It has taken ten years to debate the way Nigeria’s politics is going, where some people think that democracy is not progressing while others say that beauty is paying for soap.
Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah is among those who believe that the country’s politics is full of problems, where he said that although the country’s politics started well, especially after the military coup, the country’s democracy started to suffer.
In his conversation with the BBC, Bishop Kukah who is the head of the Catholic Church in Sokoto state in the north of Nigeria, said that not only politics, “everything that is wanted to be good must be placed on a strong brick”.
At the end of last week, Bishop Kukah delivered a lecture in Abuja, where he stated that most of the Nigerian presidents get the opportunity to ascend the throne without preparing the government, a situation that drew a response from the Nigerian presidency.
‘What is sown is now reaped’
Bishop Kuka stated that Nigeria’s politics is not built on a solid foundation, which he said has caused the country’s democracy to be in serious trouble.
“A building must be made of good bricks. If the bricks are not made properly, there will be problems,” he said.
“We did not get a good foundation for Nigeria’s democracy. Although we started politics in the country well, but if we had continued since Sardauna’s time – and the army had not disturbed the country – Nigeria’s politics would have been different.”
He added that “what is being harvested now is what was planted in the past by not putting the country’s politics on a good foundation”.
Big problems
Although Nigeria’s politics has grown, and has been around for a long time since the first republic, some people think that the country’s politics is still full of problems.
Bishop Kukah listed some of the problems that he said are among the things that surround the country’s politics and make it difficult.
“If people are hungry, they are in different problems, there is darkness, there is no education, there are people who are happy. That is why Nigerian politics has become difficult.”
Rise to power without planning
Regarding the issue that most of the leaders of Nigeria ascend to the throne without being prepared, the head of the church said that this is how Nigeria’s politics is inherited.
“This is the political history of Nigeria,” he said. “Muhammadu Bello (Sardauna) was supposed to be the prime minister but he called Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, and he did a good job. But after that we went into military rule, where whoever has a gun will rule.
“Former president Shehu Shagari wanted to be a senator, but he became the president. Olusegun Obasanjo was released from prison.
“Goodluck Jonathan was the deputy governor, he didn’t even know he was going to be the governor, but this is how things turned out. Even Umar Musa Yarduwa had already planned to go back and continue teaching at the university before he became the president of the country. “
Nigerian youths have often complained that they are not given the same opportunities as their counterparts in other countries.
However, Bishop Kukah said that politics is a matter of money, but he added that everyone is a leader at his level.
“Not every person will be a leader who holds power. If you have a family, you are a leader. Wherever you work, you are a leader. When it comes to leadership, Nigerians think that the leader is the one who holds the power. Reforming Nigeria is not only the job of the rulers, everyone has a role to play at their level.
“If it is said that children grow up tomorrow, it depends on what God has given to a person. Even if you are guarding, then do it properly. The children have their own work, the children have their own, each one has his own. If everyone does his work honestly Nigeria will improve, the world will also improve.”
According to the tradition in Nigerian politics, most of the rulers want to go as far as driving.
The church teacher said that people must understand that politics requires patience, simplicity – not anger.
According to him: “The councilor wants to be the president of the local government, the president of the local government wants to be the governor, the governor wants to be the president of the country – if he doesn’t get it, he wants to be a senator.
“That is why the Senate of Nigeria is full of old governors.”
