The late legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti in his album “beasts of no nation” famously described Nigerian leaders as ‘animals in human skin.’ In the 80’s when the album hit the airwaves, we danced and jibed to its undulating beat without really understanding the exact meaning of Fela’s diagnosis of the character and psychology of Nigerian leaders. It wasn’t until later years when the veil was pulled that many of us came to understand the import of Fela’s characterisation of Nigerian leaders as unconscionable psychopaths. This characterisation is today self evident across the nation; not in the least in the way the leaders treat the poor.
There is nothing more demonstrative of this; and their death wish for the poor than the recent banning of street trading in Lagos state by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode. In a land reeking with desperate poverty, mass unemployment and total absence of any form of social welfare, the banning of street trading which the most impoverished segment of our society has taken to as a means of survival must count as one of the most insensitive policies ever to be devised by government, moreso one that claims to be “progressive.” Ambode had in January likewise demolished Oshodi market while most of the traders were still in their villages for the Christmas celebrations. Not a single opportunity was given to them to evacuate their wares. How can a government demonstrate such wickedness and insensitivity to same citizens they are supposed to provide for and still claim to be progressive?
It seems that once Nigerian leaders are ensconced in power, they lose all sense of responsibility and with it their humanity. All over the world, the most fundamental responsibility of government is to provide for the security and welfare of their citizens. In this regards, job creation and poverty eradication are the greatest political projects of leaders in sane climes. To prevent poverty and destitution, social welfare benefits that include unemployment allowances, free medical care, social housing and other benefits are provided to citizens as of right. To encourage job creation—training in different skills are provided by government agencies while incentives are given to citizens who have small/medium scale businesses or who through sole trading provided employment for themselves.
This is true in Europe, the America’s, Asia, the Middle East and elsewhere where leaders remain true to the creed of public service. It’s only in Nigeria and black Africa that the concept of leadership resembles more a relationship between slaves and slave masters. How else can one explain the callous banning of street trading in Lagos and the demolition of Oshodi market without any notice in a society where there are no jobs and no social welfare benefits? Is it not an example of Nigeria’s decadent leadership that shop owners and street traders that should ordinarily be encouraged and incentivised for avoiding crime and providing jobs for themselves thereby reducing the burden of unemployment as is done in saner climes are rather vilified and punished in our clime?
Why is Ambode more interested in creating an exclusive elite city rather than cater for the most downtrodden; when the most advanced cities in the world, i.e. New York, Paris, London amongst others still allow street trading in recognition of the need to protect and provide for the most vulnerable in society? And yet this is a party that claims progressive credentials and campaigned on the ideal of change. How is progressivism and change defined in the dictionary of Ambode and the APC? Is it defined by deporting the poor as Fashola did a few years back or by demolishing markets without notice and banning street trading as he is now doing? Is it defined by the revolting incident in 2013 when Governor Adams Oshiomole, also of the APC ordered the confiscation of the wares of a poor street trader and on being told by the trader that she is a widow, asked her “to go and die”?
Is it defined by the undemocratic and murderous tendencies of an APC federal government under whose command the army frequently murders innocent IPOB members engaged in peaceful protests in a democracy? Is it defined by the massacre of almost 1000 Shiites and other such human rights violations? Is it defined by the wanton disregard for the rule of law/extra judicial detentions, suppression of democratic opposition and egregious constitutional breaches? Is it defined by running a federal government that is insensitive to Nigeria’s delicate diversity through bigotry and discriminatory appointments premised on exclusion of sections of the country? Is it defined by the deliberate silence and inaction of the federal government while Fulani herdsmen massacre people across the middle belt and southern parts of the country because they are the president’s kinsmen? Is it defined by the monumental increase in fuel price and electricity tariffs without any palliative measures which has further pushed the citizenry into excruciating poverty?
The APC needs to take a second look at whatever dictionary defines their application of progressivism. Because what is obvious to everyone is that their policies, to the extent to which it is premised on warring against the poor, killing unarmed civilians, disregarding the rule of law and toying with Nigeria’s unity through an overt programme of discrimination/exclusion is contradictory to everything that progressivism stands for. Nelson Mandela once said that “poverty like slavery and apartheid is man-made and can be eradicated by purposeful leadership.” He further opined that overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity, but rather an act of justice and the protection of a fundamental human right, the right to dignity and a decent life. Chapter 2 section 14-b of the Nigerian constitution emphatically states that “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.”
In the same vein section 16-b of the constitution declares that “the state shall control the national economy in such a manner as to secure the maximum welfare, freedom and happiness of every citizen on the basis of social justice and equality of status and opportunity.” Thus, whether from a personality like Nelson Mandela with overwhelming moral authority or from the Nigerian constitution itself—it is sufficiently established that the primary purpose of government is the welfare of the citizenry. The problem of Nigeria’s bad leadership and their disregard for the poor is therefore located in their psychology. A mindset that is constructed to believe that leadership/public service is not for the common good but for self serving purposes. To that end, the overarching character of the collectivity of Nigeria’s leadership is premised on protection of elite interests and oppression of the poor. The ongoing war on the poor across Nigeria is thus driven by a psychology that locates power specifically in depriving and oppressing the poor. A negation of the fundamental principles for which government exists. This explains why Ambode feels it is better to ban street trading and just let the poor traders die. It is wrong before God and man and should be reversed!
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Lawrence Chinedu Nwobu
Email: lawrencenwobu@gmail.com
