Text of a keynote address presented by Nigerian Bar Association (nba), President Joseph Daudu (san) at the 10th Chief B.O. Benson (san) yearly lecture by the NBA Ikorodu Branch.
• Continued from last week
These people are the ones that give democracy a bad name.
It is suggested to the administration that there is an urgent need for the setting up of a ‘ Uniform Law Commission ’which will, in turn, set up or establish the ‘National Conference of Commissioners for Uniform State Laws’ This is so as to establish legislative balance between the Centre and the States and also inter-govemental harmony. The existence of this agency will frustrate any efforts to abuse the law making process whether in relation to constitutional amendment or in respect of ordinary Bills.
The first steps of the new administration
Although winners emerged and we congratulated them, the former President too must be commended for his statesmanlike conduct of conceding the election to General Muhammadu Buhari. There remain very serious issues arising from the elections which must not be swept under the carpet and abandoned there until the next general elections. These issues which I propose to highlight hereunder are issues that if care is not taken are usually capable of diminishing the legitimacy of government that emerges from such an exercise. More over if not dealt with comprehensively, these problems will resurrect with grave consequences in future. The problems include but are not limited to:
•The problems associated with voter registration.
•The problems associated with voter accreditation and the use of the card reader.
• The amendment of the Electoral Act 2010 to deal with all the issues detected and highlighted by stakeholders since the introduction or usage of the extant legislation.
• The need for electoral reforms.
Some commentators have advocated that INEC, government of the day and other stakeholders be given credit for this most imperfect election. That all and sundry be commended on account of the fact that election was conducted, no matter how bad. They hinge their argument on the fact that it is unfair to judge us along western standards of democracy and that we have, in any event, tried. To such persons it must be said that democracy, truth, honesty and decency are universal virtues recommended by the Almighty for man. They differentiate us from wild animals and it is necessary to say here that our report sheet for this elections which is ‘average ‘ is the direct consequence of how low and corrupt we have become. Since poverty is not a defence for theft. The new administration must take power with the result that it will genuinely take steps to eradicate such ills; this will restore confidence into the machinery of governance and renew the social compact (contract) between the state and the people. Right now, outgoing government or the incoming one must take steps to ensure not only that there is no repeat of the kind of things we witnessed in this election but that a democratic culture based on truth and honesty is introduced into Nigeria. If we do not do so, then, the Promised Land will continue to be an illusion and despite our wealth, we will continue to live in squalor and want. God, the Almighty cannot be deceived as man can.
Matters arising for the new government
It is normally said that we should thank the good Lord for small mercies; the survival of Nigeria is a cause to continue to be thankful to God the Almighty. It is a big mercy. For this the in-coming administration must not squander the good will of Nigerians for there is not much left. There are important areas of priority for which a lot of good can come out of, we shall endeavour to explore some of these areas.
Law, order and security
This is the greatest priority facing the new administration, virtually, law and order have all but broken down, even those who are meant to protect the people from the harassment of criminals have criminalised their own official acts, police check points even though outlawed still rear its head at odd hours and they have now been converted to illegal toll gates. Apart from the disgrace and odium such behaviour brings to the country, countless criminals have slipped through the net because due process has not been followed by the decision makers. The following solution may be apt:
•Reorganisation of the Nigeria Police Force.
• Enactment of a uniform criminal code.
• Resurrecting the fight against corruption by empowering organisations like the EFCC and ICPC.
• Tackling corruption among public officers.
• Tackling corruption in the private section.
• Ensuring that the Rule of Law prevails and that the message to criminals is that when caught, they will be tried by a court of competent jurisdiction, convicted and sent to jail or acquitted and freed. Judicial powers to the Police where unlawful killings in the name of extra-judicial justice have become the order of the day must be discouraged and eradicated.
• Control of civil disturbances.
• Combating terrorism.
• Maintenance of law and order.
Economic reforms
The appropriate starting point is to ensure that there is a comprehensive review of the existing economic policy. It cannot be business as usual. Government must note that despite billions of dollars spent on iron and steel and power, we are still unable to produce steel in any form or provide power (electricity) to Nigerians beyond 2500 or so Kilo watts when what is minimally required is in excess of 10, 000 kilowatts. Billions are spent on importation of items that we can produce if we had electricity to produce them.
The absence of an engaged workforce is responsible for the high level of poverty in Nigeria which in turn leads to rampancy in the crime rate. The new administration must, as a matter of priority, revive all moribund industries by creating a real fund, not a political fund that will be effectively supervised for industrialisation of key sectors of the economy. As a starting point, all textile industries must be re-organised and revitalised, there should be a ban on almost all food products that are imported, let local industries produce replacements.
The President stands in a unique position to change the face of Nigeria and imprint himself in the history of Nigeria. To facilitate this, we expect that the administration will:
•Genuinely revive the rail industry and make it the moving force for the Nigerian transportation sector.
•Make the roads safer and assessable to all Nigerians.
•Ensure that the reforms in Telecommunications continue.
•Continue with banking reforms.
• Continue with the reforms in the aviation sector.
• Encourage local participation in the industrialisation process.
Education
Nigerians expect that emphasis is placed on qualitative education; the lack of quality education is responsible for most of the ills in the society. The low quality is having a debilitating effect on the ability of the country to progress. There is an urgent need for the administration to articulate a revised National Education Policy for the accelerated advancement in education at all levels.
Rule of law/justice
No modern society can survive without the rule of law; this administration must ensure that all are equal before the law. The independence of the judiciary must also be preserved and all justice sector reforms embarked upon by the former administration must be steadfastly continued and implemented. Justice must reach the grassroots.
Conclusion
Nigerians await with hope the inauguration of another administration, her people are full of expectations, whatever happens, let us preserve the peace, encourage order, breed dedicated Nigerians, discourage crime and hold our elected officials to account particularly to the terms of their oaths of office. Let anyone entrusted with responsibility and the nation’s wealth not only account for what he is entrusted with but be supervised so that a record of his stewardship can be kept. Above all let all entrusted with power fear God Almighty.
