It baffles me to note that in Nigeria everything is about the next “election” rather than the governance issues. Let’s insist on good governance for the existing mandate. In my understanding, there is diff erence between “politics” and “governance”. According to Section 99 (1) of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended the period for electioneering campaigns is 90 days before polling day. As law abiding people not powermongers we have good one year from now to kick- start campaigns.
Th is also means that “political campaigns have only 90 days while the rest is for governance. But unfortunately for my country the campaign for 2019 has since begun. Both the leaders and the followers talk too much about the next elections. Let’s always give more emphasis on governance which is the surest way of bettering our lots. Th ere is nothing strange to say that Senator Jummai Aisha Alhassan, Minister of Women Aff airs, has the right to be loyal to whomever she wants to but I doubt if she can eff ectively serve any government with divided loyalty.
In my view, among the major factors to be considered in determining political appointments are “competence” and “loyalty”. Having loyalty alone without competency will not yield a better result so also competency alone without loyalty in an appointee is catastrophic to any administration.
For me loyalty is very essential. Loyalty is devotion and faithfulness to a cause. With the minister’s utterances during her Sallah visit to the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, Wazirin Adamawa and her BBC’s Hausa Service interview it has clearly indicated that she has a “divided loyalty”.
.Th e minister is having a divided loyalty perhaps she is not the only one in the cabinet, but at least hers is now obvious. She cannot serve two masters at a time? Th e minister should resign or be asked to go not because she has no right to be loyal to whomever she wants to but simply because it is now time for governance not politics. e major problems facing Nigeria today are corruption and insecurity. Th e fact is that you cannot fi ght corruption with injustice. Sadly, what is the government doing about the benefi ts of the Nigeria Police retirees from 2016 till date? I urge President Muhammadu Buhari to look into the above subject matter. Let the war on corruption continue in earnest. Nigerians love you. Simon A. Ewone, 5 0shinowo Street, Mafoluku, Oshodi, Lagos state
