Nigerian Politics: A Tolerated Mediocracy Carried Out by Nigeria Executive Members in the 21st Century
Table of Contents
Nigerian politics over the years
This Documentary was motivated by an event that took place in July 2014 in Lagos, Nigeria, and it is dedicated to every patriotic Nigerian who has made a great sacrifice to the Country, a documentary that focuses on Nigerian politics.
It all seems normal in Nigerian politics but to me, it is not normal I see a disease spreading with no preventive measures taken, they all do it and repeat it over and over again with nothing being done about it, it has been going on for years and it has been passed on from generation to generation despite several changes of power in the Country every politician as emulate the same policy. You might be wondering what I am talking about. Relax grab a cup of coffee and journey with me to take a look at the high level of mediocracy carried out by Nigerian politics by the Executive arms of Government members.
Executive Arm of Government
For years the executive arm of the Government in Nigerian politics has always been naming Public facilities and geographical places in the country. Still, over the years it has become alarming how Nigerian politics has missed track as the executive arm of the government keeps naming a public infrastructure built with the money of taxpayer after themselves and their relatives who have not impacted or displayed any encouraging patriotic role or movement in the country.
It seems in Nigerian politics these politicians forget that these facilities are not built with money from their private pockets it’s built with money from the State and Federal accounts and even if they have the Executive power to name these facilities, morally sound they have no right to name these facilities after themselves or their loves one.
Many Individuals have made sacrifices for the country over the years but continue to get little or no recognition from Federal and State governments. Whereas all these Nigerian politicians who have done nothing but occupy an office with power where they have been aided heavily with privileges and different allowances flowing in monthly as they keep giving themselves recognition in the country and the Nigerian politics landscapes just on the basis they are in control of power, it even Baffles me why this politician facing numerous corruption charges still dares to name public facility built with ever working Nigeria Taxpayer money after themselves.
This has been taking place since 1999 after President Olusegun Obasanjo although many Nigeria will argue he has been one of Nigeria’s best Democratic President so far due to his negligence in paying attention to the way the Executive member are using their power will make me conclude that it orchestrated what is happening Today many activists who have lost their life in the process of advocating for human right during General Sani Abacha regime a regime which was known for it Autonomous Dictatorship and looting of public funds.
The Executive Arm of Government in Nigerian Politics has failed to compliment or award accolades to some key figures who fought for Democracy in Nigeria with their life, when these current political are then busy minding their business and living a low-key life, while numerous people are out there risking their life to talk against Military regime.
It is funny in Nigerian politics that many politicians who have never participated in advocating for Democracy to be brought back to the country during the Military regime are enjoying the foundation of what this Patriotic Nigeria has layed and they went as far as showing a high level of selfishness, This Politician just feels like they are entitled to name public built facilities after themselves in the name that they hold Political power this is absurd, most of them has done little or nothing for their people not even talking of Nigeria at large.
Patrotic Ken Sarro Wiwa
The Government that came in in 1999-2007 refused to see the Patriotic role of some individuals in Nigeria who lost their lives advocating for Justice, Freedom and Democracy, people like Ken Sanro Wiwa, a prominent environmentalist and leader of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), a man who was executed during General Sani Abacha regime for standing up against Environmental degradation of Ogoniland due to the oil extraction activities carried in the region.
in mids of the Nigerian politics struggle Sir Ken Saro Wiwa was executed alongside 8 other activists in 1995 and still, date Federal Government is yet to honour the activist with any public facility named after him but politicians who spent 8 years in Power get public facilities named after them and they continue to enjoy the pension and allowance that come after stepping down from office, to make matter worse the agenda ken Saro Wiwa move against continue till date as the Degradation of Ogoni land continues and the underdevelopment of the Niger Delta is still alarming despite been the region that enriches the country the most.
Patriotic Dele Giwa
Another prominent figure brutally murdered in the struggle of Nigerian politics before the 1999 return to democracy was Dele Giwa a Nigeria Journalist, editor and founder of Newswatch magazine who was assassinated on October 19, 1986. in his residence in Ikeja Lagos he was murdered through the use of a parcel bomb there has not been an official recognition of Dele Giwa’s sacrifice and patriotic art for the nation His murder, linked to his investigative journalism that exposed the government, remains one of Nigeria’s most notorious cases of state-sponsored violence against the press, still today nobody was persecuted for the murder of Dele Giwa.
