Although the recent antihunger protests in Nigeria have assumed a destructive dimension, having been hijacked by some elements, BIYI ADEGOROYE, in this analysis argues that the global nature of the protests makes the pursuit of good governance a

Like a bolt from the blues, outrage against bad governance is one phenomenon now common to several countries around the world. This has manifested in the forms of protests as a way of registering indignation over inflation rate, spiraling cost of living, alleged government’s poor handling of the economy and delivery on democracy dividends. Last month, youths in Kenya took over the streets of Nairobi for weeks, in protests against increased taxation. Other underlying factors included poverty, unemployment, governmental oppression leading to wider calls for a more accountable government and calls for resignation of President William Ruto’s government.

Over 13 people were killed, hundreds injured and valuable property destroyed. Bangladesh comes across as the worst hit, so far. Over 100 people have lost their lives in weeks-long destructive protests, spearheaded by student groups over reserved job quotas. Last Monday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hashina caved in, abandoning the country after daring and unrelenting protesters chased her out of town. Her exit provided the military momentary opportunity to fill the vacuum octogenarian nobel laureate, Muhammad Yunus was sworn in Thursday.

A few European countries are having their fair share of protests, albeit with differing consequences. In May, drivers in Italy went on rampage over issuance of licenses, while the UK is yet to come to terms with one of the worst disorders in recent times following anti-immigrant riots over the killing of three asylum-seeking girls. Agitators set ablaze hotels housing asylum seekers, culminating in damage to buildings and smashing of vehicles. Nigeria’s 10-day #ENDBADGOVERNANCE Protests in many parts of the country left unforgettable memories. Leaders of the group had articulated about 10 specific demands and called for urgent government action. Some of the demands are the need to end hunger, cut down on cost of governance, reversal of hike tertiary education school fees, end anti-people, reform of security agencies, INEC autonomy, transparency and accountability and transition to uni-camera legislature. However, the anti-hunger protests, though within the rights and privileges of the people, were hijacked by criminal elements. Most obnoxious, according to security agencies, was a subversive campaign by some people hoisting of foreign flags in Kano, Yobe, Jigawa, Niger Sokoto and Katsina states, calling for change of government. Besides, fatalities put at about 28, hundreds injured and even property worth $6 billion were destroyed. The current developments, though comparatively lower in magnitude, are reminiscent of the Arab Spring of 2011, which spread through Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Morocco, Yemen, culminating in sweeping change of government in the countries. They however, drive home the imperatives of good governance all around the world’s growing population.

Good governance

Good governance has been an issue of major concern to scholars, international organisations and people of all sorts over the ages because of its impact on social, economic and political development. Conversely, bad governance has elicited equal measure trepidation and worries. This is more so because citizens’ standard of living, health and development are inextricably linked to the quality and effectiveness of governance. Another reason good governance has gained more currency worldwide is the extreme poverty, political and economic instability suffered in many developing countries, especially on the Africa continent.

In view of the nexus between standards of living and good governance, the United Nations Development Programme, (UNDP), has asserted that good governance means striving for rule of law, transparency, equity, effectiveness/efficiency, accountability and strategic vision in the exercise of political, economic and administrative authority A study, however, classified 12 principles of good governance namely participation, representation and fair conduct of elections, responsiveness, efficiency and effectiveness, openness and transparency, rule of law, ethical conduct, competence and capacity, innovation and openness to change, sustainability and long term orientation, sound financial management, human rights, cultural diversity and social cohesion and accountability. Good governance is a critical means of providing sustainable development, reducing poverty and promoting peace, equality and social justice, therefore, good governance is seen as the single most important factor in eradicating poverty and promoting development.

Good governance consists of openness and participation, accountability, effective coherence, efficiency (proportionality) and greater sensitivity to the immediate context that is promised by the subsidiary. It has also been established that good governance consists of efficient public service, reliable judicial system and an administration accountable to the people. Hence, good governance is a critical means of providing sustainable development, reducing poverty and promoting peace, equality and social justice. Hence, the World Governance Indica- tors Project, (WGIP), said good gover- nance consists of the traditions and insti- tutions by which authority in a country is exercised; it includes how governments are selected, replaced, government’s ca- pacity to formulate and implement poli- cies, provide public services and earn the respect of citizens, institutions that de- termine economic and social infractions. Therefore, to what extent have world leaders measured up to these basic indi- ces of good governance? To what extent have they promoted inclusiveness in governance, access to justice and rule of law, promoted equity and accountability, anticipating the needs of the people and formulating and implementing people friendly policies? To what extent have they promoted unity and security of the people? Nigeria and good governance To many scholars, good governance has been elusive in Nigeria and indeed Africa, especially in view of massive cor- ruption, flawed electoral and leadership recruitment system, insecurity, failed government’s policies, insecurity, non- adherence to rule of law and top govern- ment officials’ impunity. One of the demands of the protesters is poverty and the need to address hunger. Poverty level is measured in two ways – the income approach based on the num- ber of people living below global pov- erty standards of $1.25 per day and the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) – namely health, education and standard of living.

