Quis Custodiet ipsos custodies aptly describes the situation Nigeria finds itself in after a change of guard barely two years ago when Goodluck Jonathan handed over to Muhammadu Buhari. It is a quagmire[i][/i]

Since then, it hasn’t been business as usual but what has been usual is the impunity of certain elements in governance. An abuse of responsibilities.

Now the guards for me are the media (social media is a culprit), the legislature and the judiciary alongside government agencies.

Let’s start with the media.

Social media has been quite revealing making the world a very compact and small global village. We have seen from last year’s US presidential elections just how much power social media has most especially in terms of Fake News. Fake News in Nigeria has taken a significant rise with most bloggers more concerned with sharing of any news that will increase traffic rather than its effect on the polity. Quis Custodiet ipsos custodies?

Now government is a continuum that has its power and legitimacy from the masses but the truth is the Nigerian government seems not to either understand or realize this fact and as such think they are not accountable to the people.

Successive governments before the present government are all guilty, when we look at events from independence up till now. And what we have now is a seeming continuation of this disregard and a staunch belief from the government that its business as usual.

Since a return to democracy in 1999, the National Assembly has refused to publish its budget, shrouding their expenses, their salaries, bonuses, allowances in secret, and they expect to be taken serious by the citizens in their oversight function of the Executive arm of Government.

Their recent refusal to confirm Magu as EFCC chairman and insisting that Customs Boss Ali appear before them in the Customs Comptroller General Uniform makes one scratch his head wondering exactly what is going on.

From stories flying around, we wonder if the senators really have the interest of the masses or are scared of “being guarded themselves”, after all, he who comes into equity must come with clean hands. Quis Custodiet ipsos custodes?

The judiciary is no different, and we must understand that while Justice is blind, meaning no preferential treatment for anybody, our judiciaries are merchants and dealers of judgment, forgetting their sole duty of justice.

It is a sorry case to see someone steal a phone and get hanged for it, while someone who looted the commonwealth of the nation gets a slap on the wrist. Our courts should have “Judgments for Sale” hanged just outside stating what is obtainable for all.

Quis Custodiet ipsos custodes- who will guard the guard themselves?

http://megasblog.com/quis-custodiet-ipsos-custodes-who-will-guard-the-guard-themselves/

Source: www.megasblog.com