In this nostalgic evoking piece by making reference to an imaginary Nkechi (Jumoke, Halima or Blessing), depicting the Nigerian ‘anonymous woman’) who said ‘‘Me, I don’t know. I don’t care. Na Grammar. I am just waiting for my own people in my state and my area to bring the things that are promised. You can see me waiting. In… (different parts of Nigeria)… I wait. Look out of your car window. See my face as I wait and grow old.’ It is not rocket science to perceive her scepticism arising from the lack of proof of the ongoing transformation in her immediate environment. The fact that a woman is the Minister, purportedly leading this transformation does very little to assuage her impatience with the non-performance of the leaders at her LGA. According to her, all that was achieved was in Abuja:a city she might never visit – she is already 52 years – and even if she did ever visit, the visit would not put food on the table for her children and grandchildren, pay her transportation fees, reduce the dust covering her wares at the road side from the untarred road where she sat to sell or settle her husband’s medical bills. For anyone who knows the average Nigerian woman, they would undoubtedly agree that they above all else seem to generally possess more hope than all concerned. To therefore observe her express her mind on the possibility of her hopes been dashed should be a source of concern to all in government at every level.
As the election draws nearer, a lot of attention is being paid to the contestants for election to the most enviable position in the country, the presidency. The debate rages and temper rises from supporters of both candidates of the ruling PDP and opposition APC political parties. As the incumbent President – Goodluck Jonathan – and the opposition candidate, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari(Rtd) travel the length and breadth of the country, canvassing for support, campaign vehicles being stoned at one instance, candidates being hailed in several others, yet traffic congestion heralds the every arrival of the two candidates at different rally grounds in this run-up to the elections. This frenzy appears to overshadow the election and re-election into the lower arms of government, namely the State and Local Government Areas. Interestingly, these are the governments that should ideally make their presence felt by the generality of the polity. In a few months’ time, other than the likes of Fashola of Lagos State, Akpabio of Akwa Ibom, and a few others, the rest of the governors would have left very tiny impressions on the sands of the history of their respective states. This latter category should not be overly criticized as they have only followed in the footsteps of their unimpressive predecessors. Also, at the local government level where Nkechi could have had succour, the height of mismanagement of funds is only masked by its size. Perhaps, if these 774 LGAs individually received more than they presently do, the magnitude of their wanton spending would have been more glaring. This notwithstanding collectively, it still amounts to a very significant amount of money being mismanaged at this tier of government. Of course the State Governments are not without blame in this regard as they are sometimes accused of holding on to monies belonging to these LGAs – investing them to generate interest/income into personal bank accounts – when they are not out-rightly embezzled. No wonder Nkechi appears upset and weary of waiting.
For whatever its worth, it is significant to mention the increased faith that the electorate appears to currently possess in the transparency of the electoral process. This is evidenced in the confidence many display in ability of opposition candidates to unseat incumbents. The vigour with which aspirants for the upcoming elections canvass for support, is at an unprecedented level. The advertisement been thrown in the faces of Nigerians, is so huge that the EFCC is being mandated to investigate the source of such financiers. But all in all, it definitely promises that to a large extent, Nigeria and Nigerians are in the process of making history with reference to the level of political participation, integrity of the electoral process and relatively ongoing peaceful transition. This group – the LGAs – in more ways than one, is responsible for the despondency that Nkechi, (Jumoke and Halima are all experiencing). She is right that even though they get ‘‘good money’’, she still finds the roads untarred, epileptic and in some instances non-existent potable water supply and the harassment from the touts working for the ‘‘chairman who has three Mercedes in his yard’’ amongst other things. One wonders why touts and electoral thugs do not advise the politicians (sending them out to perpetuate violence) to also ask the same of their own biological children. The electorate should also remember that the yards of clothes and the bags of rice they receive today could well mean selling their birthright for a mess of pottage; a pittance when compared to what the elected may loot over a four year period. Indeed what do the 36 State Governments and 774 Local Governments do with their allocations to better the lot of their fellow Nigerians?
As the race to the elections heightens, Nkechi, Jumoke and Halima should use this opportunity to vote out the LGA officials who didn’t provide them with potable water. They should also not forget to massively vote out their State Governor who has done nothing meaningful with the time and money spent in the Governor’s House. An unconfirmed philosopher reportedly said that ‘‘the penalty good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men.’’
DAILY INDEPENDENT
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