We need a mental revolution

CLEMENT OKPANI

The effort by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to reposition the country’s political, economic and social landscape might be a mere wish unless the administration’s policies and programmes are justiceable. Democracy operates on checks and balances as stipulated in the constitution. No individual or party decision, which is not justiceable, should be imposed on the citizenry.

Some political gladiators only understand checks and balances as a harmonized relationship between the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary which entreats favour from one arm to conceal or sabotage matters of national interest.

This narrow interpretation has been part of the problem we have as a nation. The constitution does not sideline or discriminate against any individual, region or party in the collective quest for a fulfilled destiny. Moreover, Nigerians voted for a change.

Maturity in governance will reduce impunity in the country.

The shameful show at the National Assembly if not forestalled on time could lead to a crack or crash of our young democracy. Personal interest is beginning to overwhelm the aspiration or yearning of the citizenry for an improved living standard. This is already an aberration of  our mandate. Our democracy is enduring but what we are witnessing at the National Assembly is a show of shame.

A country that is battling insecurity, economic down turn and weak institutions will only get worse with the kind of the theatre of the absurd going on in the hallowed chambers of the National Assembly. Recently the wardrobe allowance came up.

That itself is another signal that elected public officers are self-seekers who are not interested in the welfare of the electorates. For a lay-man’s understanding of change and its context, change simply means to make a difference. There are wrong institutions that need to be dismantled because they have become a cankerworm that, has eaten deep into the fabrics of our political, economic and social lives. A hooligan or an unscrupulous person who was nobody before suddenly after six months in office begins to boast of mansions and a fleet of cars. We need to change our attitudes and a mental outlook. Beyond this change, what we truly need is mental revolution. The politicians, including the people at the National Assembly must realize that the times to take the people for granted are past gone, and the experience of PDP should be a kind of eye-opener for them. If the APC refuses to do the needful, it is up to Nigerians to realign their mandate come 2019. The era of impunity is gone for good.