WHATEVER the Federal Government says or does about the report of the Sheikh Ahmed Lemu's committee on election violence, it cannot accuse the panel of being short on sincerity and comprehensiveness of its recommendations. If anything, the committee did a thorough job and told the government the hard truth; that it has continually failed to deliver good governance to the Nigerian people.Although the indictment is extended to successive governments virtually since independence, President Goodluck Jonathan, as the head of the incumbent administration, has responsibility to accept the report and rectify the past mistakes. The question is: can the president turn around the country's future positively'The committee comprising 23 members, was set up on May 11, this year to among other things, investigate the immediate and remote cause(s) of the tide of unrest in some states of the federation following the presidential election. It was also tasked with unearthing the cause of the pre-election violence in Akwa Ibom State and make appropriate recommendations to avert a recurrence.Among the committee's cardinal observation was that successive governments failed to implement the reports of several committees they set up at various times concerning one civil disturbance or another. The Lemu panel emphasised that non-implementation of these reports and particularly failure to prosecute and sanction erring persons led to impunity, a culture of reprisal and subsequent violence.The committee also observed that Nigerians yearned for a change regarding failure of government to deliver dividends of democracy and good governance, reflected in epileptic supply of electricity, deplorable roads, corruption, insecurity of life and property, poverty, public frustration and disappointment. The committee warned that 'the true state of affairs could escalate to social revolution if preventive measures are not taken in time', adding that the sporadic demonstrations in educational institutions and by labour unions were signals of impending more serious negative events.Accepting the report, President Jonathan assured that his government would fully implement it, particularly the recommendations to prevent future occurrence. The President's enthusiasm, as reflected in the long speech he made, is ordinarily impressive. But the situation on ground is serious, and certainly demands more than casual statements of intention. The despair in the land and potential for a general protest are in fact more than the depiction by the Lemu committee.As a first step, government must avoid the temptation of using the report to score cheap political points. Rather, it should acknowledge the grave situation on hand and rise to the challenges so presented. Political leaders may indeed be blamed for sometimes making unguarded statements that the masses misconstrue, but the greater offence is committed by serving public officers and political office holders who abuse their position to inflict economic adversity on the entire country.As the committee noted, a major cause of violence and disturbance is 'the manner in which political office holders have lucratised their respective position at the expense of the whole nation', for instance through self-awards of outrageous salaries and allowances that provoke a do-or-die attitude among politicians. The President, through personal example, ought to set the tone for cutting the huge cost of running government.He should be personally concerned about the charge of non-implementation of reports of investigation committees, more so as the President has, in his short stay so far at the presidency, set up several committees on various issues. The reports of these committees are yet to be implemented, prompting fear that the Lemu report may suffer the same fate.There is urgent need to enthrone an inclusive system of government in which everyone has a sense of belonging. So far, government has not shown any inclination to achieve this. Nor does it seem to be bothered by the growing disparity between the rich and the poor, itself a growing cause of disenchantment. Ultimately, these problems, along with increasing criminal activities and insecurity of lives and property are underlined by the absence of justice and fairness in treating the average citizen.Government must put in place concrete measures to address these issues; and Sheikh Lemu's panel report can provide the much-needed impetus. Where for instance are the jobs that government continually creates only on paper' Unemployment, particularly graduate unemployment, remains a daunting problem; and manufacturing companies are still unable to function under the country's stifling business environment.Again, the Lemu report hits the nail on the head when it lamented 'the declining spirit of God-consciousness and of accountability before God, very low moral standard as well as social indiscipline in the Nigerian society'. These traits are manifest in the style and conduct of public officials, with the resultant open dislocation in the country.Nevertheless, despite the failure of successive governments to respond to the people's yearning, and change the face of government, all hope is not lost. Government needs to show the political will and muster the courage to do things differently.Fixing basic problems such as roads, railway, electricity and the education system will go a long way to provide jobs, keep public restiveness at bay and reduce the hopelessness pervasive in the country. Government at all levels must cut the current profligacy, avoid nebulous projects of little public value, and do things that will directly lift the people.Ultimately, the country needs restructuring. It simply is not working as currently constituted and there is no point in pretending otherwise. The earlier government commits itself to restructure, and to overhaul the constitution appropriately, the quicker it will stave off the violent revolution feared by the Lemu committee.
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