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If anybody is in doubt about the futility and failure of Nigeria’s democracy, that doubtshould have been dispelled by the farcical and ignoble displays that have beenhappening, and is still happening since our erstwhile President, Umar Yar ‘Aduawent missing in November 2009 and up till now, the majority of Nigerians arestill no wiser about the true state of his health or his ability to rule thecountry.

This is amidst a deadly concoction of political high stakes and intrigues, arrogant anddeliberate ignorance, misinterpretation and outright manipulation of theConstitution of Nigeria, criminal negligence, criminal deception and forgery,breach of trust, treachery, nepotism, tribalism, looting of the treasurybecause there was really nobody to supervise, and a host of other crimes. Iwill even add “smuggling” and “hostage taking” as the President was said tohave been smuggled in under darkness into the country, and is practical ahostage in the hands of his wife and so-called “kitchen cabinet”.

In the meantime, the polity was not only heated up, but the uncertainty and political,economic and social near-breakdown that went with this was alarming, almostleading to a state of confusion and anarchy. This is not to mention theconfusion for the economy and the “laughing stock” which Nigeria becamein the international community. I saw a cartoon or two from some other Africancountries lampooning our confused state of the nation.

And all these were brought upon us by a lethal combination of greed, ignorance,corruption, self-interest above national interest, ambition and subterfuge ingovernance.

In March 2009, I wrote an article “Do Our PoliticiansKnow The Constitution?” (http://www.championsfornigeria.org/cfn/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=311:do-our-politicians-know-the-constitution&catid=14:articles&Itemid=35)in which I observed that “since1999, we see all our political leaders in the three arms of governmentthrashing wildly about in ignorance, or maybe deliberate abuse, of ourconstitution. Ex-President Obasanjo was very notorious for disregarding theConstitution in all aspects, forgetting that the Constitution of the Federal Republicof Nigeria is greater thananybody in Nigeria.The Senate and the House of Representative routinely disregard the Constitution;in fact they abuse it, fail to follow laid-down rules of the House and theSenate, and most times, resort to violence to sort problems out. The sameapplied, and still applies to the States’ chief executive officers, StatesHouses of Assembly, comprising mostly thuggish, crooked and unsavourycharacters and the local government Chairmen and their mostly ill-educated,half-baked councillors. (Please, I have done my homework very well on the humanconstitution of our legislative houses, so I am sure of what I am talkingabout, and not just passing insults)”.

I have always suspected and held the belief that our politicians, all classes of them,appear to be charlatans, novices, greenhorns and pretenders. This is no longersurprising nor should be taken for granted. In our current nascent democracy, Isuppose we should expect some kind of experimentation for a while until wefinally get it right; however, unfortunately, since this form of governance hasa very important impact on the lives of 140 million people, there really is noroom for mistakes. People always think politics is a game, but I always beg todiffer. It is no longer a game when politicians make political decisions whichaffect the lives of millions of people for which they are responsible; whichdetermines their standard of living; their daily livelihood, their health andwellbeing, their security and in fact the very essence of their being alive.

So apart from the farcical displays of ignorance, deliberate manipulations, etc thatwent on, and is still going in the governance of Nigeria since the President’sdisappearance and subsequent alleged appearance (?) after over ninety days, weare still back to that question of charlatans, ignoramus and incompetent idiotsrunning the country – federal, state and local.

The Governors, under something cabal-ish called The Governors Forum have come up witha statement last week that while Dr. GoodluckJonathan is Acting President, Alhaji Umaru Yar'Adua remains the substantivePresident. This is in itself is what everybody knows; hence the statement isvery redundant and unnecessary. But who are they to say that? Are they the onecontrolling the country or the executive and legislative arms of thegovernment?

It was their next set of statements that is now causing some worries to theknowing public, while at the same time confirming my long-held belief andconviction that these people are not only ignorant and tyrannical, but is largelyundemocratic in their behaviour, governance and actions, and will not hesitateto hijack the democratic process to suit them. In fact they are no differentfrom the Yar ‘Adua’s notorious so called kitchen cabinet.

