Responsive Governance at State Level In Nigeria

The Need for effective Governance at State level in Nigeria.

(PRWEB) June 5, 2005 -- Righteousness exalts a nation and sin is a reproach to the people". This biblical verse may appear rather short, but its import is profound. It appears to be the fulcrum on which good governance must necessarily hang. Good governance has a composite interpretation. It denotes transparent honesty, probity, integrity, moral commitment and prudent management of our scarce resources. On the other hand, it denotes the utilization of the manifestations of our leaders unflinching desire and determination to effect positive transformations in the lives of the majority of the citizenry.

It is the result of bridging the yawning gap between the rich and the poor. It denotes striving to serve humanity and ones fatherland with the best of ones ability andconscience, before any personal interests or gains. Without mincing words, every right thinking Nigerian would agree with this writer that as far as good governance is concerned, Nigeria is yet to cut her tooth." In other words, Nigeria is still groping in the dark in search for leaders with integrity, credibility, and other qualities required of a leader who can rescue her from the quagmire of corruption. A leader that is free from and willing to check financial profligacy, economic retrogression, material obsession and accumulation among other vices.

This tendency has created a state of apathy and despondency among the citizenry. Thus, they have rightly or wrongly perceived governments in Nigeria as existing to cater for only a few privileged group and politicians. This is why Nigerians may at times be seen as not being good followers. Nigeria, before independence was a country to be reckoned with in terms of integrity and good reputation of her leaders. She was blessedwith an array of selfless and patriotic leaders who, with one accord and purpose, were all out to fight for economic and political emancipation of the entire country. A sense of nationalism and the demand for political independence grew during the 1930s, all major ethnic groups of Nigeria, were not satisfied with the slow pace of economic, educational and political development in the country under colonial rule.

These patriotic and selfless leaders considered the entire country as a big constituency spread out for development to meet the aspirations of the Nigerian people. At last, they secured independence in 1st October 1960. The baton of leadership was handed over to them by the colonial masters. They eagerly looked forward to a more vigorous, rapid and sustained development in the country. They expected to see majority of their kinds (Nigerians), irrespective of ethnic origin, class or gender, being liberated from the shackles of poverty and deprivations. Alas! Howparadoxical, how elusive and how regrettable it turned out to be! The fervent patriotic spirit that characterized the lives and attitudes of our pioneer nationalists and leaders soon faded into oblivion.

The detribalized nationalistic and selfless fervour and attitude of our forebears soon gave way to tribalism and ethnic bigotry; self-centeredness and self aggrandizement. Our leaders became sectional, exploitative and self-centred. These triggered off infighting, suspicion and acrimony among the various stakeholders in Nigeria, which consequently resulted in the heating up of the polity. The dire consequence of this was the intervention of the military by staging the first coup detat in Nigeria, in January 15, 1966. This insurrection later snowballed into a civil war which started in July 1967 to January 1970. The ugly scars and vestiges of that pogrom are still there to remind all of us of our folly, miscalculations and vain glorypursuits.

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