Nigeria Policies, a Mirage to our Political Life

Ajayi Toyyib

It is nationwide believed that politics is a dirty game phenomenon, vis-a-vis how it is been practiced and handled by our political gladiators. This concept has been the perception of average Nigerians, which withdraws them from popular participation, most Nigerians have political apathy i.e little or no interest in political activities. This pave the way for how the administrative sectors in the country looks like; as it is obvious that government is mostly controlled by one tribe or religion, and in most cases one political party dominates in nearly all the states of the federation as they have their party occupying at the federal level. From this, one can attest to the fact that the government of our dear country is been controlled by and in the interest of the minorities (majorly people holding political power) which they employ their choice of policies and at the same time claim to be playing politics. For better dymnistification of the purpose of this write up, we need to put some things right.

However, on hearing the word politics, what ruminates in ones mind is; any activity that are politically oriented i.e campaigns, elections, rallies,propaganda as well as legislation in different governmental administrations. Meanwhile, the true meaning of politics transcend that realm. In a simplistic nature, politics can be referred to as the ability of an individual or group of individual to be able to strategically lobby/manoeuvre his or her path to acquire values, resources or power. By this, meaning that politics is not only about political activities. But for this opinion piece, the political perspective of the subject matter (politics) would be attempt.
Policy on the other hand,is a way of acting or proceeding to achieve ones aim.

Nigeria’s politics has a nexus with view of some scholars as for their perception on the word politics. Intellectual personality like David Easton who see politics from the angle that the subject matter is the authoritative allocation of resources or value. In Nigeria,politicians with their primary motive as a member of a political party is to acquire power in the government institution, plus their own personal motive,they seeks to acquire power in the interest of their party, their own personal interest,the interest of their tribe (nepotism) and also satisfaction of members of his/her religion. This can be tagged with okwudiba Nnoli’s perception, who sees politics as the acquisition of state power,consolidation of state power and the use of state power.

Also, the mirror of the Nigerian politics is on the basis of the point of view of “Harold LassWell”, who portrays that politics can be referred to as who get what, when and how. By connecting the who in lasswell’s definition, it is obvious that the Nigeria politics is mostly centred on the males and not females, to the extent that we can observe antecedentally that no woman (female) has become a governor in the history of Nigeria, not to talk of President. On this note, Nigeria politics is nothing but policy, in the sense that the “how” in laswell’s definition is that politicians does not follow the normal rout for qualification i.e legitimacy from the people to hold official governmental post unless by consulting any form of African power (fetish in nature) as well as their believe in connection (godfatherism) which is not supposed to be, for a country that has thirst for development.
However, considering the definition of politics by the above mentioned personalities,it doesn’t mean they defined how Nigeria politics should be. This is derogatory? Antithetical? Barbaric? but the Nigerian politicians made it their modus operandi and ofcourse a policy. Over the years, public opinion is restricted and limited.For a clear picture, corruption, bribery, insurgency and politicising national issues

Moreover,it is of recent that Abubakar Malami (SAN),the cheif justice of the federation pronounced Amotekun (a community policing force initiated by the Southwest governors) to be “illegal”. Meanwhile,antecedentally Hisba have been existing for ages before Amotekun came into being; because of the terrorism of the Fulani herds men and some other political reasons. Although, Hisba in the northern part was backed up by shariah law, Malami who was not thoughtful of this called Amotekun illegal, which means the northern part of the country, which is notably the ruling part in their wish don’t want the so called Amotekun to stay. So if not for the indefatigable Southwest Governors,they want it to be a policy that they will have the privilege of such policing not including the other tribes to also enjoy as it is excluded in the law of the land.

Arriving from the above,it is obvious that the application of the Nigerian constitution is restricted in our political life. Rule of law which is in place(theoretically) is not in space(practically). There is a high rate of judicial dependency. it is in Nigeria that influencial personality can lobby the application of the constitution. Although,it is known that justice detained is a justice delayed, Nigerian politicians and other influencial people choose this part so that it is the judgement (policy) they want that will be passsed by the judiciary. This practice has been consistence to the extent that the court of law (that is expected dispense appropriate judgement) is no more valued,a case study of the day the court wanted to be pronounce on the release of Omoyele Showore,and the DSS with the order of the president; and with the power conferred on him disregarded the action,and took him away. This is so disgusting as it embarrassed the court of law, which denotes that it is whatever they want (policy) to happen that eventually happens.

Fear of domination is not excluded in the reason why we adopted federalism in the first place, because of the heterogeneity in the structure of the federation. Thus, being a federation calls for equal representation but the case of Nigeria seems to be vice versa. This trait had been in place right from the start,where one tribe always have the urge to dominate the other. tribe or religion, which means Nigerian politicians make it a choice of policy while playing politics,i.e favouritism, nepotism and tribalism are more dominant in the nation’s public sector. And this will surely not yield development of country as it doesn’t allows for technical competency to hold a prominent position in the nation’s public sector.

Therefore, our visions should not be opaque to some unjust jottings jotted in a jotter in an environment capped by an unjust judiciary. We must strive, energize and execute better policy that our political system suit so as to aid the country from its present dwindling situation.