Eugene Enahoro, eugeneenahoro@dailytrust.com
Over 10 years ago, on February 17, 2015, Daily Trust published an article entitled ‘A nation on autopilot’. It outlined the manner in which then President Goodluck Jonathan declined to accept responsibility for the worsening situation in the nation, which was captured by the shenanigans in party political offices, fiascos in the National Assembly, a failing economy, rising insurgency, cost of fuel, a failed anti-corruption war, worsening electricity supply, and government employment scandals.
Back then, it was debatable as to whether or not the president understood, let alone possessed, the leadership qualities required to extricate the nation from the mess. Subsequent events proved that he did not. Ten years later, the wheel appears to have turned a full circle as Nigerians are left to wonder whether anybody is actually in charge of trying to make the nation a better place or whether the nation has reverted to autopilot.
The sheer lawlessness in the nation was exhibited recently in the mass killings in Edo and Plateau states. Regrettably, neither the president nor the vice president considered it important to remain at the helm during the crucial period when the nation teetered on the brink
In modern-day usage, the term “autopilot” refers to someone being in charge but carrying out the task without focusing on it or thinking about what is happening. From an engineering standpoint, the important thing to note about autopilots is that they are not supposed to replace human operators, instead, they are meant to assist the operator in control so that he or she may focus on the broader aspects of operations.
Three years ago in 2022, the then governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal said, “So many people are making the mistake of saying that Nigeria is on autopilot. If an aircraft is on autopilot, you are sure of safety, and you are sure of direction…. This is not the case with Nigeria because the nation is directionless and everybody is on their own with government being run as if there is no one in control.”
The sheer lawlessness in the nation was exhibited recently in the mass killings in Edo and Plateau states. Regrettably, neither the president nor the vice president considered it important to remain at the helm during the crucial period when the nation teetered on the brink. Whether through ignorance, self-interest, or sheer incompetence, they have failed to exercise the imperatives of governance. Indeed, their actions and inactions while the nation experiences countless turmoil are widely considered to be indifferent, insensitive and unresponsive to the plight of millions who live in constant fear of rampaging murderers.
Nigeria’s leaders are only there in name and not in practice. They allow the nation to run its course, concentrate on uncompassionate economic policies and social welfare policies that remain stuck in the concept of handing out meagre palliatives. Before they undertake foreign trips looking for overseas investors who are leaving the country in droves, they should solve some of the problems that make life unbearable for the majority of citizens.
While junketing around the world and ignoring pressing home problems, they are telling Nigerians to continue suffering until 2027, when their mandate for increased suffering will be renewed! The real tragedy of the manner in which the nation is being run is that while law abiding citizens have to bear the brunt of not having any concrete plan to make things better for them, criminal elements continue to live in affluence protected by police, while corrupt politicians will luxuriate in self-granted privileges which make all of them billionaires at public expense.
The Nigerian political class acts as if they believe leadership is a privilege to be luxuriated in, not a burden of urgent service and responsibility to steer the fate of millions towards safety and prosperity.
Nigeria is a nation in which people have almost lost hope for a better tomorrow because, truth be told, the outlook is bleak. Nigeria continues to suffer tragedy after tragedy, turmoil after turmoil, murder after murder, rape after rape, corruption after corruption, and legal manipulation after illegalities and unconstitutionalities. While chaos erupts around us, weary citizens are reduced to praying for salvation rather than demanding it from political leaders.
There is no disputing the fact that one man with a vision can change the destiny of a nation, and Nigeria needs a visionary leader now. Selfish political ambition should never override the larger national interest. Although there is no great plan to save Nigeria, optimists believe that somehow, when the current generation of leaders has gone to meet their maker, the nation will self-rectify. By this time, they expect that shameless crooks will no longer litter our political landscape by finding succour in the National Assembly or ministerial appointments. While the likes of Omoleye Sowore have, thankfully, never been taken too seriously in his calls for revolution and the ensuing bloodbath it will cause, the truth is that the most compelling reasons for revolution which are injustice, crushing poverty, marginalisation, rampant corruption, lawlessness, joblessness and general disaffection with the ruling elite currently exist in Nigeria.
Leaders cannot continue to bury their heads in the sand, the nation cannot continue on autopilot when what is needed is a well-conceived plan of action to move the nation away from directionless governance.
Enahoro is a columnist with Daily Trust
