Government: A Pillar or a Caterpillar?
By Exponent News, 16th March 2025.
In the community where we find ourselves, there are two categories of people: the builders and the destroyers. These two groups constantly wrestle with one another when it comes to the development of the community. While the builders strive to improve the community for the betterment and advancement of the people, the destroyers seek ways to undermine the efforts of the builders, rendering their work useless in the eyes of the world. What the people require from the democracy we practice is the dividend of democracy—something that will build their confidence and trust in the development of society.
Therefore, the question that comes to mind regarding the current government is whether it will be the pillar that strengthens people’s faith, encouraging individuals to contribute sincerely to the development of society, or whether it will be a caterpillar that destroys the wealth and businesses of its citizens, making life harder for them instead of easing their burdens.
In the realm of politics, various promises are made during election campaigns that life will be easier for the electorate if they cast their votes for a particular party. Politicians see themselves as builders at this time, promising to improve the lives of the people. However, once they assume office, all their promises seem to turn into a caterpillar in the presence of the people, now that they have what they wanted during the election. Governments at all levels—federal, state, and local—are guilty of this. Many have turned their promises into caterpillars rather than pillars. The shops of those who voted for them are being destroyed by caterpillars, and their products scattered on the roads in the name of “building the community” or creating a “befitting environment.” Additionally, tickets for okada riders and taxi drivers have been inflated. People complain about insecurity, with kidnappings happening everywhere, both at the state and federal levels. Citizens are being kidnapped and killed at will, yet the builders seem indifferent to their responsibilities, allowing the caterpillars to operate freely within the government. Meanwhile, families continue to lose their loved ones, while the builders enjoy comfortable lives, driving the latest cars and playing politics with the security of life and property entrusted to them by the electorate.
Similarly, government has been defined as a system by which people are governed by the constitution, through the election of competent leaders into office. Democracy, on the other hand, is the government of the people, by the people, and for the people. What holds these two key words together is what I refer to as the pillar—a force that keeps society united. A pillar is something that holds things together, preventing them from falling apart, while a caterpillar is a machine used to destroy property and other elements meant for destruction.
What is happening in Rivers State between Governor Fubara, Wike, and the pro-Wike lawmakers is an example of a caterpillar intended to destroy democracy in that community. Instead of allowing the builders to focus on strengthening the economy and political system of the state, political infighting is rampant, with words flying daily in the media. The focus has shifted from advancing the state’s economy to political warfare. The government, as expected by the electorate, should be advancing economic development and providing the desirable dividends of democracy, not plunging the state into chaos and anarchy. Let all differences be resolved so that peace can prevail.
Is the government a pillar or a caterpillar? The echoing voices of Senators Natasha and Senate President Akpabio over sexual harassment allegations have triggered threats from Niger Delta youths, who have threatened to cut off oil pipelines should anything happen to their son, Akpabio, over this scandal. Similarly, Arewa youths in the North have threatened to disrupt goods transportation to the Southwest, blocking roads and disturbing public traffic because of the suspension of their daughter, Senator Natasha. This political chaos, which should be addressed by the government, has instead turned into a caterpillar for the electorate. The masses, who have entrusted their leaders with power, are the ones who suffer from this lack of governance.
Is the government a pillar or a caterpillar? The management of our educational system has been neglected. There is a lack of infrastructure, and instructional materials are nowhere to be found. Human resources are also a problem, as the number of pupils continues to grow, yet there are not enough teachers to meet the demand. The government has refused to employ additional personnel to address these issues. While the recent employment of 1,000 secondary school teachers in Ondo State is commendable, it is insufficient compared to the large number of students and classes that need coverage. Therefore, the government must do more. They should invest in the education system, providing it with a solid pillar to hold it together rather than allowing it to collapse. Free education, as practiced by the late Obafemi Awolowo, should be implemented, as current leaders in the Southwest have more resources than those in the past. Total free education is achievable in this century.
The same applies to the development of the healthcare sector. Qualified doctors must be recruited to care for the masses who voted for their leaders. Building hospitals alone is not enough if they lack modern equipment, facilities, drugs, and trained staff. Health practitioners should be encouraged to stay and serve the nation, and those who have left the country should be incentivized to return. Proper measures must be put in place to ensure that they can effectively do their jobs.
Furthermore, the government should focus on building the economy like a pillar that supports a structure, ensuring that the masses benefit from the system after contributing through taxes and other value-added contributions. Security, which is the primary duty of any responsible government, must be prioritized. The government should finance security agencies appropriately, ensuring that citizens do not have to defend themselves. A society with strong security will experience rapid development, while one plagued by insecurity will find it difficult to prosper. Therefore, the government at all levels must prioritize the security of its people, building it like a pillar that holds the nation together, rather than allowing it to become a caterpillar that destroys wealth, power, and property in the blink of an eye.
