The Ungoverned Government 

Historically, it has been proven that absolute power is designed by nature to corrupt absolutely. The inherent nature of man displays some level of excesses if not governed by constitutional laws. Constitutional Laws are the manuals that control the behavioral patterns of the people of an individual society. Anyone who violates any of the laws will be obligated to face the penalty therein. When a Constitution bestows absolute power on a leader, every contrary view against the leader’s position of want becomes rebellious. Automatically, the leader’s desires will form the new structure of the Constitution through corrupt or bankrolled congressional amendments and endorsements. He will keep playing the role of a king who can never be tagged wrong irrespective of his atrocious displays, which in turn, will abysmally shape the mindsets of his followers. 

“Wetin leaders dey do, na im people dey do” says Fela Anikulapo Kuti. 

The fear of the law is the life gate to the golden city of law abiding townsmen. Morality is sustained through constitutional laws for the majority human population like the role of bad guys. This is why violence/criminal cinematography attracts the attention of the majority movie fiends. This view does not eradicate the existence of some individuals who are inherently or morally fine tuned to eschew bad conducts in their relationship with fellow humans. 

Laws are chiefly enacted to guide the people of an individual community from engaging in crime, immoral behaviors and to ensure their safety and that of their properties as they go about their individual lawful activities. In a sane society, as they build up and modify laws to prevent citizens from engaging in certain unconventional activities, so laws are enacted, amended to prevent leaders from abusing the rights of their citizens, which in turn, will obligate leaders to discharge their duties by observing productivity, transparency and accountability. This law abiding system of all inclusive and no exemption practices keeps everyone on his or her toes to ensure things function well in all spheres. It is the catalyst for patriotism. Everyone who violates the law is brought to book irrespective of his position in the society. In fact, the higher the position of authority one occupies, the higher the punishment he gets in pari-pasu with the level of his crime. No one should function above the law for laws are necessity tools which regulate the excesses and the avaricious nature resident in human contents. 

The above the law abuses the laws and get away from being hit by the penalty prescribed by the laws. Having laws without or with anemic enforcement is not different from not having the laws in place. Laws without arms proliferates criminality as it encourages people to go into crime without fear of possible penalties. This is why banditry, kidnapping, blood money rituals among other crimes grew to the level of what we have in Nigeria presently. Nigeria’s leadership system ignorantly nourished the crimes militating against us presently by engaging lackluster approach in the very beginning and in some cases defends a reason built up by a group to take laws into their hands even when the first aim of government to protect lives and properties was being jeopardized. If adequate actions were taken at the elementary stage by enacting a draconian penalty against such myopic and barbaric attitude that has no value for human life, we will not be at the mercy of merciless elements today. 

When a leader has the power to enact, interpret, enforce and override constitutional laws, corruption and oppression become inevitable. At times, even good individuals instinctively throw some level of bad punches in the ring of absolute power. 

Government protects its citizen by collecting taxes to finance, train and equip an Army, a Police force, Customs, Immigration and to build Courts and correctional centres, as well as electing or appointing officials to pass and implement the laws citizens must not violate. In the same vein, an independent unbiased non conformist umpire must be financed, trained and equipped to monitor government activities and to recommend erring government officials for prosecution regardless of the officials’ title or position. Not the type that moves against those who are not in favor of the ruling lord. 

For a government to function effectively for the betterment of its citizens there must be an independent non conformist body that will serve as an umpire to mediate between leaders and citizens. The umpire body is to function with Judiciary settings to ensure justices in all spheres. But when the Judiciary gladiators are enthroned and are nourished under the pay role of the executive king, their functionality will narrow down to gleefully endorse the wishes of the king at the detriment of public’s welfare. 

Please note this: When a government is not governed by an independent non conformist body, bad governance and abuse of power will be the order of the day. No two ways about it! 

High Chief Ezewele Cyril Abionanojie. 

The author of the book ‘The Enemy Called Corruption’, an award Winner of ‘Best Columnist of the Year’ and the Founder/President of Peace Ambassadors.