolving new ones. Like for instance, I don’t know why about 60% of the
Government agencies and institutions cannot generate and contribute to the
national coffers.
Above everything else, those at the helm of affairs must ensure prudence,
accountability and frugality in the deployment and application of the
dwindling resources. Gone should be the days when appointment and mandate
given to people to serve is seeing as a ticket to looting and despoliation
as well as raping of the commonwealth
The state Governments must think of how best they can govern their state
with internally generated revenue unlike now that they depend solely on
the allocation from the Central purse superintend by the Federal
Government. Focusing on Agriculture, mineral deposits and the organic
tourism destinations and non – organic tourism elements like culture and
the entertainment industry will come in handy.
There is need for moral rebirth by the stakeholders especially as it
relates to matters of ethic, integrity, character, honesty, principles,
etc. Here, the religious and traditional rulers have a vital role to play.
We must go back to the basics. Tradition and culture may change but value,
honesty and truths which are vital ingredients of godliness has never and
will never change. Incidentally, it t is only those who stick to them that
makes enduring progress and remarkable impact.
The followers on their part must be ready to perform the watch men role
through necessary investment of time in questioning, scrutinizing and
examining every word and action of the leaders. Gone should be the days
when they surrender themselves to helplessness of those they elect to
serve them.
The current critical attention being given to the scrutiny of every word
and action of the incoming government though appeared premature, should be
encouraged and never relented. Let the search light be beamed on all
activities and actions of all the elected representatives including
political appointees and any man/woman in position of authority.
The incoming government has no option but to deliver on their promises as
no excuse will suffice. The political parties as well as apolitical
supporters in the last election have a fundamental duty and responsibility
to ensure that their principals do not fail. They should be the touch
bearers in this constant scrutiny of the government’s performance.
The incoming elected representatives at all levels will do well to
remember that the PVC which ensured their emergence has no expiry date and
so is waiting to ensure their exit as well should they fail to make the
form, nature, content, future course, etc., of governance different from
what it is at the moment.
All of them have 4 years not 8 years to do what is needful – that is,
transforming the huge expectation, hope and aspiration of the people into
reality. The structural deficiency of the federation, the tradition that
has turned the nation into mono-economy from the economic diversity of the
pre – oil and gas discovery, the era of impunity, lawlessness and
brinkmanship that has no regard for accountability, etc. must give way. If
they perform and deliver on their promises, 4 more years will just roll to
their laps.
General Muhamadu Buhari and Prof Osibajo have a great opportunity to write
theirs name in the Hall of Fame or Hall of Infamy. Which will it be?