“The City is what it is because our citizens are what they are” – Plato
Judging by the historic change of leadership following the 2015 elections, Nigerians seem to be in agreement that the time has come to urgently steer the ship of state away from its rudderless and stunted direction of the last 16 years. No doubt that the All Progressives Congress benefitted from the widespread discontent that had swept throughout the land.
Indeed, it was Providence at play that the opposition was well-placed to reap from the people’s anger, disillusionment and frustration at the ruling party’s arrogance. The ‘change’ slogan of the APC thus connected with the mood of the moment. It became symbolic of a country in need of redemption— a country at the mercy of buccaneers and visionless leaders. The ‘change’ slogan spread like wild bush fire in the harmattan. It became the sing song on campaign rallies, on the streets and in various Nigerian homes. As the cry of ‘change’ reverberated throughout the country, attempts were made to divert the attention of voters from the core issues. But the result of the presidential election won by the APC’s Muhammadu Buhari, who never wavered from his promise of ‘change’, seems to confirm Victor Hugo’s saying that “all the world is not so powerful (as to alter) an idea whose time has come.”
The elections have come and gone. Lessons have been learnt. Expectedly, Nigerians are hoping that they will begin to see the manifestation of the ‘change’ promise as soon as the new government is sworn in. They expect to see things done differently in their country. Nigerians want responsible leadership. They want an end to all the ills that afflict their nation. Since the elections ended some weeks ago, I have listened to and read a cross-section of debates and discussions on both online platforms and in the public space about Nigerians’ expectations of the Buhari-led government. Listening to Nigerians as they discuss their expectations from the incoming administration, I have come to the conclusion that they expect the incoming government to transform the country in the first few days in office.
They expect him to wave a magic wand that will wish all our nation’s troubles away. Nigerians are so expectant that Buhari will change the country. The stakes are really high. They cannot even wait for him to be sworn in. They expect Buhari to hit the ground running. While I believe that visionary leadership will play a critical role in repositioning our country from its present state to a more prosperous one, it will be myopic of Nigerians to think Buhari can do it alone. My view is that Nigeria is not going to change anytime soon. And if it must, the country will need everybody, including the citizens and leaders at various levels to contribute their quota to the change we desire.
While the President must provide the leadership, he is just one individual. He will need the suppose of his cabinet members, governors, state commissioners, local government chairmen, councillors, civil servants and ordinary Nigerians to succeed. The change Nigeria needs is one in which both the leaders and the led will play their complementary roles. Our country will not be saved from the rapacious leadership that has been the bane of our underdevelopment if Nigerians continue in their docility as they have done for many years. Nigerians must be watchful even as a new leadership takes over on May 29. Indeed, if change must happen, it must first start from ordinary Nigerians. They must begin to ask the right questions from their leaders. Change in Nigeria must mean a break from citizens’ lethargy and docility in the face of inept leadership. Just as Nigerians demonstrated with their votes when they ousted the incumbent Jonathan administration, much more is expected of them in the coming years.
For example, Nigerians must begin to ask the right questions as soon as the new government comes on board. They must hold the Buhari administration on his promise of ‘change’. Never again must citizens sit idly by and watch leaders ride roughshod over them. Citizens must demand accountability not on sentiment but on performance. Change is when Nigerians hold their leaders to high standards not because they are of their own ethnic or religious backgrounds. Change must involve a new beginning where Nigerians are resolved to take ownership of their country. Change must be a new way of thinking by a people long used to entitlement and patronage. Change must promote a new order where patriotic Nigerians do not celebrate the corrupt because of ethnic, religious and other primordial sentiments.
The change we seek must cut across party affiliations. For far too long, the Nigerian people have been spectators in their own affairs. In the 16 years of democracy, our so-called leaders have failed in their promises because the citizens have failed to hold them accountable. The few privileged Nigerians close to the seat of power prefer to feed off the crumbs while other Nigerians wallow in abject poverty. Needless to say that it is the docility of Nigerians that emboldened leaders to neglect their mandate to the people. That is why the 2015 elections will remain a watershed because for the first time, the votes of Nigerians counted. It marked the first time Nigerians would use their votes to change the dominance of an arrogant, non-performing ruling party.
Let’s hope the trend will continue in future elections. That will be the enduring change we all desire. A change where the votes of the oppressed people count; where the citizens of Nigeria are empowered to take their leaders to task at every level of governance. The real change must also begin at the grassroots as Nigerians begin to recognise their role and importance as change agents. Nigerians must know that government exists for them. Without the citizens, leaders hold no legitimacy. The real change is when Nigerians come to the awareness that it is their votes that empower leaders to serve them and not the other way round. Governments are elected to serve the people. But countries become great when the citizens perform their obligations of holding their leaders accountable. No government will willingly serve the people unless the citizens demand to be served. Nigerians must make their leaders responsible for them. This must be the real change we seek in the next government.
As we seek change in the next dispensation, Nigerians, for example, can exercise the power to recall non-performing lawmakers and other elected representatives. People must demand change through the use of citizen power—through protests, sit-ins and other non-violent methods to call government attention to issues that affect their lives. One ‘change’ Nigerians desire is the eradication of corruption. But can Buhari do it alone? While I believe we need strong leadership to end the scourge of corruption, Nigerians must also demonstrate the willingness to shun all corrupt practices both in their personal and official lives. The civil society has a role to play in the coming years. We, the people, can longer afford to sit on the fence. The real ‘change’ we seek will not come unless we are ready to make sacrifices. That is how nations develop.