Early 2010 Nigerian Politics
Fast forward to 2010, it seems the art is getting worse in Nigerian Politics as many State governors imitate the same thing and name several public infrastructures after themselves and relatives. Let’s talk about His Excellency Bukola Saraki former Governor of Kwara State and a former Senate President A man was labelled with a series of corruption charges and was accused of buying a bulletproof car and using a fake paper for it. The same man was found to be receiving a pension as an Ex-Governor in Kwara State while still occupying another political seat which is the Seat of Senate President of Nigeria.
Bukola Saraki
Saraki administration built a hostel for Kwara State Polytechnic in 2011 to tackle the accommodation issue faced by female students in the School.
The School hostel was later named after Senator Saraki and today it is called Bukola Saraki’s International Standard Girl Hostel, maybe a lot of people might think is okay but I think is never okay because you built a hostel for a school from the State fund doesn’t make you entitled to it, They are lecturers who have to dedicate their life and entire career for the school growth and the truth is nobody remembers them all the sacrifice they make showing up to school guiding student and creating future leader their efforts deserve to be complimented.
Saraki’s family didn’t stop there as there are several public infrastructural named after their family including Bukola Saraki’s father who a Library named after him in Ilroin until the library was demolished by the State Government in 2021, You see The Saraki family dominated the Kwara state politics since the Second Republic as Bukola Saraki father once run for the post of Presidency in the Federal Republic of Nigeria but failed he also a former serving Senator in the second republic In 1998, Olusola became a National Leader and member of the Board of Trustees of the All People’s Party (APP), he was a key contributor to the APP success in Kwara and Kogi States.
He assisted Mohammed Alabi Lawal in becoming Governor of Kwara State. And later went on to endorse his Son Bukola Saraki to become Governor of Kwara State including his daughter who also serves as a Senator and Minister in Nigeria. It baffles me how one family is dominating a State politics and turning it into a hereditary Government, many politicians have also followed this practice including former Governor of Kaduna State Nasir El-Rufai whose son is currently an Honourable member of the Nigeria House of Representatives while himself is nurturing his ambition to become a minister in Tinubu cabinet before been disqualified by the Nigeria Senate, we just can’t sit and wonder what Nigerian politics has become.
Tracing Bukola Saraki’s roots back to his ancestor shows biologically he’s not even from Kwara State cause his Grandparent are never Kwara indigence by birth, His Grandfather was from Mali according to Wikipedia and his Grandmother is from Iseyin in Oyo State but his grandfather base in Kwara and studied Islamic study and his Father was born in Kwara, even Saraki himself was not born in Kwara he was born in London United Kingdom on 19 December 1962 it surprising how a family their root can’t be traced to Kwara foundation dominate a Nigerian politics.
Senator Godswill Akpabio
Let’s go ahead and talk about the current Senate President who has faced many corruption charges from EFCC about mismanaging funds during his tenure as Governor and Minister of the Niger Delta under President Muhammad Buhari’s regime. Is not a new thing that politicians get away with crime in the country since when former President Muhammadu Buhari declared his agenda against corruption in the country in 2015.
Since then over 100 politicians and former political office holders have been accused of bribery and corruption including the judges who are meant to pass judgment, it is surprising that out of all this number EFCC has managed to persecute less than 30% of this number, the major cause of this is always referred to as an art of the Nigeria Judiciary not fully independence.
Even if is known to all of Nigeria that the Judiciary arm of Government is an independent body, most of the time when EFCC arraigns the accused person in front of the Court of law most of these cases are often dismissed on the ground that EFCC are not able to provide enough information to support their claims.
Also, these people flew out of the country to avoid being arrested or detained by law enforcement officers a case of the Former Minister of Petroleum Mrs Dizani Allison Madueke who was accused of carrying out the highest level of fraud in the country by defrauding the Federal Government of Nigeria of over $90 billion dollar an amount greater than top three African Richest men net worth combine together been defrauded by one person up still date Mrs Dizani Allison is yet to stand in front of court over all this charges the Dizani affair is a big scandal in Nigeria and that a story for another day.
