The Political Economy of Nigerians Ignorance By Stephen Oloh

If democracy requires an informed citizenry to function well, Nigeria is in serious trouble. Many Nigerians are political ignoramuses. Ordinary people may not know much about public affairs, but Political ignorance should not be excused because it is deleterious to popular government. Nevertheless, ignorance can be rectified, at least a little. Cognitive ability is mostly set at birth.

Alas, there is a gulf between the policy opinions such as governance, spending, taxation, of the ruling class and the country class. Is it not surprising that twenty-one senators are currently receiving pensions from government as ex-governors and deputy governors. Imagine my anger when I came across an article by Charles Oputa which pulled away the mask, got to the root of and exposed what actually drives many, if not most, of those in power.

The following is from Charles Oputa’s article, A Self Deceiving Country Called Nigeria:

“Twenty-one senators currently receiving pensions from government as ex-governors and deputy governors.


The current senators who once served as governors are Bukola Saraki of Kwara, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano, Kabiru Gaya of Kano, Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom, Theodore Orji of Abia, Abdullahi Adamu of Nasarawa, Sam Egwu of Ebonyi, Shaaba Lafiagi of Kwara, Joshua Dariye of Plateau Jonah Jang of Plateau, Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko of Sokoto, Ahmed Sani Yarima of Zamfara, Danjuma Goje of Gombe, Bukar Abba Ibrahim of Yobe, Adamu Aliero of Kebbi, George Akume of Benue and Isiaka Adeleke of Osun.

The former deputy governors in the Senate are Ms Biodun Olujimi of Ekiti and Enyinaya Harcourt Abaribe of Abia. Danladi Abubakar Sani served as the acting governor of Taraba state.

Many former governors are also in Buhari's Cabinet as Ministers. This includes: Ngige, Fayemi, Amaechi and Fashola (SAN).).

In Akwa Ibom State, the law provides that ex governors and deputy governors receive pension equivalent to the salaries of the incumbent. The package also includes a new official car and a utility vehicle every four years; one personal aide; a cook, chauffeurs and security guards for the governor at a sum not exceeding N5 million per month and N2.5 million for his deputy governor.

In Rivers, the law provides 100 percent of annual basic salaries for the ex-governor and deputy, one residential house for the former governor “anywhere of his choice in Nigeria”; one residential house anywhere in Rivers for the deputy, three cars for the ex-governor every four years and two cars for the deputy every four years.

It is alledged that in Lagos, a former governor will get two houses, one in Lagos and another in Abuja, estimated at N500 million in Lagos and N700 million in Abuja. He also receives six new cars to be replaced every three years; a furniture allowance of 300 percent of annual salary to be paid every two years, and a N30 million pension annually for life.

This is the reality for all the 21 ex governors and deputy governors who are currently serving as senators. This same is also true of ex governors who are now serving as Ministers.”

…How many years did these guys serve their states as governors and deputy governors? Is it more than 8years? Is that a reason to be entitled to pensions for life? Even if they are entitled to pension for life, must it be so outrageous?

As if that is not enough: HOW on earth can any public servant with conscience collect salaries and allowances as a senator or minister, and still have the audacity to claim pensions equivalent to the salaries of a serving governor in Nigeria?

…Yet these senators are in the Senate that is inviting the current finance minister to discuss the recession of Nigeria's economy. A senator pockets approximately 30 million naira monthly as salary and allowances. Our "honourables" are not interested to make laws that could restructure our country into economically autonomous federating States/Regions to save the country from sectional agitations that is threatening to destroy Nigeria. The sad and hopeless situation is that the rest of Nigerians are busy arguing based on party, ethnic and affiliations while these enemies of state continue to rape us.”

Now, many Nigerians have only the dimmest awareness of important aspects of their locality, state, or nation. People know virtually nothing about important issues confronting their governing officials. Many can't even name their local, state, or national leaders. Finally, "dark areas of ignorance" aptly characterizes the public mind when it comes to government policies.

Nigerians need to understand that these criminals seek power entirely for their own sake. They are not interested in the good of others; they are interested solely in power, pure power. Power, to these criminals is not a means; it is an end. We must also understand that one does not establish a dictatorship in order to safeguard a revolution; one makes the revolution in order to establish the dictatorship. The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power. We need to understand this.

Nigerians should be up against this power-elite. Nigerian youths need to fight these criminals. We need to take this fight to government houses in Nigeria, we need to move as fast as possible and delete all these criminals before they make Nigeria and Nigerians empty. We have allowed too many scoundrels and thieves to rise to positions of great responsibility and expanding authority. We had better start getting involved and take back power from the elites.

We must find a way to stimulate greater grassroots political attentiveness -- the more interested people are in public affairs, the better informed they are. Even the Constitution's authors, who were no friends of mass democracy, trusted the common sense of the average citizen enough to leave election to the House of Representatives -- which initially had more control over governance, taxes and the national budget than the Senate, Governor or the president -- to direct popular vote.

Common sense is no substitute for knowledge. It can, however, be sufficient to muddle through to a good decision. It's time we caught up with him. It’s time we stand up and say no to all these excesses. This is a call for MASS ACTION against these enemies. There is no future if we don't fight against it.

We must wake up NOW!

Stephen Oloh is a graduate of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and writes from Portharcourt. You can reach him by email: stephenoloh@yahoo.com or follow him on facebook at facebook.com/stephenoloh