Politics and Governance - More Than A Conversation

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Two Decades of Democracy:
1999 to 2019
An overall assessment of politics, administration, and
governance from 1999 to date
BY DEJI ADENIYI
In 1999, Nigeria winded down on fifteen years of military rule (Jan 1984-
May 1999). For many, the outlook was bright as the last military regime
of that era headed by General Abdulsalami Abubakar (June 1998
- May 1999), had displayed a commitment to return the country to the
rule of law with the release of political prisoners, the drafting of a new
constitution, allowing political associations to flourish freely rather than
the “five leprous fingers of the same hand” political parties that had held
sway under the late dictator, Sani Abacha. Following these actions by Gen.
Abdulsalami, the gloom and the despair that had hung over the entire
country slowly began to dissipate, and then disappeared.
Following an electoral process which, while flawed, was accepted by
almost all involved,, a new breed of politicians emerged. The class of
1999 state governors had the likes of Victor Attah (Akwa Ibom); Donald
Duke (Cross River); Uzor Orji Kalu (Abia); Peter Odili (Rivers); Umaru Musa
Yar’Adua (Katsina); Olusegun Osoba (Ogun); Bola Tinubu (Lagos) and Rabiu
Kwankwanso (Kano). The Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC) anchored the electoral process under the leadership of Justice
Ephraim Ibukun Akpata (1927- 2000), who delivered a result that the vast
majority of the country accepted.
The elected Head of the Republic was Olusegun Obasanjo. He had retired
twenty years earlier as a four-star General of the Nigerian Army, after
having ruled the country for forty-three months, and run the land
transport infrastructure as Minister of Works for six months from January
to June 1975, before becoming Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters,
which was the de facto number two man in the country.
In May 1999, there were no private universities in Nigeria. It was only in
October of that same year that the new government approved the licensing
of four private universities by the National Universities Commission. Today
there are 75 licensed private universities and 90 public universities in the
country. In spite of this increase and spread of the locations of these
universities, the absorption rate is about 40% of eligible candidates on
an annual basis. The linkage between industry needs and the higher
educational institutions is weak. Research and development are not
happening at a pace that the nation demands, and the crisis of funding
which has lasted over four decades persists.
Unemployment is a significant challenge of this era as young people find
it hard to secure employment. The gap between the educational
curriculum and the needs of the job market are not aligned.
“
The linkage between Industry needs and the
ivory tower is weak, research and
development is not at the pace in which
the nation demands for it and the crisis of
funding which has lasted over four decades
still persist.
“
●
Photo Credit - Sir Iyene Photography.
Our health infrastructure which had a peak performance fifty years ago
with the University College Hospital, Ibadan ranking in the top three among
Commonwealth countries’ tertiary healthcare facilities has declined with
successive Presidents over the last ten years seeking medical care abroad.
No administration has revamped the architecture of the internal security
system. The years of military dictatorship had deliberately weakened the
Nigerian Police regarding funding and capacity building. The current zonal
command structure of the Police was created in 1986 by the regime of
Ibrahim Babangida. This structure is outdated and ill-equipped to ensure
an optimal response to the security challenges currently confronting
the country. Nigeria’s security system is clearly set up more for regime
security, than the security of the people
Physical Infrastructure spanning roads, bridges, rail lines, airports are for
the majorly, in a parlous state of repair. This has impacted negatively on
the ease of doing business, with the net effect of repelling Foreign Direct
Investment in a competitive global environment and tapping into the vast
tourism potentials of the country.
The challenge of leadership in the next twenty years will be the provision
of world-class infrastructure in the areas of health, education, land, air
& rail transport and security innovatively and creatively. Job creation to
mitigate a looming demographic crisis will also be a significant governance
issue.
Agriculture, tourism, creative arts, entertainment, are sectors that the
leadership must focus on regarding tax incentives, capacity building,
ease of issuance of permits, scaling up support industries and protection
of lives and property. Also, this will reduce our dependence on oil as a
primary foreign exchange earner.
While the euphoria of the Not-too-young-to-run bill is yet to settle, it is
important to note that the class of 1999 had the likes of Donald Duke, (38
in 1999); Bola Tinubu (47 in 1999); Rabiu Kwankwanso (43 in 1999); Boni
Haruna (42 in 1999); Uzor Orji Kalu (39 in 1999) and other significant players.
The real deal is for the beneficiaries of this bill to put their resources into
politics and use technology, strategy and their youthful energy to swing
power in their direction.
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