Article

Opinion: Lifting the burden of public mistrust

by Omozuwa Gabriel Osamwonyi

Seriake-Dickson

Widespread public distrust is usually counterproductive. It does not spur the public to hold government accountable. It hampers popular participation in governance. Voters’ apathy stems from it.

Every day, we witness odd political happenings in Nigeria. We are so accustomed to them that it may not make news if a high-profile politician bites a dog.  If it does, nobody would insist that her mental health should be examined by a shrink. We would simplistically attribute it to “home trouble.” Or say that her political opponents are controlling her with “African remote.”

Many Nigerians see politicians like oddball characters in comic books.  For they excel mainly in dramatising the evils of greed. It could be argued that comical ignorance is encoded in their political DNA. Some recent political events suggest that former Governor of Kano state, Sabo Bakin Zuwo, was a typical Nigerian politician. His difference with others was in degree, not in kind. His clangers best demonstrate their hilarious ignorance.

Today, politicians display little sophistication in using Zuwo’s model. When accused of looting public treasury, they cleverly paraphrase his statement: “Government money in government house, what is the problem?”  When asked questions outside their areas of specialisation, their answers reflect a crude improvement of “Kano State has many mineral resources like Fanta, Coke, Sprite and Mirinda.”

Indeed, Nigerian politicians are hilariously mischievous. Where else do leaders demand trust without demonstrating trustworthiness? In the first place, trust is earned, not demanded. Yet, integrity-deficient politicians demand public trust. They even blackmail us; expressing dismay about the distrust that defines state-society, leader-follower and government-media relationships.

Evidently public distrust is like wild fire. It is capable of spreading and consuming the noble and ignoble. When unchecked, it works against the efforts of government to enhance people’s quality of life.  It could make investors hesitant about harnessing lucrative business opportunities in a place.

Widespread public distrust is usually counterproductive. It does not spur the public to hold government accountable. It hampers popular participation in governance. Voters’ apathy stems from it. Obviously, when citizens are not alive to their civic responsibilities, it creates ample room for misrule.

The wheels of progress are oiled by mutual trust. Society can’t advance significantly when trust-deficit leaders hamper the building of broad alliances.   Shifting alignment within government, policymakers and the public often does not secure the common good.  This is truer if the shift of allegiance is precipitated by misinformation.

In view of this, Governor Henry Seriake Dickson’s concern about the rising tide of public distrust in Bayelsa state as presumably fuelled by “dem say, dem say” people is understandable. But, there is a tinge of hilarity in his approach to end it. It is reported that he has inaugurated a Public Information Management Committee, which is mandated to stop “dem say, dem say.”  While inaugurating the committee, he disclosed that a bill is underway to criminalise rumour peddling.

Why illegalise beer parlour-like conversations?

If the Governor was a political associate of the former Head of State and chieftain of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, he may have advised him against proposing the bill. One thing that questions the democratic credentials of the soft-spoken, disciplined, forthright and pro-poor General is Degree no. 4 of 1984, which casts him in the mould of a compassionate dictator.

It seems the bill is premised on the mistaken assumption that popular mistrust is fuelled only by “dem say, dem say people.”  In a resource-rich nation like ours where development is forestalled mainly by the elite’s fatal greed, fifth columnists do not need to stoke the flames of public distrust. Existential insecurity does.

It takes more than the patriotism and determination of an Olympic athlete to trust politicians whose profligate style of public expenditure creates long-term macroeconomic disasters. Why is Nigeria a basket case? Is it because her citizens are not enterprising? No. It is because of parasitic leadership.

Let’s admit it; hypocritical politics is the root cause of public mistrust in government. Our political leaders have mastered the art of moralising the evils of corruption. Yet, corruption is their political lifeblood. Non-corrupt Nigerian politicians are as rare as fish at ease on land. Let’s tell ourselves the truth. Corruption breeds public mistrust.

Nigerians appear to have mastered the logic of placing trust intelligently.  For successive administrations appear to be uncaring bystanders, not leaders in the fight against the appalling material conditions of non-elite Nigerians. You don’t have to be a doubting Thomas to distrust political actors, when your loved one dies at the prime of her life. Simply because our roads are death traps or our hospitals are dysfunctional.

The political class can strategically help to abate anti-establishment sentiments by ensuring the “rising tide lifts all boats” A government of the rich, by the rich and for the rich cannot be trusted by the poor. Efforts should be made to narrow the gap between the rich and the poor. If this is done, Nigeria will be better for it.

Also, anti-poverty rhetoric must be accompanied by people-empowering investments. This is beyond the pharisaic doling out of handouts during electoral campaigns. It should include creating the enabling environment for entrepreneurs to thrive.

As long as our economy is de-industrialised, government at all levels will hugely be plagued by distrust. It is easier for resentful losers in the elite group struggling for control of state resources to stoke the flames of popular discontent, when unemployment rate is escalating. Some disillusioned unemployed youths will cause mayhem in exchange for a loaf of bread.

Another credible way our leaders can effectively recede the rising tide of public distrust is to create a robust culture of open communication. Anything that creates the impression that the government seeks to be the only source of information about itself portends dislike for plurality of voices, which is the centrepiece of democratic societies. It may be seen as a veiled effort to stifle political dissent and as a precursor of vindictive politics.

To end this era of mistrust, our leaders should develop the empathy of Alexander the Great.  The empathy that makes sacrifices a lifestyle in times of gross scarcity. History tells us that during one of Alexander’s campaign, many of his men died out of exhaustion, thirst and sunstroke. When water was brought to him by his scout, he poured it on the ground. Asking, of what use is it for one to drink when others are thirsty?

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Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija.

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