Nigeria’s poor rating on governance
The recently released 2013 Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG) reveals that Nigeria’s governance ranking has dropped eight places since 2000. Nigeria in the 2013 IIAG has an overall score of 43.4 out of 100, which is lower than the African average of 51.6. Out of the 52 countries in Africa she ranks 41 and is the 13th out of 16 countries in West Africa.
The Index confirms the informed perception among Nigerians that the quality of governance in the country and the attention to governance is sliding fast. We have drawn attention severally to this increasing poverty of governance bedeviling our country. Yet, unfolding events and developments increasingly point to the grim fact that the era of governance is gone. Enter the period of politicking, belly politics and gerrymandering.
We recall that over the decades since Independence in 1960, Nigeria has not made any meaningful stride in the quality of governance and method of politicking.
Whether in the military era or civilian regime, poor governance performance has been the bane of the country. Over the years, politics in Nigeria has been for the good of the few. The ruling class has remained selfish in their conduct of public affairs. Tales of corruption scandals involving several millions and billions of naira perpetrated by highly-placed public office holders have become so frequent that they are now almost non-issues. The popular belief is that Nigerian politicians come into office to simply line their pockets. For this reason, a good number of the governed have adopted cynicism as their default attitude towards politics and politicians.
Less than two years to another round of general elections, it appears that politicians are getting more desperate. For instance, since May 2011, governance has been completely abandoned as politicians bicker over who gets what in 2015. Meanwhile, the Nigerian masses are yet to reap the much-trumpeted dividends of democracy. While the promises made during electioneering campaigns in 2011 are yet to be redeemed, actors in government are busy seeking re-election.
Aminu Tambuwal, speaker, House of Representatives, recently berated political office holders when he observed that “We have abandoned governance and are busy politicking and concentrating on issues bordering on 2015. That is not healthy for our development. What we need at the moment is for all of us to pay attention to the various mandates we have been given and concentrate on our work and ensure that we deliver on those mandates. Whoever does well will receive the kudos of Nigerians, and when the time comes, if you do not do well, Nigerians will show you the way out through the ballot.”
Analysts and observers of Nigerian politics have severally blamed the politics of the belly for the poor governance in Nigeria. Currently, there are well over 50 registered parties even though most of them have no reason being on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s list. This mushrooming of parties is borne out of the desperation to use such platforms to remain relevant in the system. Those behind such associations are just trying to leverage on them to feather their individual nests.
Over the years, issue-based politics has been abandoned for attack of personalities; parties are bereft of ideologies, and they have ceased to be supreme. This is why individuals are seen as being more powerful than the party.
The current plan to have a national conference seems to provide another ray of hope for a better governed Nigeria. This much desired forum may provide a veritable opportunity to discuss how best to govern the disparate peoples and entities that make up the country. It is an opportunity that should not be missed or misused. It is hoped that this forum would enthrone better governance frameworks, create the sense of inclusion that a nation requires, and breed the empathy and loyalty that allow leaders to move in tandem with the led.