Regarding education, such indi- ces as whether children of five years old are in school, or have access to education; number of out of school children are im- portant, just as access to primary health. In Nigeria, over 138 million are currently multi-obsessionally poor. According to the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS), food inflation has spiked to an all time high of 40 per cent, and youth unemployment rate is high. As of July, the nations’ fiscal and monetary pol- icy designed to achieve economic growth, price stability, employment and balance of payment equilibrium has achieved anything but that. Nigeria’s debt burden, insecurity, crude oil swap which has mortgaged the coun- try’s revenue base and the comatose posi- tion of the country’s refineries have exac- erbated the country’s economy. In recent times, the fact that all four government refineries have not refined a single litre of oil in the last 10 years has angered not a few Nigerians.

Senator Nicholas Tofowomo, in a re- cent interview with Sunday Telegraph lamented; “We are the fifth largest pro- ducers of crude oil all over the world and we have nothing to show for it and now, they are talking of onshore and offshore. Crude oil is crude oil. Put everything on the table, probe the place. If you ask the Federal Government today how many barrels of oil do we produce daily, they don’t know it. In Britain, everything is computerized. They can predict the num- ber of barrels that will be produced in the next five years. “Forty percent of Nigeria’s oil is stolen here and there. At times when they make noise, the Naval people will just make little noise and go back to their bed. It is sad. Poverty in Nigeria is skyrocket- ing every day; it is skyrocketing and the unfortunate thing is that, it is the same market place the senators will go and buy tomatoes that someone who has a salary of 25,000 will go and buy. Is that not a bad sign that we are in trouble? It is clear and it is very sad, it is very sad. Anybody who is earning N200,000 a month can- not sustain himself in this country. So, they are now fixing the minimum wage at N70,000 as if they are doing something important. So sad. It is so sad; it is very unfortunate.”

Increasing impact of insecurity on farm- ing has been identified as fuel for food insecurity. The leadership of All Farm- ers’ Association of Nigeria (AFAN), said the wave of insecurity in the country in the form of communal clashes, militancy, farmers-herdsmen conflict and the rise of Boko Haram insurgency has affected the agricultural sector, most Northern farmers. AFAN Chairman, Lagos State, Dr. Femi Oke said “In many other parts of the country, many farmers have been kid- napped, killed or displaced from their native lands and their farms. It has got to the level where many farmers cannot ac- cess their farms and this has led to drastic reduction in farm produce. Besides that, bad roads and cost of transportation have spiked food prices.” Government’s response While responsiveness ranks tops among indices of good governance, observers have argued that the government should have been more proactive, anticipatory in assessing the needs of the people and formulated strategies to meet them. Preliminary intervention included the moblisation of governors, traditional rul- ers and interests groups, bsides media campaigns on how to forestall the protests and a recurrence of the EndSARS riots.

President Bola Tinubu speech came too little, too late, as some have said. His allusion to increased aggregate govern- ment revenues hitting over N9.1 trillion in the first half of 2024 compared to the first half of 2023 and gradual increasing productivity in the non-oil sector, reach- ing new levels and taking advantage of the opportunities in the current economic ambience, did not jell with the people. To the Director-General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Lanre Isa Onilu, those wanting to slight the government and not advocates of good governance actually went on wanton de- struction of public and private property during the protest. “The government has made tremen- dous efforts to address various challenges in the country. “There is now a student loan scheme and various schemes in place which were not there years ago. There is the distribution of trucks of grains to state governments, All these are designed to assuage the economic pains of Nigerians.”

“The issue,” he argued, “is that we need a value system. Leadership has no value system. If that was in place before now, we wouldn’t be where we are now. Imagine, we the Third Mainland Bridge was rehabilitated, just like the Niger Bridge can you imagine Nigerians steal- ing the rails? It was not informed by hun- ger but by lack of values.” Treason factor Observers have stated that though pro- tests and genuine complaints about hun- ger are part of democracy, the recourse to flying foreign flags and calling for change of government through undemocratic means amounts to treason. A Lagos-based lawyer, Gbenga Ade- bayo, said the action is condemnable based on the provisions of Section 44 of the Criminal Code and 66 and 67 of the Penal Code . The penalty for treason is death. Hence, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa led the Chiefs of Army, Navy, Air Force to warn that the armed forces would not tolerate any such act. According to IGP, Kayode Eg- betokun, the over 600 people arrested for various crimes during the protest are currently facing trials in various courts in the country.

Executive Director, Civil Liberty Organ- isation, Ibuchukwu Ohabueyin, however, said since the protests were informed by bad governance, the government must stop at nothing to promote good gov- ernance. “Government must reactivate all the four refineries or build new ones, to refine our crude and earn foreign ex- change. “Oil-producing countries in Africa like Libya, have five refineries, to a popula- tion of six million people. In Algeria, they have six refineries, the same as Venezuela with a population of 28 million. Nigeria is the only oil-producing country without a refinery. “Government should also invest heavily in agriculture to address food insecurity. University of Nigeria, Nsukka, University of Ibadan and Ahmadu Bello University were established with agric funds. It is time to go back to land,” he said.