In the crucible of curious contentions

A University and the Ubiquity of Poverty
Author: Kenechukwu Obiezu

Ahead of the 2023 general elections, contentions continue to convulse Nigeria over sundry issues at a time Nigeria can ill-afford the complications and confusion clouding its space.

Another day, another controversy, with no solution in sight. An abrupt and frankly jarring decision to redesign the naira quickly followed by stunning revelations that there would be withdrawal limits and then a sensational attempt by the Department of State Services to arrest the Central Bank Governor.

Nigerians could do with more clarity on their lives and in their affairs. In a country where mountains morph into molehills in the fraction of a second, the government  should ensure that Nigerians are always carried along at every decision point to  avoid controversy and enshrine transparency.

In a country where many times there appears an intentional attempt to obfuscate issues so that the gullible continue to groan, forcing policies down the throats of people would only compound an already difficult situation.

The Department of State Services moved with the speed of light to arrest the Central Bank Governor. But for what? Did the body which under the current administration has become notorious for its excesses have enough on the Central Bank Governor to warrant such audacious crossing of institutional lines?

It appears that the fuss is about 2023.The storm being whipped up over nothing has everything to do with the 2023 general elections.

Apparently, because the stakes are so high, much higher than they have ever been, nothing is considered too outrageous or too obscene.

Many Nigerians simply do not trust the Central Bank Governor.This lack of trust necessary yields mistrust for the policies issuing from a Central Bank where he is Governor,no matter how pristine those policies may be.

How can many Nigerians trust him?It was painful embarrassing to watch the drama that unfolded around him when candidates were throwing their hats into the ring for the primaries of the All Progressives Congress.

Even if he could argue that he was an innocent victim of a highly charged drama, why did he take him so long to denounce the shenanigans if he ever and sincerely did?

There is a lot to be said but there isn’t a lot in his favor.Yet,until he is removed by the National Assembly, he remains the Governor of Nigeria’s apex bank.

Dealing with him invariably means dealing with the institution even if he does not exactly give off that aura.It is why the DSS must tread carefully. Keeping Nigeria rid of security threats is one thing,but breaching institutional lines especially when those lines have not been forcefully blurred by the bludgeon of the law is another thing.

While the DSS does a thoroughly commendable job of identifying security threats in Nigeria long before they blossom and stamping them out, the agency has also been known for its embarrassing overzealousness in the past.

Men of the agency have been known to rouse judges in the middle of the night as well as invade court rooms all in the name of doing its job.

If the CBN Governor has fallen foul of any law, democracy, which Nigeria practices, gives it more than enough tools to tackle the problem. It does not call for a resort to any kind of shady tactics.

The law is the law because it is transparent or at least should be. Invariably, the operation of the law must be that for all to see.

As it is with the Central Bank, so it is with the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) which is poised to play a critical role as Nigerians go to the polls next year. If at any time, the men who. head and staff them are found to be starved of integrity and or competence, they can only be handled with dignity and in accordance to the law. Not necessarily because their infractions would then be deserving of such treatment but because Nigeria needs the integrity and authority of her institutions to be preserved going into next year.

Every virile democracy that glides along  smoothly does so on the wheels of strong institutions, never strong men. If Nigeria is to ever reach the promised land,the rules would have to apply to all without exception.

Until then, Nigeria can expect a long and arduous journey in no man’s land.

Kene Obiezu

Twitter: @kenobiezu

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