As at now, the socio-economic-cum-political and ethno-cultural as well as interpersonal/family cohesion train of the nation is fast drifting into oblivion, and systematically grinding to a halt. Even the needful solution of good governance, dividends of democracy and the much-needed restructuring/re-federation, in line with the wishes of majority Nigerians has been greatly and grossly degraded to an agbero tactics.

On the current gale of defections by politicians, the issue of whether the Senate president, Distinguished Senator Bukola Saraki, should be impeached or resign or continue in office has been so elevated as though that is the solution to the many challenges confronting the nation. The Senate president made open his preferred political platform to which his right of choice and freedom of association is guaranteed by the operating Constitution (as amended). But that seems to be against the dictates of certain "powerful" cliques. And so, heaven must fall. What a misplacement of priority!

In retrospect, Nigeria has since drifted from the ideals of the negotiated union of a nation state, as agreed by the founding fathers. Even the obnoxious but "managed unitary federalism" imposed on the populace by the military junta has degenerated into a dangerous ethno-religious divide never known before in this dimension, until the immediate last three years plus.

May God Almighty forbid, as Nigeria may grind to a complete halt, as a result of the insensitivity of those in authority. Many Nigerians have died; many are dying and many more may yet die before their time, while majority of those alive now are hungry, sick on daily basis, because of induced extreme hardship, terrorist attacks and avoidable unimaginable poverty foisted on the people. Yet, the realities do not seem to bother the government of the day.

All they want now is to be "re-elected" in 2019 at all cost, and by whatever means. They probably want to continue to rule the “living dead”. After all, this is the only government in history that had given political appointments to people who were long dead and buried. It does not matter to them even if there is nobody to govern in 2019 so long they have been "re-elected". All they are concerned with is to consolidate their grip on power, even if illegitimate, forever.

Otherwise, how does one explain the quantum waste of human lives and massive bloodshed across the entire nation as never before, in a supposedly "peaceful" period as in the last three years plus?

Those in authority don't seem to bother whether you are alive or dead provided the slaves of certain local enclaves from a foreign land keeps hold on "absolute” power, even by proxy, for purely self-aggrandisement; even when they are either totally disconnected from the common good of all or had acquired power illegitimately at all cost. Otherwise, how does one explain or justify the proposed construction of railway from anywhere in Nigeria to Niger Republic, when the internal railway system in Nigeria is yet to be fully domesticated?

How does one justify the construction of a new refinery at Daura (of all places!) with oil pipelines not connected to anywhere in Nigeria but directly to Niger Republic, while the refineries in Nigeria are not functional?

They are now beating drums of war, masquerading as "election"! A free, fair and credible election now appears to be history that can no longer be guaranteed, even as direct beneficiaries of a free and fair electoral system.

No! They must win "elections" by all means, having stolen our commonwealth dry in concealed corrupt practices in high places to finance the fraud called "elections", under the pretentious guise of a non-existent integrity of "Mr Integrity"!

No other arm of government is spared of harassment and intimidation to achieve their premeditated ill-conceived purpose. The Judiciary is being cowed incrementally. The residence of High Court judges, including Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria were invaded at odd hours, for spurious and trumped up accusations that couldn't stand the rudiments and rigours of judicial due process.

They have again invaded the National Assembly - the only symbol of democracy in Nigeria - with masked security agents; thus, preventing legislators and workers from carrying out their lawful duties. They had earlier caused hoodlums to physically invade the National Assembly and removed the symbol of legislative authority: the Mace of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, even while the Senate was in full session in broad day light, without hindrance or repercussion. No arrests. No prosecution. No service of justice. End of story!

Next, the private homes of the principal officers of the National Assembly were also invaded for no justifiable reason. They have, in fact, rubbished and brought odium to the image of our nation, before well-meaning people and the international community.

Men of the fourth estate of the realm were not left out either, in the horrendous intimidation hook: Journalists are hounded into police detention for several months without trial, contrary to the freedom of speech and association guaranteed by the operating constitution.

Prominent Muslim clerics and other religious leaders are literally forgotten in unlawful incarceration, if not killed by "unknown" agents, while lawful court judgments are disobeyed with reckless abandon.

