The first page of another 365 days journey opens today. At midnight, 2008 expected to usher in new tidings begins. As usual with every New Year, high hopes and expectations of people fill the air. This has become an annual ritual through which people do a wholesome appraisal of their lives - account for past failures and plan for future success. Today affords people the opportunity of having New Year dreams.
Whether the dreams would come to fruition depend on individual focus and more importantly an enabling environment engendered by realistic and people-friendly government policies. In the past eight years, New Year hopes and aspirations have been impeded by lack of official sincerity in the delivery of democratic dividends.
Government’s action through its reform in the last one year showed little considerations for the well-being of the people. The hope of having free and fair elections was dashed by the massive rigging, irregularities and fraud that marred last April’s general elections. Local government elections conducted by States last December were worse examples of what a democracy should be.
Political distortions and violence are a recurring decimal that are slowing down real development. We do hope that disregard for rules and condonation of violence elevated, especially, among the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in its subdue of oppositions will stop in the new year. Hostage taking in Niger-Delta region was a national issue in 2007. The intervention of Joint Task Force has reduced violence but genuine developmental efforts by government will quell to a significant level the nefarious activities of militants in that region.
There are several petitions pending before Tribunals and Appeal Courts in the country. Among them are the petitions challenging the election of President Umaru Yar’ Adua. There is need to expedite action on these petitions so that the end of justice will not be delayed and probably be defeated. 2007 witnessed lots of landmark judgement by the judiciary.
The upturn of Rashidi Ladoja’s impeachment as Oyo State governor, return of Governor Peter Obi of Anambra and judicial declaration of Rotimi Amaechi as governor of Rivers State were judgements that raised people’s belief in our democracy in 2007. More of these epochal judgements are expected in 2008 from the judiciary.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, under Professor Maurice Iwu disappointed Nigerians in its shoddy conduct of elections. An over-haul of the place is inevitable in 2008.
Nigeria’s growth and development will be determined largely by government’s pursuit of right policies and programmes implemented in an atmosphere of transparency and accountability. The government must ensure that an enabling environment to allow for progress of Nigerians and the nation are put in place and allowed to thrive.
