THE
ADVOCATE
Monday, October 8 – Sunday, October 14, 2012
17
POLITICS
Adeleye canvasses true federalism, solutions to corruption in Nigeria By Edem Archibong, Calabar
S
ince the era of famous Roman Empire in ancient Rome, the important role of politics and politicians were considered synonymous with that of the Priest or Clergymen in society while the ancient philosophers (now scientists) relied mostly upon the political initiative to facilitate their smooth operation in bringing new ideas for the benefit of mankind. It is no gain saying that, the Priest or Clergymen were held in high esteem as the most holy and revered people considered capable to speak on sensitive issues which are often beyond the comprehension of the philosophers and politicians since they devote more time in solitude and communion with God. This conception perhaps, informed the annual media briefing of RT. Rev. Tunde Adeleye, the President of the Synod, Diocese of Calabar Anglican Communion, and Cathedral Church of Holy Trinity to mark the 2012 year's synod held at Ikom town Archdeaconry with the theme:”Repent and return to your first love,” taken from the book of Revelations chapter 2 verses 5. The text expressed the Clergy's opinion that “true Federalism is a major solution to the challenges of administration in Nigeria. What is being practiced in Nigeria now is unitary system of government. We are unable to see anything federal here. A situation where Governors go to Abuja every month with caps in their hands to ask for money to run their states is not true federalism. Federalism, he said is a situation where the states are more or less self-governing states. In which case, the states must be separate and they should all maintain the management of their internal affairs but merely coming loosely together. For example, we believe that the Federal Government has no business with direct management of education, health, roads, housing, lands or total monopoly of the revenue generated from the states. Each state should be allowed to manage its resources and pay Tax (where necessary) to Federal Government. Our background differs, just like our traditions and culture. We
should be allowed to be what we are, as we live and work together as a nation. Nigerians are great people. We can live and be together and be free to operate in our apartments. True Federalism will allow the states to have their police,(for those who can afford it); build their roads, determine the kind of education system they want, decide how many local government areas they want and so on. We truly need true federalism to help us live and work together”. Deregulation: On the issue of deregulation, the Clergyman stated “without mincing words, we think that the best thing that can happen in this country now is deregulation provided that it is again not corrupted. To have an economy with free competition and multiple involvements in the management of the resources, industry, enterprise, provision of goods and services, manufacturing, commerce, agriculture, transportation, education, banking etc is what we need now. This is done all over the world and it is a blessing to the people and their economies. We think it will be good for us too because deregulation will create employment, ascertain the provision of social amenities for the populace. Example is the electricity problem. Once more institutions are involved in generation and distribution of power with a healthy competition; we can be assured that supply will be adequate and continuous. This will be the same with other public goods and services. Again, it will reduce prices in the long run because of high and competitive supply, it will provide job opportunities for the people, keep the industries alive and functioning, increasing of our per capita income as well as encourage both locally and foreign investors while we shall acquire more knowledge and experience from the practical lessons”. Besides, there will be multiplier effects on other sectors of the economy such as education, Production, Communication, energy and so on. This has helped all over the world and if corruption will permit, it can work in Nigeria. But be warned not to allow the relatives of selfish and heartless “money bags” to buy over the companies and industries. Unemployment: The happiest
news anyone can receive in Nigeria now is creation of jobs for the teeming jobless people in the country. One of the reasons why most Nigerians voted for President Good Luck Jonathan was his promise to create jobs. That was a very comforting promise for anyone, any day. Our children are jobless and millions of our graduates are roaming about in the cities looking for jobs. Many of them have resorted to do internet robbery plus other societal ills while the fortunate few have joined the bandwagon of corruption. It is for these reasons that we therefore request that: The Federal Government should make haste to create jobs according to what he promised. It would be better if the curricula of our Tertiary Institutions include basic training in trades and craftsmanship so that, graduates understudy same mandatorily. This will bring about improved economy if we have graduates as printers, photographers, and mechanics (without being called engineers), Tailors, masons, painters, farmers, drivers, carpenters, designers, cooks and so on. The next issue militating against the country is corruption. There is hardly anything more to say about corruption because we live in it and live with it. No one learns how to be corrupt in Nigeria. We are so corrupt that our children grow up to think that it is way of normal life. It may look as if these expressions are too gloomy but all of us know that corruption in Nigeria has affected all parts of the socio-political and economic life of the country. It has eaten deep into every part of our economy. So the begging question is,”what can we do now? In attempt to finding solutions to corruption in Nigeria, Rev. Adeleye proffers that Nigerians should pray more while the clergymen will continue to preach against corruption from the pulpit. He also wants those found to be corrupt officials to be severely punished with the relevant laws to serve as deterrent to others, while those who directly or indirectly refused to be bribed should be rewarded, while ensuring strict adherent to all laws on corruption in Nigeria. The opinion of the Clergyman also touched on the issue of declaration of assets by public
Rt. Rev. Tunde Adeleye officers to be taken seriously to ensure that those who get rich quickly by suddenly acquiring large scale properties beyond their expected income should be investigated and such investigation made public. Again, effort should be made to ascertain that only the credible men and women of character are enlisted into the Police Force, the Army, Civil Defence and as well as the Immigration Services while the family background of all people desiring to hold political offices right from the Local Government Area to the national level should be made public before hand. Quoting from the bible, the Rev. gentleman says that “a man who cannot manage his home should not be entrusted with the management of the people” with special reference to the Local Government Chairmen, Councilors, Governors, Legislatures and the President who were not known to be good managers of their home affairs should not be voted into public office. It is a corrupted life background which will always affect public performance generally, the text read, while urging that those known with cultist background from secondary to University days should be prevented from holding any public office in the land. The next point of comment by the clergyman concerns the performance contract Agreement initiative of President Good Luck Jonathan
between the Ministers to enable them perform their assigned responsibility expediently, is well accepted. He opines that this type of decision had never happened before in the history of Nigeria and expressed the hope that the Ministers will deliver as expected and on time. For the poor state of our road networks for both the state and Federal Government of Nigeria, the Clergyman declared that even though the Government has claimed to have done much, those claims are yet to be translated into practical realities as for example, Calabar, the Capital of Cross River State is now completely cut off from other part of the country in terms of road network system. The man of God also ventured into grey area like the Niger Delta issue and proffers that this part of the country lays the Nigeria's golden egg and should not be allowed to perish, but should be encouraged by getting more than the present 13% derivation principle. concluding the man of God also spoke in favour of the retirees while condemning the officials who were placed in the position of responsibility to care for the pensioners' but instead embezzled their money. For this reason, he revealed that it is the God's anger that is responsible for their revelation and warned that unless the officials repent, even if they escape from government’s punishment, they will not escape the judgment of God.