Those frustrated by the situation on ground, who yearned for a peaceful self-determination had their lives harshly cut short and proclaimed terrorists, even without taking up arms against anybody. Yet, the actual terrorists and mass-murderers masquerading as "Fulani herdsmen" enjoy unqualified subtle state protection, even as the Boko Haram terrorists are secretly fed fat and equipped with Nigeria's hard-earned money. What an irony!

They run the affairs of the nation with unabashed impunity, with brazen disregard for the provisions of the operating constitution. They spend trillions of naira recklessly on over-priced military equipment programmed to be "delivered" after the expiration of their current tenure in office, without any appropriation of the National Assembly, as required by law. They keep to their oath of office and constitutional provisions more in the breach, while remaining largely unaccountable to the citizens in all spheres.

Now, they have re-tooled the military that is meant to protect the citizens against the very people they are supposed to protect. They have laid ambush and are still laying foundations for total anarchy. All these anomalies do not really seem to matter to the government of the day. All they are interested in now is to be declared "winner" of 2019 "elections", by all foul means possible.

To this end, therefore, all oppositions must be crushed by all means, even if it means to send as "little" as 30,000 armed policemen with legions of other men of the armed security forces to enforce their "election" in a small Ekiti State of less than half a million voters; and, sending as "much" as less than 1,000 policemen and soldiers to enforce peace in the crisis-ridden Middle Belt of Nigeria, where several innocent people are being killed daily by "Fulani herdsmen".

What a priority turned on its head!

They have gone a step further in electioneering abracadabra! They have now invented and introduced a new terminology in our electoral processes - "vote buying" - all in an effort to subvert the will of the people.

Do we really need any soothsayer to let us know that there are visible clouds of uncertainty in the political climate of Nigeria now?

There are even palpable apprehensions in certain sensitive quarters, and tension everywhere, as to whether the proposed 2019 elections will, indeed, come to pass.

Just imagine the siege on the symbol of democracy - the legislature and their principal officers; the siege on our justice system; the continuous haunting of the fourth estate of the realm and detention of journalists without trial in the law court; the haunting of citizens with state institutions like EFCC; the continuous killings by the "Fulani herdsmen militia/terrorists" unhindered by state law enforcement apparatuses; the rate at which our gallant soldiers are wittingly and/or unwittingly exposed to untimely deaths without commensurate compensations to their dependants in the hands of the so-called "defeated" and "degraded" Boko Haram terrorists by the corruption-laden top-brass of the military and their collaborators; the ongoing conspiracy and exploitation of Nigerians in the IDP camps.

That is not all. Nigerians should wake up before another humongous amount of money penciled by them to be wasted in another wild-goose chase, in the name of doubtful elections; before the coup d'etatagainst the National Assembly and, in indeed, the people of Nigeria is perfected and given effect; before the National Assembly is further cowed to appropriate and approve a whopping N242 billion for INEC to "conduct" a doubtful 2019 "general elections" in the face of general unemployment, and particularly graduate unemployment, decaying and nonexistent basic infrastructural facilities, massive poverty, diseases, sorrows, and deaths; before many more innocent people get killed in the name of 2019 “elections.”

May this government realise that all powers belong to God almighty!

It is only God that gives power, and he gives it to whomsoever he so pleases.

At the end of the day, only the will of God Almighty for Nigeria shall prevail.

•Echefuna ’Rotimi G. Onyebeadi is a Professor of Engineering Economics and Strategic Management Expert with multiple doctorate degrees and a total of 11 degrees in diverse areas that cut across various aspects of Engineering, Business Administration, Technology, Economics, Finance, Corporate Governance and Strategic Management among others. He is a Chartered Engineer; Chartered Administrator and a Member/Fellow of several International Professional Bodies. He is currently the Country Director of Krosplus Multnational having served hitherto at United Nations, World Health Organization, Nigerian Industrial Development Bank (now BoI) among others. He is a Fellow of United Nations and a major stakeholder in many Civil Society Organizations, including the "New Nigeria Movement".

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