IN THE PURSUIT OF GOOD GOVERNANCE

Recent events across the stretch of the Middle East seem to all have a common factor. Without the need to run through the list of nations directly affected by the wave of reaction and also avoiding making an unduly long write-up, I am compelled to agree first with myself and then, other followers of this events that citizens of respective nations currently protesting and calling for immediate resignation of their heads of state all seem to be craving for a favourable form of government.

A government modality that does not perpetually keep an individual or a family as the only occupant of the number 1 seat. A government that represents the wish and input of every willing and enfranchised citizen. A government that provides security, combat unemployment, implements reasonable foreign policies and above all establishes the rule of law and respect for human rights.

If I were in similar situation, I wouldn't ask for less as a minimum. As such government matures; other demands might begin to crop up.
Where my concern lies is what name to give to this type of government and the attendant expectation. What readily comes to my mind is 'Democracy' and 'Dividends of Democracy'; if you agree with this, then we are on different sides of the divide.

First, I am not a fan of this over hyped kind of democracy and my reason is simple. The beauty of it starts and ends with its definition in the books. As I have heard people say most times this issue comes up, 'it is atleast better than military regime!'
That for me is not only lame but also celebrates how complacence we have grown over time so much so that our rights are fast becoming priviledges. My standpoint may in some way suggest there is another form of democracy; though I haven't yet witnessed it. To be safe with such opinion, I'd rather see a government from the perspective of what it is established to offer the people and not the nomenclature.

This is not to excuse any form of government from its downsides but to further argue that performance of any leadership has very little to do with the name tag of the government type.
For any individual to have held an office for over two decades and still counting doesn't in anyway appeal to common sense but the truth of the matter is that staging an uprising as the people of these regions have would send a signal that they want a change but does not necessarily guarantee the adoption of any better alternative. It may be argued that such uprising is a starting point and I would be in perfect agreement.

Everything points to the ‘democracy’ option, no thanks to the input and discussions of the American government. While the beginning of the end of the Mubarak hold on Egypt is just around the corner, I fear they don’t end up with the Iraqi gift from America. I am also struggling to define what form of government Egypt currently runs.

I am also interested in what becomes of the Jordanian monarch just as I hope it is extended to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

I must salute the decision of the people of Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Yemen, Jordan for voicing out against harsh policies of their respective government. So resilient they have been that such uprising would pass for a revolution. For the first time, people who have been characteristically tied to a particular style of government are beginning to align with the dictates of change.

Interesting, these countries are agitating for a change or better still transition of whatever it is they have to an all-encompassing government at a time when we are preparing to transit within the same nomenclature; a nomenclature that might eventually become their very first stop.

The lessons for us as a nation are clear. Our leaders should by now understand that human tolerance, even for the most complacent race, has a limit. Also, that the scarce resource they have wastefully doled out to stooges and allies to fund pro-government campaigns would not stand in the way of a convinced and determined majority when the time is right.
As Nigerians, we also would learn that it is not enough to put blames at the door step of our fathers who have watched things decay before now. All we need do is identify the decay and demand a better way of doing things. Our lives are worth nothing in the real sense if we have nothing we are living for.

Surprisingly, our unemployment rate as a country as at 2009, was higher than that of Egypt and Tunisia. This presupposes that we have more than enough reasons to have taken to the streets before this people but I would also quickly understand that our Leaders don't stay in office physically for so long. they do so by proxy!..

Every man who intends to go to Heaven would have to die to start with.
The uprising has started already and we can only wait for its likely outcome. If it is the resolve of incumbent government to roll out the tanks against its own people, we can only ask who such government intends to govern aftermath the genocide. If on the other hand, the will of the people especially the ones asking for immediate resignation is acceded to, the question of what manner of leadership would come afterwards is another matter of concern.

For what it’s worth, every man who believes in the truth should continue to pray and support the people of the Middle East at this time of their national history.