From Moshood KARIM
In a lecture delivered at the Edo State University Uzairue on Wednesday, Prof. Dawood Omolumen Egbefo, a University Don, delved into the challenges of democratic governance in Nigeria since 1999. He identified the legislature and the judiciary as the culprits for not living up to the people’s expectations by discharging their real responsibilities, thereby encouraging corruption in Nigeria.
He stated this at the 13th inaugural lecture series of the Edo State University Uzairue, Titled: Democratic Governance And The Challenges Of Poverty, Corruption And National Security Crisis In Nigeria Since 1999, at the Aliko Dangote Auditorium.
Prof. Egbefo observed that the judiciary, as the third arm of government, is not allowed to perform its actual duties, and what they do is just paper work. He claimed that the real effective issues of the judiciary are in the hands of the executive. He cited the past four to eight years as examples of how the judiciary has been made to do what the government wants, or not allowed to perform their actual duties.
According to him: ““for the past 4-8 years now, we have seen how the judiciary have been made to do what the government want or not being allowed to perform their actual duties, what they do is just paper work and the real effective issues of the judiciary is in the hands of the executive.”
In the same vein, Prof. Egbefo accused the legislature of not being able to establish the administrative instrument that will put good governance on the ground. He emphasized that the legislature is supposed to make laws for good governance or always see to what the executive is about to or is doing can be implemented for good governance.
Furthermore, Prof. Egbefo suggested that until we redefine what true governance is, democracy will keep on promoting poverty, thereby leading to corruption, and the problem we are facing will take time to be solved. He believes that the enthronement of democracy and good governance in Nigeria is necessary for the socio-economic and political transformation of the country in the 21st century.
Prof. Egbefo also pointed out that the government is responsible for not being able to put on the ground a structure or system that would be able to check corruption, as people are interested in corruption as a result of the kind of wealth they want at the detriment of others. He said that the issue of corruption did not start today, as we have seen government officials taking bribes to carry out their official duties, or government engaging or involving in bribing companies or contractors at the same time claiming to be fighting corruption by setting up EFCC, ICPC and others.
However, Prof. Egbefo praised the past administrations for making significant progress in the fight against corruption by arresting and prosecuting those who engaged in corrupt practices in the private and public sectors. He said that the eradication of corruption is not just a difficult task if the right machineries are put in place, like other developed countries like America, where there are tested institutions that make it impossible for the corrupt to be the ultimate winner.
Prof. Egbefo stated that the fight against corruption must be carried out with total commitment from the political leadership, backed by strong political will devoid of lip-service and rhetoric. He also called for a serious drive towards poverty reduction and inequality through people-oriented policies and programs that will address the basic necessities of life, such as food, shelter, health care services, safe drinking water, electricity, education, employment, among others.
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