Buhari And The Fifth Columnists By Carl Umegboro – TheNigerialawyer

ACCORDING to Wikipedia, a fifth columnist is “any group of
people who undermine a larger group from within, usually in favour
of an enemy group or nation. The activities of a fifth columnist
can be overt or clandestine. Forces gathered in secret can mobilize
openly to assist an external attack. Clandestine fifth column
activities can involve acts of sabotage, disinformation, or
espionage executed within defense lines by secret sympathizers with
an external force.”

Literarily, it refers to persons who willfully constitute clogs
in the wheel of progress within the system for no justifiable
cause. Simply put, self-centered persons who allow selfish
interests to override public interests. It doesn’t matter heights
attained, greed and acrimony will always manifest either patently
or latently in their actions.

President Muhammadu Buhari must not allow some politicians
constitute clogs in the wheel of his progress knowing that masses
confidence on him is at stake. Election is over. This is the time
to be strict and focused for service delivery to earn accolades
after exit from politics in 2023. Those that preferred conceited
interests and ambitions to public interest should be laid off.
Second term in office by Nigeria’s Constitution precedes
retirement. But the retirement; fulfilled, glorious or otherwise
will be determined by some dynamics.

In the Oath of Allegiance in the 1999 Constitution, Federal
Republic of Nigeria for public officeholders, it provides for
recitation, “….I will discharge my duties to the best of my
ability, faithfully, and in accordance to with the Constitution of
the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the law, and always in the
interest of the sovereignty, integrity, solidarity, well-being and
prosperity of the Federal Republic of Nigeria …..; I will not allow
my personal interest to influence my official conduct or official
decisions ……; I will do right to all manner of people, according to
law, without fear or favour, affection or ill-will …….”.

These are the social contracts by which anyone; from president
down to a commissioner can take up any official responsibility from
the Constitution. Unfortunately, whilst the drafters of the
Constitution took it seriously, politicians take it as mere
recitals or formality. A pity indeed.

The major challenge facing the country is insecurity which has
perceptibly given President Buhari sleepless nights. Economy may
never boom as targeted until insecurity is dealt with. The twosome;
security and economy go hand in hand. And any government that
failed to prioritize them is cruising on abysmal failures.

Unfortunately, scores of citizens that devotedly enrolled in a
government institution; National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN)
and graduated since 2013 have been subjected to redundancy and
idleness; roaming the streets without vocations by designs of some
privileged persons in government. What a contradiction.

How could scores of citizens be kept in such a tight corner for
years with all manner of gimmicks forgetting that the victims have
a right to live a comfortable life? How many of the conspirators or
schemers can stay without remunerations to justify the years the
innocent victimized students have stayed without jobs? And finally,
what have the schemers gained from the obnoxious ploys?

Pondering on the unending ugly dramas regarding the admission of
NOUN law graduates who had been encumbered from proceeding for
their vocational training in the Nigerian Law School for no crimes
committed can only make any patriotic persons weep deeply for the
nation. The commonest question that must come to mind is; can the
country freely move forward with such actors as public
officeholders?

The most horrible challenge any government can face is harboring
fifth columnists who pursue selfish agendas distinct from the
government they constitute. This is indeed unfortunate. Lack of
continuity, unity of purpose and open-mindedness in government is
the major task in governance. Any system where personal interests
are placed above public interests will collapse.

The Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu’s efforts on the
protracted NOUN/Law School crisis have often met a brick wall.
Adversaries within, they say, are the worst enemies. And President
Buhari must be mindful of such characters as they can sabotage
other government’s policies mutely. Like corruption, if you don’t
deal with fifth columns within, it will deal with the
government.

Anywhere a principal and subordinates pursue different
interests, it is doomed to fail. It is sad that whilst President
Buhari even with old age is passionately a workaholic; always on
the move, attending to all important tasks both within and from
country to country to make ends meet for common good, some
subordinates prefer to clandestinely add to his stress.

No doubt, NOUN/Law School crisis was inherited from two previous
administrations, but President Buhari must give these oppressed
students the anticipated relief. According to Simone de Beauvoir,
“All oppression creates a state of war”. And the time to avert it
is now.

It is bizarre for a unique innovation federal government adopted
from developing nations and established with public funds to be
subjected to hostility and pull-down syndrome instead of
strengthening it to stand. How could human beings willfully,
joyfully cripple their fellow citizens?

Anyway, a fulfilled and glorious retirement after serving the
nation is only tenable by remarkable accomplishments, and therefore
any detractors within the system should be discharged in the best
interest. Thus, let the needful be done.

Umegboro is a public affairs analyst and Associate,
Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (United Kingdom). 08023184542 –
SMS only.  Https:carlumegboro.com