Dr Ayodeji Olubunmi Awobiyide is a lecturer at the Department of Public Law, Faculty of Law, University of Lagos. As Nigeria celebrates the 26 years of unbroken democracy, he spoke with EJIKEME OMENAZU on the development, money politics in Nigeria, and President Bola Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’, among other issues. Excerpt:
How do you see Nigeria’s march to democracy?
Democracy in Nigeria remains a journey and we have come a long way on that journey. This year marks the 26th year of uninterrupted democratic rule in our country. Given our chequered democratic experience, we must appreciate that we are still practising democracy and have democratic structures in place despite the odds. However, there are a few undemocratic practices in our set-up, which are relics of our long years of military rule. I believe that with the passage of time and conscious efforts to dispense with these practices, we will be on a much better and saner path to a truly democratic society.
How do you see the two years of President Bola Tinubu’s administration?
The past two years of the Tinubu administration has been eventful. The Tinubu administration has taken up bold infrastructural projects like the controversial Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. It has also sustained the removal of oil subsidy and ensured that Nigerians do not have to deal with petrol scarcity as was usually the practice. The universities have also not proceeded on strike yet, although the remuneration of university teachers is ridiculously poor and should be urgently revisited. The international airports have been operationally standardised and the foreign exchange of the Naira to the Dollar has been stable. There are also other economic metrics that tend to show that Nigeria is on the ascendancy. However, all the above listed gains of the administration do not seem to have translated into economic empowerment for the average Nigerian. The average Nigerian finds it extremely tough to survive because of some of these arguably necessary but painful government policies. Notable among them is the removal of oil subsidy which led to hyper-inflation in the prices of goods and services, without a corresponding social welfare package that can act as a buffer against the effect of these policies. You now have a case where the costs of transportation, feeding, shelter and clothing have doubled, if not tripled. These are the basic things that matter to the average Nigerian and not some economic statistics reeled out by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), or the President’s Economic Team. Those statistics pale into insignificance in the mind of the average Nigerian viz-a-viz their purchasing power.
What should President Tinubu do for Nigerians to feel the impact of the policies of the government?
In my view, there is a lot that needs to be done to ensure that Nigerians feel the impact of the policies which are supposedly being introduced for their collective prosperity. Majority of Nigerians do not feel prosperous and that needs to be addressed. Those in government cannot be living in opulence while preaching austerity to the populace. Therefore, it is essential that government officials are also made to share in the suffering of the people by equally letting go of their fat allowances and benefits that insulate them from the economic pressure being experienced by the populace. That perhaps is the quickest way to fix this situation. Another issue is the state of security in the country. The primary responsibility of government is the protection of lives and property. Where the government is unable to deliver on this constitutional mandate, then the government needs to reassess its strategy.
What is your take on the observance of the rule of law by the current administration?
When it comes to the rule of law in Nigeria, I believe that every successive democratic government has fallen short of the expectation of A.V. Dicey’s proposition. Government officials and politicians have always carried on as though they are above the law and that our laws are made for the rest of the population. This attitude has crept into every area of our economic and social life to the extent that it makes it extremely difficult for due process to be followed in every regard. There is always one government figure or elite ready to short-circuit the process with one phone call or other communication. It is therefore difficult to score this government high on the rule of law, especially if you look closely at the activities of security and anti-corruption agencies. You will see ready examples of executive high handedness and influence peddling that make a mockery of the rule of law in Nigeria.
What is your view on President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and its implementation so far?
The ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ of the Tinubu Government contains very thoughtful and well- meaning programmes. But the challenge is with the execution of the agenda. If you go around all the states in Nigeria to feel the pulse of the people concerning the Renewed Hope Agenda, one thing that most Nigerians will agree with is that the agenda is yet to translate to financial prosperity for them. That needs to be urgently addressed within the next two years of the administration.
How do you see the calls for State Police?
Most States in Nigeria do not have the financial muscle to even pay staff salaries. You will recall that the Buhari administration had to bail out some states to enable them settle their financial obligations. The Tinubu administration has done the same so far. In fact, some state governors have commended the Tinubu administration for the improved financial allocation they have consistently received under the administration. In my opinion, majority of the states in Nigeria are not in a financial position to be saddled with an additional workforce of security personnel. I believe the current policing arrangement should be retained and strengthened.
How would assess the National Assembly under this dispensation?
The National Assembly’s constitutional role under Section 4 of the 1999 Constitution (as altered) is law making. It also has oversight functions over the activities of the Executive as provided under the Constitution, particularly under Sections 88 and 89, with the aim of ensuring transparency and accountability in government. Despite these constitutional powers, the present crop of National Assembly members’ needs to develop the political will to ensure that the National Assembly acts always in the best interest of the people. We must also understand that this political will may be difficult to muster when the Legislature is not able to objectively assess the activities of the Executive. For instance, the President’s ‘On Your Mandate’ song rends the air with great aplomb whenever the President visits the National Assembly, or has any reason to interact with its leadership. Also, we watched and read reports of the Leadership of the National Assembly unanimously adopting President Tinubu for a second term. All these point to a smooth working relationship, almost lending credence to claims of a rubber stamp National Assembly. However, this smooth relationship between the Executive and Legislature should be positively channelled for the good of the people and not for selfish and personal aggrandisement.
How do you see the calls for a neutral body to be appointing top officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)?
My take on a neutral body appointing INEC officials for a free and fair election is that such appointments will not automatically guarantee a free and fair election. In 2015, Prof. Attahiru Jega, as INEC Chairman, presided over an election that saw the incumbent President, who nominated him, removed from office. My honest assessment of our electoral situation is that certain things need to change, foremost of which is the drastic reduction of the role of money in our politics. In similar vein, the introduction of early voting and electronic voting to complement manual voting will go a long way to solve the problem in certain volatile areas of the country.
How do you see the perennial farmers, herders clashes across the nation?
It is unfortunate that the Fulani herders/farmers clashes have claimed a lot of lives in Nigeria. The President has done a lot to improve the state of security in the country, but more needs to be done. Our land borders, especially in the North East, need to be better secured. We also need to take proactive steps to improve on our intelligence gathering to nip insecurity in the bud and get ahead of these attackers before they strike. The people must also realise that security is everyone’s business. We all have a role to play in ensuring the safety of our people. I have seen reports of the various activities of the Army and the National Security Adviser geared towards tackling insecurity in Nigeria. I am optimistic that with the right support and political will, insecurity may soon be a thing of the past.
What is your take on the influence of corruption on the nation’s leadership?
It is difficult to pick one of either corruption or leadership. In my view, both Corruption and Leadership are major drawbacks to Nigeria’s greatness. The country needs selfless leaders who put the people first. Corruption is also a hydra-headed monster that has eaten deep into the fabric of our nation. The evil combination of corrupt leadership and followership is responsible for our present predicament. We can lay the blame at the doorstep of the government and politicians, but we must be quick to remember that these politicians are also representative of the people. In as much as we clamour for better leadership, we also need to impress on the followers the need to do the right thing at all times. Simple and logical things such as obeying traffic lights and regulations, not throwing waste into the gutters and canals, not jumping a queue at a bus stop, filling station or bank, not patronising special/miracle centers for student examinations, not bribing government officials to secure admission and many more vices should be discouraged. The National Orientation Agency (NOA) needs to ensure that it engages in an aggressive publicity campaign aimed at correcting some of these practices that have become deep rooted in Nigeria. With such re-orientation and the political will to follow through such policies, I believe we will have a Nigeria we can be proud of.
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