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| Photo credit:desikanoon.co.in |
There was a time I gave up my job search in the
public sectors due to what I conceive then as nepotism, favoritism, ethnicity
and god fatherism in the system. Whatever, I say here is my personal experience
and opinion. I understand thousands out there are beneficiary of what might
have worked against me and many others…and so many will be there to counter
what I have to say. Hold your peace instead and hear me out if you care to.
Merit is no longer obtainable in the system,
encouraging laziness thereof. When in 1996, I went to the University of
Nigeria, Nsukka to see my name pasted on the admission list as in a merit list.
I must say here that in all my life I’d not been to Nsukka until I went to
check my admission. I saw my name on the merit list. Don’t ask me if I was
happy. I was! And, not only being happy, that also encouraged me to work hard
all through my undergraduate studies. I graduated without any re-sit and of
course, I wasn’t the best graduating student in my department but I’m driving a
point.
I went with such zeal and hope that merit is
obtainable in the labour market but the reverse was the case especially in the
public sectors. I did many tests and interview, ordinarily I should be called
for the job based on my performance but to no avail. Some of our guys went into
following politicians up and down, turning to boy, boy in order to get what
they want. Some even turn to fanatics about the person they follow. If you say
anything contrary to the politician, you’re in trouble then. And of course,
many succeeded in getting jobs through that means.
Merit has been jettisoned for whatever that
goes.
There is federal character principle and even commission
put in place in the country for decades now. What does this federal character
principle tend to achieve? We were told, it was aimed at striking balance in
the system. But in the actual fact, does it? If Mr. A score 50 and from the
South, and Mr. B score 30 and from the North, you won’t be surprise that Mr. B
will be taken for whatever purpose is for the exam. You and I were told that
some section of the country is educationally less developed state…and so should
and must be given advantage over the person that is from the educationally
advantaged state. Of what sense does it actually make if I may ask? Does it
encourage hard work and excellence or laziness?
This is politics without considerations for vibrant
institution. I came to realize that whatever decision our political leaders
make or advocate for, it is either they have ulterior motive about it…either to
favour themselves, their tribe or section but not for the interest of the
country as a whole. Not until our leader start to build institution that will
endure, and make our country a better place, some of the challenges we are
facing today will continue to re-occur. Continued building and strengthening of
institution is what makes America what they are today. Here in our system we
believe so much on personalities than institution.
I’m surprise myself that since I was born, and now
that I’m old enough, I’m yet to see any true Nigerian leader(s) that have this
country at heart. We had often got disappointed by our leaders in lines of
nepotism, favoritism, ethnicity and god fatherism. The only leader I can vouch
for today that tends to strike balance in the system was former President
Olusegun Obansanjo. I’m not saying that he didn’t had his fair share of
shortcomings but to a large extent he handled the affairs of this country with
great sense of consideration given the complexity of the country structure.
What is happening today? People are crying out loud
for imbalance in key appointment in the present government. Did anyone care? Initially
in this government, there was allegation that there was recruitment organized
by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and that most beneficiaries are the APC leader’s
children and their relatives. Nigerians raised the issues then but as usual, it
died down naturally.
In the federal ministries, the much touted federal character
principle had been jettisoned for what have you. Who would you cry to when
there will be thousands of reason you would be given why it was so. Sometimes,
the people you ought to cry to, are the people perpetuating the act, so where
would you run to?
Of recent was the issue of DSS recruitment as widely
reported in the national dailies, accusing the north as being favored most in
the DSS recruitment. It was reported that north-east got 100 slots, south-south
42, south-east 44, south-west 46, north central 56 and north-west 165. Here,
you may be tempted to ask; where is the equity in the system? Who would you cry
to?
Until we drop this federal character for merit,
there will continue to be rot in the system, and sadly people will continue to
cry foul. Where some sections feels alienated or cheated in the system, it
could result to agitations. Where are we getting it wrong in this country? It is
like football spectator(s) who knows best tactics to score goals more than the
player in the pitch of play, blames every players for not be able to score
goals and pointing out their mistakes and wish s/he is in the pitch to utilize
those missed opportunity at goal mouth. However, when they are in the field of
play, they commit the same error.
Politicians have started campaigning again in
earnest for the 2019 general elections. They have started projecting themselves
for the 2019, coming out with all forms of promises to win election. Truth is,
the Nigerian electorates remain vulnerable in the hands of our politicians. Those
that ought to lead us by example are doing otherwise. Where do we go from here?
I want to appeal still with our leader, let’s have the interest of the people
at heart. Let’s build institution instead of looking for the most powerful and
most influential politician. All these characteristics can’t be ruled out, but
when you have people at heart, they will know.
A Nigerians of recent took to his facebook page to express
his happiness for being enlisted successfully into the US army. That’s merit in
play. Who does the guy knows in the US army that may have influenced his being
taken. Let’s our leader be interested in building institution instead of
looking for the most powerful politician. If strong and right institution is in
place, even lazy man can rule. Certainly, be you upright man, you can’t rule
alone. How about the people around you? Are they upright? Are they truly queuing
into your vision for the country?
Lets our leaders play politics with consideration in
order to strengthen our institution. Lets our leaders be nationalist in their approach
to issues as it affects the country as a whole. I want to believe that when we
put the interest of the country as a whole at heart, working in unity, Nigeria
will be a better place for us all.
Merit will bring out the best for every one of us,
it should not be jettisoned for favouritism, nepotism, god fatherism and all
what not. Remember, when merit is in place, everyone will feel is a stakeholder
in the project called Nigeria.
