*Say’s Judiciary in Nigeria behaves exactly as Swift described it
*Say’s Nigeria must forge it own democracy
By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
The former Secretary Gwneral Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) who’s currently a member of the Board representing Benue in the Forum, Col. John Ubah (rtd), has made a startling revelation on the Restructuring of Nigeria projects under President Muhammadu Buhari and the former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Walter Onoghe.
Col. Ubah revealed that after the inauguration of technical committee of structuring of Nigeria by the Executive Governors of the 19 Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) and Council of Traditional Rulers (CTR), he almost burst into tears for mother -Nigeria reflecting on the theme.
These was contained in the opinionistic statement presented to ACF Board meeting in 2017, by the former Chief scribe of the forum, retired Col. John Ubah entitled: Restructuring Nigeria: Random Thought On The Way Forward”.
In document obtained by our correspondent, Col. Ubah took holistic overview and assessment of Nigeria situation and where things went wrong in the country especially in areas of Structure, Education, Citizenship, Legislative Models/Judiciary, Discipline, Economy and National Security, respectively.
On Structure, Col. Ubah, a realist, explained that the answer was the same as could apply to Britain and USA, adding that while Britain colonised and set up Nigeria, USA captured Nigerians mentality and learnt them into their democratic governing system.
“We should and must forge our own middle-of-the road democracy”, and force the leaders to make it work for us since George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950), pointed out that democracy substitutes election by incompetent many for appointment by the corrupt few”.
He also quoted Benjamin Disraeli, in the House of Commons on 5th Feb. 1963, saying “Colonies do not cease to be colonies because they are independent, Nigeria is still a colony until it comes up with an African Democracy model”.
In area of education, Col. Ubah stated that “On 15th |June, 1874, Disraeli declared that “Upon the education of he people, the fate
of this country depends” and on 3rd Oct. 1868 he pointed out that “almost
everything that is great has been done by youth,” though he agreed also that
“youth is a blunder; manhood a struggle; old age regret”.
“The Greeks, Spartans and
Athenians concentrated on educating their citizens in all aspects of human
development before considering them ready for state leadership roles”, he stated.
“And I request to echo his idea that “I have been ever of opinion that revolutions are not to be evaded” when the youth should take over leadership.
“We need to revolutionize our education, whatever our social, political and religious briefs to make us more godly than religious. The fight against corruption should employ all hands on deck for the economy to pick up faster for an egalitarian Nigerian society to bud forth.
Citizenship, the ACF chief scribe noted that “Francis Bacon (1561-1626), once postulated that “if a man is gracious and courteous to strangers it shows he is a citizen of the world’, Who is a citizen of Europe? Who is a citizen of America? Who is a citizen of Africa, Saudi Arabia, India, Dubai etc?
“Should anybody ask a stranger what religion he/she practices, while Shaw (1856-1950) sald categorically and is still unchallenged that “there is only one religion though there are o hundred versions of it”?
“If we want peace, harmony and equality, government must tame religious bigotry which will make our constitution work with all its appurtenances ie. traffic laws and
regulations. In civilized societies impunity begets or produces bellyaching among the populace”, he stated.
Col. Ubah also listed Legislative Models/Judiciary, adding, “Is it possible to convince Nigerians that our constitution or Laws need re-structuring, if we adjust (restructure) our brains, to make them work smoothly? If the constitution doesn’t work, even the list admin laws, that’s financial regulation and the Codes of conduct will operate in the negative.
“But the judiciary has been on its own since time immemorial, especially regarding corruption. Hence a writer in the early 1960s singled out one legal practitioner and baptized him “The Incorruptible Judge”, for
students to dramatize.
“The Judiciary in Nigeria behaves exactly as Swift (1667-1745) described it “Laws are like cobwebs, which may catch small flies, but let wasps and hornets break through”, And the small flies in Nigeria means the poor, hence Alexander Pope (1668-1744) wrote that “Hungry judges soon the sentence sign, and wretches hang that jurymen
may dine”.
“In the same vein Goldsmith (1728 -1774) wrote that ” Laws grind the poor, and rich rule the law “. So we must pray for more Buharis and Onoghes”, he stated.
Discipline, according to him, even
though the Earl of Beaconsfield- Disraeli, on 17th March 1845, advised the members in the House of Commons that “A conservative government is an organized hypocrisy’, he noted that “Common sense dictates that with self-discipline, forced discipline, decorum, community pride and fear of God, our resources could be better managed for the benefit of all, especially if we internalize Show’s view that “The more things a man is ashamed of. the more respectable he is”.
The Economy, Col. Ubah stated that
“We can soon restructure Nigeria by getting all youth and adults to bring back into our vocabulary, the simple good words like discipline, shame, self-respect etc.
“We can begin by a review of our educational curriculum by including
National Ethics as contained in Section 23 of our Constitution 1999 (as
amended) and forcing all schools from kindergarten to teach them.
“Theoretically, it is being applauded that Nigeria’s economy is picking up and
we are almost out from recession. But a situation whereby some States owe
civil servants up to or above ten (10) months of monthly wages and suddenly wake up to pay for two (2) months only makes a mockery of governance.
“Disraeli’s assertion (3 Oct 1868) that
“there can be no economy where there is no efficiency’ calls, for a stronger beam of the national search-light on our civil service/public service at all levels.
“Public accountability machineries/organs need to be made
functional optimally and could be so easily with the e-governance taking shape. Unbridled privatization of life support infrastructures such as small scale industries, good roads, power supply etc. require strict control.
On National Security, TC Nwosu, once coated Charles de Talleyrand (1874-1838) as saying that, “War is much too serious a thing to be left to civilians”.
“This is what has been happening to Nigeria as regards the tackling of security challenges.” It has been mainly either that our seasoned generals have been sidelined in favor of highly paper-qualified young ones, who easily get into the pocket of political lords or that the old ones just got too tired and decide not to get involved any longer.
“We must thank God for the turn of events since the Buhari regime came on board. While we clap for the new breed Service Chiefs and our Defense Managers, we surely need to urge them to gear up more.
“They are looking good so far. But much is still expected from the other security and the paramilitary agencies. Security awareness training and cooperation of the general populace still need much attention”, he stated………
He conclusion, the retired Col. Ubah noted that “What is really wrong with the Nation Nigeria at this material time, would match Disrealis assessment of the situation in Great Britain, our mother- empire, which the Earl poured upon the members of their House of Commons on 27th February, 1871, “We have legalized confiscation,consecrated sacrilege and condoned high treason'”
“I see this technical committee set up by our governors and royal fathers with
the eyes that Shakespeare saw Hamlet, the factious Prince of Denmark who
cried out.
“The time is out of joint; O cursed spite that ever I was born to set it right.
Our real job in this committee is to come up with a position that if accepted as good to set the North right should be equally be accepted as capable of setting Nigeria right.
“Good luck. Voice of Arewa. Nigeria is out of joint and this committee is set up to set it right. Nigeria can survive as a united, economically buoyant, peaceful and happy country if there is political will, patriotic favour and patience built on sound education.
“Shaw actually believes that “Nothing is ever done in this world until men are prepared to kill one
another if it is not done”.
“With George Benard Shaw, I would unequivocally blame Nigeria’s woes on
“Our political experiment of democracy, the last refuge of cheap
misgovernment”, propelled by avarice, corruption and indiscipline”, he stated. 15- 18 Oct. 2017.
