Dividends of Democracy— proposed London News Briefing Wasteful—Federal Workers

Federal workers in Nigeria have described the decision of the federal government to showcase its achievements in the last 24 months in Great Britain during this period when millions of Nigerians are complaining of hunger and poverty as insensitive and embarrassing. The workers made this known through the National Coordinator of the Federal Workersm (FWF), Comrade Andrew Emelieze. ''The ministers appointed by the present political leadership in Nigeria are in the process of rolling out the achievements of those in charge in London, while millions of Nigerians are busy contending with hunger, economic hardships, and poverty. This overseas trip is at what cost to taxpayers? It is wasteful. This is very insensitive, callous, and embarrassing. The wind of greed and covetousness has overwhelmed those in the present administration and has become not only a burden but also a liability to millions of Nigerians. Comrade Emelieze stated. The Local Scene It is surprising that the powers that be can give consent to the recruitment of 130,000 forest guards for the states in Nigeria. This may undermine the genuine efforts by the law enforcement and security structure to curtail violent crimes. Taxpayers' money was expended to train, retrain, and equip the security operatives for purposes that does not include sabotage. This initiative and the proposed security summit by the legislature speak volumes about the frame of mind of those in leadership positions. The sugesstion is that political officeholders are desperate to compensate their well-wishers, admirers, and hangers-on.

The Unifying Factors

A number of political office holders are occupying public offices today by the grace of miscreants who facilitated them into office.

These miscreants have carried out so many acts that are not in tandem with the statutory laws of the land.

However, as a result of the influence wielding culture, they remain untouchable.

Interestingly, indiscipline, lawlessness, crime and criminality are the unifying factors among citizens of diverse ethnic, social, political and religious backgrounds.

This is the prevailing situation in Nigeria, where the leadership in certain states, pays the piper and dictates the tune.

Such a leadership, as described above, must be compelled to take responsibility and give account for all the innocent human lives that have been lost from 2019 till the present moment in the affected states.

The Cosmetic Process of Democracy

The deepening sufferings and hadrships in Nigeria are a fall out of the greed, self-centered intents and the lack of know how of those opportuned to be controllers at every level of government. Desolation of the polity has set in, with political entrepreneurs maintaining their beneficiary status, even though the outlook is very bleak. Sadly, those who Nigerians eexpect to keep Those-in-Auhority on their toes, have over-timme, contributed positively to the anti-people policies of the government under the cover of darkness. Indeed, their public statements and declarations are bereft of sincerity and sensitivity. Not surprisingly, the masses no longer rely on the labor movement, which in the past was the last resort of defence against evil. It was not until the tail end of the Naira scarcity imbroglio, that labor decided to wake up to its deep slumber by acting out a written script. Events in Nigeria(unfolding) have proven and will prove that the peace and unity of any country revolves around the character of its people and to a lesser extent, the form of government it adopts. Since the body language of Those-in-Authority is not indicative of the discipline of desire which is the background of character, the imperatives of self-sustenance and material wellbeing of Nigerians have been overwhelmed by a cosmetic process of democratic despotism at every level of government. The Sudden Realization Celebrations of victory have continued in the closets of those who are conversant with what transpired in a number of states before, during, and after the elections, while the streets remain indifferent and non-chalant as a result of the sudden realization that things are not the way they are pushing them to be.

Use Elections to Establish functional Education-Prof. Olagoke

The general elections have been described as a good opportunity to establish functional education in Nigeria. This assertion was made on Tuesday by the Founder, Spiritual head and Grand Imam of Shafaudeen-in-Islam Worldwide, Prof. Sabitu Olagoke in his address titled, ''SHAPING THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION IN NIGERIA-THE FUTURE IS NOW'' at the 3oth Annual Shafaudeen-in-Islam stakeholders' Conference in Ibadan, Nigeria. ''Functioanl education is deserved by a nation like Nigeria to promote inclusive society, civility and patirotism, credible leadership and good governance driven through zero tolerance to corruption and institutional indiscipline. Education will make us realize achieving this sanity-prone environment for development. Luckily for us, the 2023 general elections will avail us the opportunity to achieve this if we make give the right choice of a visionary leader that would be spirit led to operationalize democracy through justice and equity to propel Nigeria into peace and sustainable development and a safe and secured environment.''

Democracy in the Claws of Dictatorship

When the Government is desperate and resolute to cling to power, in the face of the unfavorable outcome of elections, election and the existence of political parties opposing the government do not constitute evidences of democracy. Indeed, a number of countries have the forms of democracy, but the reality of dictatorship. Without doubt there is a vital difference between democracy and dictatorship, however, it varies from one country to another. Notably, the Civil Service must be efficient and must render equally, good service without strings of partisanship, for the people to be reassured that they government they elected will carry out their wishes and at the same time fulfill promises made. Also rules and regulations exist to protect Civil Servants from the least suspicion of political bias;they are not allowed to present themselves for elective positions or partake in political activities. But unfortunately, this is not the case at all levels of government.

Obviously, one of the necessities of for good government include a non-party permanent Civil Service, comprised of people chosen for ability and not other considerations. Interestingly, visionary and focused leaders always meditate on Gaius Julius Caesar. Caesar became a dictator in 49 B.C and same was conferred on him for life. Those close to him played important roles. However, in March 15, 44 B.C he was assassinated by those close to him, notably Marcus and Decimus Brutus and C. Cassius.

Understanding Repression

The bad harvest of 1792 in England, the grave discontent among the people, the high rate of unemployment, the prohibitive prices of food items, repression by the government among numerous other factors had adverse effects on its socio-economic and political development. In Nigeria in 2021, insecurity, hunger, poverty, the high unemployment rate, violent crimes, incompetence, misplaced priorities, mediocrity, the beautification of lies and falsehood, the condemnable activities of state actors and their agents have visible prints in every part of the country for the people to see. Indeed, the insinuation is that leadership at all levels has derailed. The ignoble roles played by the likes of John Castle, Oliver, and George Edwards, all provocative agents of the government and spies, have further dented the image of the leadership and also eroded its credibility. The actions of Pitt in the House of Commons and Grenville in the Lords resulted in the passage into law of the Seditious Meetings Bill and the Treasonable Practices Bill, re-echoed in both chambers of the National Assembly.

Unprovoked attacks by the government, with the aid of armed force upon unarmed people exercising their constitutional rights to meet together to make in a peaceful and dignified manner, rational demands in the name of justice, is already a policy of the government. Nigeria has its own version of the ''waterloo'' massacre. Restrictive laws have only succeeded in promoting disaffection and discontent in different parts of the country and the destination now is a departure from all principles of the constitution. Those-in-Charge in the mold of Pitt, Eldon, Castle, and Sidmouth understand the language of repression best, while the disillusioned and impoverished citizenry watches helplessly. However, the consolation for the people lies in the fact that the time is too short for the functionality of the various distractions lined up by the leadership to cover up its failures.