Governor Godswill Akpabio built a stadium for Nigeria in Akwa Ibom state and the stadium was named after him, while they have been several Footballers from Akwa Ibom state who have represented Nigeria on the Global stage, people like Vincent Enyeama one of the most recognised goalkeeper in Nigeria and African in the 21st Century and this stadium is not named after them but it was named after a man who seats down in an office equip with A.C and enjoy the privileges that come with being a Governor and Senate President.
It is not new that Nigerian politicians are always greedy they never want to leave power they are always jumping from one position to another after their tenure expires. In fact, His Excellency Godswil Akpabio was still a seating Governor when he decided to run for Senate in 2015 but lost the election and was later appointed as the Minister of Niger Delta affairs in 2019 after decamping to APC in 2018.
His Excellency Nyesom Wike
Next in line to talk about in Nigerian Politics is the former Governor of Rivers State His Excellency Nyesom Wike who is serving as the current Minister of FCT a man who has been accused of several corruption charges, he was even been accused by his successor as Governor of River State a man he campaigned for, the current Governor of River State Siminalayi Fubara has accused the former Governor of misappropriate of the state fund.
On 3rd of February 2023, the former Governor appeared in front of a High court in Port Harcourt over corruption charges of a Foreign company alleged to have duped Rivers State. Despite all these corruption charges Nyesom Wike went on to become the Minister of FCT.
On 11 August 2022 Brigadier General, Mohammed Fadah inaugurated a 5,000-capacity ultra-modern auditorium built by the Nyesom Wike administration and the Brigadier General later went on to name the facility as “His Excellency Nyesom Ezeanwo Wike Hall” even if the Brigadier General forget that Wike didn’t build this hall with money from his personal pocket it’s money from the State account.
The Brigadier General suppose to remember the sacrifice made by youth corps over the year especially does who lost their life while doing this program, especially an Event which happen on On 19th March 2016 when Samuel Dumebi Okota was shot dead in an election which takes place in River state imagine sending your child to school and he ends up getting killed in a power struggle between politician.
The election in which Dumebi was killed was an election where Nyesom Wike and Rotimi Amaechi were both struggling for power in the state after a series of word exchanges and violent threats, an audio was released by Sahara reporter which captured the voice of Governor Nyesom Wike threaten an Inec official, a body which is supposed to be independent although the audio legitimacy was not confirmed till date.
Even if Brigadier General Mohammed Fadah forgot Dumebi he also looks to forget a fellow law enforcement officer who was killed in the Rivers Re-run election that year, it baffles me how Politician who always get to enjoy privileges and amenities their position comes with think they deserve more accolade than people who tend to risk their life and make sacrifice every day, Nigeria has lost thousand of Military personnel to fight against terrorism but not single Amy personnel name in the last 10 year has been named after any Federal public facility.
Governor Hope Uzondima
Now let me wrap up my article with Governor Hope Uzodinma the sitting Governor of Imo State who has been labelled with a series of corruption charges including land racketing, on October 6 2023 Governor Hope Uzodinma announced on his Twitter page announce the commissioning of an Ultra Modern Hospital at Omuma in the Oru East LGA and he went ahead to name the hospital after is late father, Michael Uzodimma and called it “Michael Uzodinma Memorial Hospital”.
Maybe Governor Hope Uzodinma forgot that this hospital was built with the state fund and not money from his private pocket and naming it after his father who I can’t trace any single commitment he has made for the country, does not deserve to be named after any public infrastructural in the country. In a country where many doctors have made sacrifices for the Nation and yet to get Public facilities named after them we have the like of Ameyo Stella Adadevoh a woman who prevented the spread of the Ebola virus in the nation.
She was later killed by the Ebola virus still date Federal Government has yet to give tangible recognition to this woman if this continues, let it be known to the government that they are promoting the art of anti-patriotism and if this continues many citizens we only make decision which only benefit themselves and not the country.
Conclusion
It is okay to honour your loved one but don’t do it at the expense of Nigerians and Nigerian politics you don’t deserve to name yourself or your loved ones after public infrastructures if they have not made a tangible sacrifice for the country if you feel the need to proclaim the legacy of your family build your own private sector and name it after yourself or love one stop taking advantage of your power to do a thing to favour you while forgetting the sacrifice of patriotic Nigerians.
