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In both religious and legal arena, we know that the established laws judge people’s actions based on the intention of the actor. In legal circles almost universally, the laws (at least in the books) clearly specifies that people get convicted only if they intended the act for which they have been accused of committing. As such they use the term “premeditated” to differentiate between actions done by sheer accident and those done intentionally. If unintentional, it is labeled either “accidental” or “involuntary.”
Premeditated of course means the person has either thought about the issue before committing it, or even planned it well ahead of time. And in Islam, the Holy Prophet taught that similar principles apply to human behavior in the sight of their Creator, God. Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, was quoted authentically as saying “actions are judged by the intentions (behind committing them).”
In Nigerian Politics unfortunately, it has now become clear that majority of contestants for leadership positions, and those running to represent the people in national as well as state assemblies and local government councils from the onset begin with the wrong intention in mind. It usually begins primarily with a strong drive to achieve their unfulfilled ego and crave for power and wealth. Everyone else including the nation come second, viewed as an assured burden that should soon be neglected. No sooner than the votes are counted and the results announced, the general public will have to pay through the teeth to gain access to their governmental representative.
Regardless of the importance of a visit to one’s representatives, access means you have to bribe your way through. You may have the brightest idea for solving an impending issue, or else just want access to complain about a genuine public need, it does not matter, no one will give you access. The only reason that guarantees one access is if (a) You are willing to bribe or entice those around the official with something that will get them some monetary gain at that moment, or later after you get through to the leader. If you are able to succeed the first step then: (b) Your meeting with the elected leader will also have to mean that he (the elected representative of the people) will also have something to gain personally (usually financial) from whatever you want him to do for his people.
And as I have been asserting all along, while major share of Nigeria’s problems should be shouldered by its leaders, it is wrong to dwell on the leaders only. The reason is simple; if the nation fails to realize that the whole population need attitudinal changes and reform, then Nigeria will forever remain stagnant if not heading towards worse outcome.
The parable of the good tree in the Quran (Surah Ibrahim 14:24) says a good word is like a good tree which takes root, (begets fruit) and is firmly established, i.e. good begets good (and multiplies). The exact quote is: “Art thou not aware how God sets forth the parable of a good word? [It is] like a good tree, firmly rooted, [reaching out] with its branches towards the sky..” Likewise we should know that people with bad characteristics (and bad intention) beget bad action which in turn begets bad results.
The leaders are a product of the people. If the people are overwhelmingly good, those elected to positions of authority from among them will generally turn out to be good also. All they probably need from then on is the push and pressure from the people so as to force them away from the temptation of corruption, and push them onto the path of performance. The public should never relent in pursuing and putting pressure on elected leaders to perform.
I cannot say this enough, there are no inherently good people, and inherently bad people. The difference, as I observed living in a country that practices same democratic ideal is (a) The legal system and its structure has to be strengthened enough to hold everyone accountable to the nation’s laws regardless of social status; i.e. equality in the face of law from the peasant to the President. In the U.S. for example President Nixon was forced (using pressure) to resign, for violations of the law of the land. (b) Policies are crafted with the mindset that people will take advantage of the law at all times if not prevented. Several stumbling blocks are therefore deliberately set to prevent abuse of the policy.
If something valuable has to be entrusted to a person, many steps will be required using many people before final disbursement. The assumption is that, it is hard for anyone to gain full confidence of all those people, and even if you bully some to comply, at the first instance they get they will betray you. And then of course regular audits of such funds follow.
Our religious base play a major role. In Nigeria this cannot be emphasized enough. Any human can be tempted, but it is our diligence in building our virtues and equal if not more diligence in suppressing our vices that builds our level of resistance from falling into bad practices. People have forwarded various reasons for the sheer lack of concern of Nigerian leaders to their responsibilities, i.e. taking care of the people. A major reason in my opinion is lack of faith in God.
If you believe that any responsibility you get is a test from God, there is no way you will play with it the way we see Nigerian leaders do. If you believe that one day either in this material world, or in the spiritual world to come you will be forced to give account of ALL your actions, you will not even dream of coming close to the things you dream of committing through active campaigning for the position. As much as people will open their mouths to convince us that they are good Christians or Muslims, we will say to them anyone can claim anything, but the real challenge is providing a convincing proof.
In the proof arena, Nigerian leaders are found wanting. Generally people see their success in a campaign and winning election, even if glaringly by rigging, or else by gross manipulations and trickery, as ordained by God. They see it as a license to do what they want to do regardless of it being right in the sight of the God they claim to worship or not. As if being chosen or else rigging your way to a position exempts one from the laws of justice, fairness, honesty, trust, and transparency. They also do that in clear violation of the man-made laws they swore to uphold.
How can one think “Wow! I never dream I can get this position. That means it is my chance to steal.” At that point, to the politician, “Thou shall not steal” is no more a command of God. Why can't they think positively like “My God! You chose me to this noble position to test the level of goodness I embody, and the level of bad in me? I may never get such a chance to be good, just, and kind to multitudes of millions. I promise You that I will try my best to rule Your people with justice, honesty, fairness and all. I will surely need Your help, but I intend to become a role model of leadership for this country, in Your name.”
Finally to the people: we ALL have a responsibility to continue to build our virtuous deeds as against the our vices. We have to be proactive in the decision making process for candidacy, and if barred from the process by manipulation then challenge the choice, if who is chosen is a clear aberration. Never be satisfied unless the best willing individual among the people in our jurisdiction is chosen; for they will become role models for all our children and grand children for years, in terms of how elected representatives and other leaders behave. When we stand before our Lord, excuses like, they were all bad, will not do. That is their responsibility and burden to bear. What God will ask you probably is “What did you do?”
(c) The Optimist Voice. All Rights Reserved.