BY ERNEST OSOGBUE

In every nation, there exists a group of people who either due to historical factors, service to the fatherland, or by virtue of their positions, carry the weight of the nation on their shoulders. These people may not be in political office, or occupy any official position, but their words and deeds affect the national psyche in such a manner that they mold opinions and become the conscience of the nation.

In the United States for example, the Rockefellers, the Fords, the Kennedy’s, and lately the Clinton’s and the Bush family, have become a part of this group, along with other historical families. These families wield subterranean influence in the American polity, and affect decision making at the highest level without seeming to do so. Their power is unseen, but is ever present. When the ship of nation is tottering on the brink, it is their silent voices that steer it on the right course. They may subscribe to different political ideologies, but when America’s future is at stake, they put aside all differences.

For instance, during the first Trump presidency, when America was on the verge of transforming into a rogue state rather than the leader of the free world, these historical families, without doing anything overt, helped bring the nation back on an even keel. In every successful or failed nation, there is this elite group of people, who conspire rightly or wrongly to affect the direction of state. They may not come together formally, but their individual and collective feelings filter out, and affect decision making.

In Nigeria this group also exists and is commonly referred to as “those who own Nigeria”. It is made up of former presidents and heads of state, along with retired top military officers, eminent traditional rulers, some members of the clergy, and top politicians. Unfortunately however, rather than working together to move Nigeria in the right and proper direction, these groups are more interested in individual, ethnic or religious aggrandizement, and that is the major reason Nigeria remains a toddler at over 60 years.

The performance of every nation, whether successful or failed, largely depends on the activities of this elite group. The positive trajectory of countries like Britain, France, Switzerland, Canada, Denmark and many others, is a reflection of the positive elite consensus which helps to guide them right. In Africa however, poverty is a clear and present reality, alongside ethnic and religious interests, these considerations tend to influence the reasoning of the elite and affect their judgment in such a manner that the national interest never sees the light of day. This is the major reason why Africa is bedeviled by conflicts, illiteracy, poverty and instability.

In the case of the United States, the elite are only interested in the development of America, and the maintenance of its superpower influence around the globe. Group and personal interests are therefore subsumed under the national interest. In the case of Nigeria however, the exact opposite is the case. The Nigerian elite subsume the national interest under individual or group interests. When the ship of state is tottering on the brink, rather than use their collective voice to steer it right, the Nigerian elite take advantage of the situation to actualize individual or group agenda.

Every nation in Africa seems to lack elite consensus, and therefore the nations are pulled in different directions depending on the whims and interests of the various elite groups. This is why Africa has been raped and plundered by external interests, who only take advantage of the internal squabbles, and contests for individual or group dominance to achieve their nefarious neocolonial interests.

In Nigeria as in Africa, the case remains the same. The acute lack of elite consensus as to which direction the nation should pull is the primary reason why Nigeria is enmeshed in underdevelopment, despite being blessed with abundant human and material resources.

Recently Nigerians have been left in no doubt that the political elite is out to protect itself rather than seek the development and prosperity of the nation. This was demonstrated blatantly when President Buhari for no just reason, granted amnesty to two convicted former state governors; Joshua Dariye and Jolly Nyame. This was a case of the elite protecting itself.

In like manner, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has had his conviction for fraud conveniently quashed by the Supreme Court. While some Nigerians are impressed by the activities of the EFCC and the ICPC, it follows however that the rate of prosecution and conviction of politicians by both agencies, is not commensurate with the rate of looting of the treasury at the national and state levels. Something does not add up.

A careful look around our country would reveal a massive infrastructural deficit in almost all facets. The number of out of school children is another matter entirely. Graduate unemployment is currently at its highest level, with the attendant high incidence of criminal behavior amongst youths. While Nigerians lament the current upsurge in the activities of bandits, insurgents and terrorists, the general consensus is that the activities of these groups are a product of years of mis governance by politicians. Yet, no notable politician is currently in jail for corruption.

After the tenure of most state governors, a cat and mouse game usually ensued between them and the EFCC. This is currently the case between the commission and Yahaya Bello, the former governor of Kogi State. There is also the matter brewing between the commission and Godwin Obaseki, the immediate past governor of Edo State. On his part however, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has initiated a preemptive strike against the EFCC, by suing the commission against a possible arrest and prosecution at the end of his tenure.

While the Lagos State government has distanced itself from the above suit, the important point to be made here is that despite all the efforts of the EFCC, and the media grandstanding, these cases usually come to naught. What Nigerians get is a media trial, which at the end of the day yields no tangible conviction as the offenders are slapped on the wrist and set free to continue their activities in a higher office.

It is therefore evident that while elite consensus in Europe and the America’s is geared towards national development and economic growth, elite consensus in Nigeria, albeit in Africa, is self-serving, and only interested in self-protection and preservation, rather than in national development or economic growth.