The Governors stated that even with the grave concerns about his capacity to continue inoffice, especially since November 23, 2009, President Yar'Adua would neitherresign from office, nor be removed by impeachment or consequential declarationby the Federal Executive Council, which would precipitate the appointment of amedical board of inquiry whose adverse report will eventually terminate Yar’Adua’spresidency. The Governors, therefore, said that Yar'Adua would not be replaceduntil a new President is elected next year.

In making the above declaration, they have actually gone in the face of the Constitution,ignoring it either deliberately or due to ignorance and also insinuating quiteclearly that it is the Governors running the country, and NOT the Presidency orthe legislative arms of government. Theydo not have any legal or constitutional basis to make their pronouncements. Thegovernance structure in the 1999 Constitution is so unequivocal that stategovernors have no say in this matter upon which they hold forth and made apronouncement. The president was elected on different platform from thegovernors. It is not their concern or business to ensure a president stays inpower or not. It is not their place to ignore the provisions of theconstitution and make themselves “kingmakers”.

The removal of the President on account of incapacitation due to ill health is normally andconstitutionally a matter that lies between the Federal Executive Council andthe National Assembly. As far as the Constitution is concerned, and as moreknowledgeable people in the society knows, none of these bodies reports to, oris under the control of the state governors.

Thus, by their declarations, the state governors were intrusive with or arrogatingunto themselves, functions and powers which rightly belong to another tier andanother arm of government – the Executive and the Legislature. By theirdeclarations, their intention is definitely to subvert the principle ofseparation of powers, a pillar of constitutional democracy.

Should we allow these arrogant, ignorant incompetents and impostors to run thecountry, then we shall be in further trouble more than we are now. They arepart of, and perpetuate our problems and troubles in this country by theirunbelievable greed, insensitivity and massive, naked corruption, and sittingback and allowing them hijack the functions of the Constitution, thePresidency, the National Assembly, means they will be effectively taking overcontrol of the country, under the guise of the superfluous Governors’ Forum,not satisfied with the stolen wealth they are making from their respectivestates. color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US"">

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Serious nations learn from their mistakes and cultivatetheir democracy, always looking for ways to improve. In Nigeria, wehave continuously refused to learn. The issue is the country's leadershipcreation process. What kind of people should occupy leadership positions? Wesurely need properly elected persons who understand the Constitution and carryout the provisions of the Constitution and also make effort to make theConstitution a dynamic tool and documentation.

With these Governors’ declarations, and even theirsurreptitious and dubiously unwelcome role in ending the impasse whicheventually brought Ag. President Goodluck Jonathan to power, we may well bedealing not merely with ignorance but mischief. Perhaps we can tolerate andcorrect ignorance, but mischief borders on treason, unpatriotic, self-interestand corruption of the political process for self-gain.

This is what we have with the Governors. Their appearance andutterances on matters of national interest has always been predicated on theirown self-interest and survival rather than for the good and benefit of thepeople who elected them (we may say they rigged themselves into power, anyway) andwho they are supposed to serve. They have always been selfish, inconsiderate,greedy, and corrupt. Arial;color:black"">These are arrogant leaders who mostly and always remainoblivious, insensitive and unresponsive to their peoples’ sufferings, povertyand needs.color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US"">

But let us take another look at it, and you will see why theirinterest is self –serving: the President, Yar ‘Adua was a former Governor; hisVice President, and now, Acting President, Goodluck Jonathan, was a formerGovernor; the main backers of the Yar ‘Adua Presidency, James Ibori and BukolaSaraki (and the latter also has his eyes on the Presidency) were formergovernors. Theruling PDP, dubbed People Deceiving People) which does not wish to disturb thecurrent power-rotation arrangement between the north and south of the country,has the majority in the Governors’ Forum. And most importantly, some of themalready have their sights on becoming the President of Nigeria in next year'selection.

From all indications, the next President of Nigeria will probably come again from theranks of these greedy, corrupt and incompetent thieves. (Sorry, they arecompetent thieves, I mean incompetent in governance).

So what do you expect from this gang? Self interest; of course, in the long term. Whenshall we be saved from this cabal of ignorant leaders? Are we deserving of them? Yes and No. this depends on the side of thefence you are.

Let the truth be said always.