THE INEVITABILITY OF CHANGE – BY PAUL INYANG

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Paul Inyang

 Some days I wake up and I see the “glass half-full”. It is not so easy for an “old” curmudgeon like me. We are like dinosaurs and ten…d to stay the course without much variance. We are almost always suspect of change—all its elements and underpinnings. Things are never what they say it is and we have seen it all before—at least that is what we think. But life is constantly moving despite all our misgivings and dragging us all along. It is the old story of a battered people who have lost their zest and have become cynical about every life circumstance. That is not my story today—for life is funny in its twist and turns. One can find themselves in what may seem like a quagmire but the way out may well be that we have to learn to smile about our life and remember that if we have lived long—we have seen it all probably. In every difficulty there is a lesson—one that we can readily see and those that we have to figure out with time. We just have to wait long enough and learn to laugh at ourselves.

It all reminds me of the recent budget situation in my homeland. The budget has been lost and found so many times that it has become hilariously delicious to read about. The characters that are emerging are just as funny as the story itself. The “budget mafia” and the bumbling advisors who in the eyes of many Nigerians do not seem to have a clue. There are the many explanations, “surprise” submissions, inserted items and lack of fundamentals in putting together a budget. Going from an “incremental budget” to a “zero budget” and the constriction of agencies in an attempt to make government “mean and leaner” as they say. Legislators who pretend not to know the problems and a presidency that appears to be finding its feet. The antic of the Nigerian civil servants who the president had all the confidence in, only to be sidelined by last minute items that his folks did not appear to spot prior to submission. In my new world that would merit an immediate firing to all involved. If we can overcome the embarrassment—the story gets juicy. It reminds me of the old saying that the “devil in the details”.

President Buhari has fired the first salvo—24 heads of agencies and parastatals have deservedly been fired. For me, this is a significant indication that we are in for a protracted effort to rid ourselves of corrupt practices. Yes, recovering money from wayward politicians and their cronies is important and must be done. This action signals a more in-depth recognition that the real war is in reforming the system and institutions. There has been speculation that the civil service is next in line. Reportedly, permanent secretaries and directors are in his line of vision. I would dare to say a broader systemic gut is required. For those who understand the process, nothing happens in civil service without the blessings of the permanent secretaries and directors. No money changes hands without their involvement. They are the ones who resist change the most—yes, change will not come until this bloated bureaucratic system is totally reformed. A good start would be the purging of the entire structure and its leadership. The caveat though are their replacements.

Is the president susceptible to same impunity??? Yes he is if not careful. We hope the President’s integrity and moral steadfastness guides his decisions. We hope he will also follow due process no matter how arduous the process. The country needs this example. As Segun Ayobolu of The Nation newspaper states—“impunity is the common factor that binds the thieving public official, the Boko Haram terrorist, the armed robber and elected office holder….in the sinister brotherhood of evil”—the defective elements of our society.

I have to admit that all of these happenings can be very confusing. This is the case because Nigerians have never seen anything like it. So some have turned it into jokes—the “change we need”. That informed my earlier assertion that—sometimes some of us have to be dragged into change. Change was never meant to be orderly. It is also the challenge of democracy. Out of this chaos I believe is something special awaiting Nigerians. These are phases that we must go through as a country. We should have a sense of humor while participating and watching this evolving process. Here we go—let see what happens next. It ain’t so bad watching change after all.

 

1 comment on “THE INEVITABILITY OF CHANGE – BY PAUL INYANG”

  1. Raymond Orbisi

    You said it, Paul. It's happening and may God protect the president. As one cynical friend of mine reminded me, change is good but change also has a way of fighting back! This cynicism has become the situation with the lot of our people. If Buhari does not get the support and heart to effect needed change, I fear that the country is headed for doom. God forbid…!

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