"Organization is the best key to the emancipation of the people." -Author

t appears that despite the disillusionment of Nigerians with the present state of political, economic and social affairs, PRONACO has not succeeded in galvanizing a base support from amongst the people. So far, PRONACO has not been able to put fear of God in the PDP and make Nigerians belief that it can be and will be an authentic alternative to the political charlatanism pervading our landscape.

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Certainly, PRONACO so far has succeeded in calling attention to the frustrations pervading the Nigerian landscape and the need for serious collective action to move the hand of the clock forward. But has the leaders of PRONACO wondered why it has been difficult to galvanize people to their cause? Have they wondered why people have not really rallied to PRONACO's calls, not just in terms of donation but in concrete and mobilized actions, despite the relevance of such calls to their realities? Have they wondered why the organization is not having enough marks on the tracks? I believe that if a meaningful result was going to be attained in the present struggle to establish true people's democracy in Nigeria, it is important that the leadership examines itself, its styles, its approaches, its methodologies and its messages.

Nigerians presently are caught between two eternities - "the vanished past and the unknown future" (apologies to Daniel Boorstin). And because the future remains unknown, it is my view that as Nigerians, we can never and will never cease to seek our bearings and our sense of direction. But in the search for this direction, the leadership has a very important role to play. As of now, it seems that Nigerians are tired of being taken for a ride by uncommitted leaders. Unfortunately as a result of this lack of commitment, Nigerians are fast reclining into lethargy.

It is difficult to blame Nigerians for this lethargy, because as the great Chief Obafemi Awolowo once said in a speech titled "Light Over Nigeria" on February 12, 1979:

"For too long, have the good people of this country been taken for a ride by some political leaders who, shamelessly, propound the false doctrine that politics is a power game. As far as I am concerned, Politics is the art of selflessservice to our fellowmen."

He then went to declare that he "can never and will never play pranks with the suffering masses of our country" because to do so "would be despicable and damnable."

With due respects to Professor Wole Soyinka, Dr. Beko Ransome Kuti and a few others, I have my doubts that most of those who gallivant around as leaders today in PRONACO's ranks believe in this philosophy of leadership.

Nigerians are suspicious of their leaders because of repeated disappointments. They are hungry for leaders they can trust, leaders who would not sell them short. The people desire a leader who would not necessarily run for office, so long as he can have the integrity to fulfill his destiny, the people's destiny. The people are longing for a person with the courage to act on hope, a role model whose own voice is the mirror of his conscience and integrity.

Nigerians are nostalgic for a leader whose voice is the mirror of his principle and vision. They are yearning for a leader whose voice does not mirror the holes in his pocket or the valleys in his plains. Nigerians are craving for a leader whose voice do not mirror hunger for power for the sake of it, but whose attitude and calculations mirror the legitimate hopes and aspirations of Nigerians.

Once again, permit me to quote the Great Awo about leadership:

"A LEADER IS MADE, NOT BORN. He is expected tojustify his leadership by his personal attributes and by his works for the good of the people."

The humble suggestion here is that the PRONACO leadership needs the trust and confidence of the people in order to be able to mobilize them for the good visions they have for the country. There is no doubt about the fact that PRONACO enjoys the goodwill of concerned and patriotic Nigerians at home and in Diaspora. But this is a far cry from enjoying their trust because there is a big gap between GOODWILL and TRUST. If PRONACO fails in its ability to mobilize Nigerians for this task on hand, it would be very tragic.

For PRONACO to be able to mobilize the people, PRONACO must be able to organize them. To be able to organize them, it must have genuine affinity with the people, which means, the people must TRUST you. For the people to trust you, you must have their true representatives within your ranks. To have their true representatives within your ranks, PRONACO must organize from the street level through ward, to local government, senatorial and state levels. PRONACO must recruit trusted local people who understand the needs and the aspirations of their people. Grow from below rather than from the top. Organization is the best key to the emancipation of the people.

PRONACO would do well not to negotiate democratic procedures, discipline and accountability. Trust the people and they will trust you in return. Seek not an immediate quantity, but immediate quality. Quantity would come as a matter of course and proven track record. Abhor ad -hoc solutions and goals. Strive for long term solutions and enduring visions.

As Lord Acton once observed, "If the Past has been an obstacle and a burden, knowledge of the Past is the safest and surest emancipation." The essence of this reference is to focus the attention of PRONACO leadership on the knowledge of the past leadership of the great Chief Obafemi Awolowo and late Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto on how they were intrinsically trusted by their followers and were, in turn, able to mobilize them towards achieving their visions.

It is only by gaining the TRUST of the people can the people get to the next level with PRONACO and make the organization a force that could not and would not be ignored in finding the authentic path to the Nigerian political, economic and social freedom as Nigeria moves forward.