Do we need to worry about the consequences of our inactions? Doesn’t seem so

By SON… One of the quotable quotes from President Buhari that has become something of an “iconic” signature is his declaration that Nigerians have nothing to fear but worry only about the consequences of their actions. With more than one version of that quotation (‘nothing to worry’ or ‘nothing to fear’) I will avoid the risk of misquoting him here. However, for the younger generation of Nigerians that have heard stories of PMB’s infamous decrees and the clandestine ‘Dikko in the crate’ mission, the message is clear and probably timely. For the generation of Nigerians that experienced and even admired the boot camp style of his ‘war against indiscipline’, it was reassurance the President recognised the constitution had replaced decrees.

 

There is no doubt that Nigeria entered an era of unbridled impunity, which earned it a place among countries described as fantastically corrupt. The absence of ‘consequences’ for breach of the law or disregard for due process is the perfect catalyst for promoting a culture of corruption. In both the public and private sectors there is a correlation between consequences and corruption. So the president couldn’t be more correct when he reminded people to be guided by the consequences of their actions. However, it is also recognised that corruption exists in different forms and that the fear of consequences may not always serve a deterrent. This is because beyond a punitive dimension, consequences have a negative social propensity when victims emerge as a result of an action or inaction.

 

Yes, ‘inaction’. There is a direct relationship between inaction and impunity because the two reproduce themselves. If we agree that impunity nurtures corruption, it is easy to see the nexus between inaction, impunity and corruption. It is also easy to see that the proliferation of these three negative properties have a common denominator, which is the absence of consequences. Inaction is therefore a quantity (misconduct) we should also worry about. Having established a clear relationship between these quantities, it is well to ask if the president’s quotable quote about the fear of consequences includes the fear of our inactions? If yes, we would hope that with his reputation and brand, as a model of transparency and justice Nigerians should emulate, the president ought to be subjected to this equation. There has been deafening cry about President Buhari’s inaction or rather lame response to matters of grave concern on two major fronts. Whether this amounts to corruption or not is a debate for another day. For the moment however, I will focus on how the presidents inaction has consequences he needs to worry about.

 

First is the shocking inaction about the steadily escalating crisis between the Fulani nomads and various communities across Nigeria. I will specifically mention the crisis between this marauding group and the people of Benue state. That the conflict, which has all the traces of insurgency and criminality receive no strong or clear response from his government is a classic case of allowing the reign of impunity. That the case is now taking a proportion some describe as genocide, and the community having to seek redress outside the shores of Nigeria is not only worrisome, but a breach of public trust. That the Nigerian Police and justice system has not investigated and prosecuted anyone for the murderous raids is frightening and fantastically disgraceful. That those entrusted with national security can come and tell Nigerians that the perpetrators are foreigners operating in heart of the country is a security failure and reason for serious worry about our collective safety. While I will not get into the specific description of the heinous atrocities visited by the herdsmen from ‘across our borders’. The conflict is quickly spreading with flash points in Benue, Taraba, Ekiti, Enugu, and across other states in the southeast creating an unfavourable disposition to the Fulani herdsmen.

 

The big question is, why these terror groups operate with such impunity and why no decisive action has been taken to get to the root of the problem. That we are told the invaders are foreigners is the more reason we should see greater urgency about fishing them out. It is clear now that measures should be taken to monitor and regulate the cross border movement of Fulani herdsmen, and state governments should have a role in that structure. The government ought to show greater concern on why the Fulani nomads are collaborating with armed ‘foreign’ mercenaries, and why our security agencies are only guessing where they might strike next and how they disappear without trace.

 

The second matter I shall not allow to overshadow the primary subject raised here concerns a fairer representation of groups in federal appointments. Suffice to say, while merit should be put ahead of all other considerations, the average Nigerian expects federal appointments to as much as possible reflect a balanced representation of the six-geo political zones. Surely, we have competent people from all the zones, and where states are not reflected in the ministerial appointments, the appointments to federal agencies should aim at balancing the representation. Nigerians must also realise it is not possible to base executive appointments on group representation as obtainable in the legislative arm of government it is inevitably a consideration that builds trust in a country with high ethnic consciousness. It is indeed a fact we cannot ignore, one largely of our creation and something that can only diminish with time where there is a higher level of accountability.

 

The president and his advisers cannot disregard the anxieties and sensitivities of the people regardless of the views they may have on the merit or basis of such apprehensions. For some Nigerians that have continued to keep faith with this government, the glaring inaction on issues of grave concern is beginning to narrow the differences we had with people that never gave it a chance.

 

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