|
 advertisement
|
t is difficult to share the optimism heralding the merger of some opposition parties. Not that I have anything against opposition parties coming together, rather it is because the true aims and objectives of the marriage of convenience is difficult to understand. Is it the product of cold calculated political opportunism to regain power and continue business as usual, or a genuine association of born again progressives who have realised that they should not have stolen from Nigeria their first time around? What will an association of Nigerian career politicians who have contributed in one way or another to the present mess, offer Nigerians? Is this an audacious attempt to grab power and them use it in the way they think best or a genuine attempt to offer Nigerians a choice that would deliver the change the country yearn? Is it conceivable, that Buhari and Tunubu have decided to save Nigeria by coming together to act in the best interest of the ordinary Nigeria? These are question which the conduct and utterances of the partners in this political marriage will provide answers to in the days ahead to enable people consider the coalition objectively.
Looking at the philosophies of the parties and the personalities that
lead them, one cannot not see better strange bed fellows. It is a most
unlikely marriage, even though some very strange fellows can make a
happy couple. However, the new party just seems too much of old wine
in new bottle which unfortunately will taste the same. While I wish the
coalition success, I do not believe that they have what it takes to
save the sinking Nigerian ship and the search must once again focus on
a completely new political organisation with progressive ideology,
democratic secular and free market philosophy, and people oriented
manifesto.
First the two prominent leaders have no business wanting to provide
leadership for Nigeria at this time. They have had their time, stolen
enough for many generations and should now quit active politics. Their
records in offices are well known. Their attitude to power and how
they exercise it and managed the state resources at their disposal is
also known. They must now bow out gracefully if they really love
Nigeria and allow younger generation of leaders from their party to
emerge. This generation who institutionalised corruption and presided
over the collapse of institutions Nigeria inherited from the colonial
masters must now retire from Nigerian politics to give Nigeria a
future.
Buhari in particular, has no business wanting to rule Nigeria again.
He may be an honest man, but his time has gone. He must now give way
for a new vision, if he loves Nigeria, instead of seeking power to
continue old wars. Nigeria must be weary of allowing people like him,
who truncated her democratic evolution through military coup d’états to
benefit from democratic dispensation in the way he believes he must.
He can be involved in the politics as a member or even leader of his
party, but to put himself forward as another presidential candidate
would be an effrontery on the new generation of Nigerians who have
what it takes to save Nigeria.
Moreover, Buhari has said that Nigeria needs strong leader to build
strong institution and this is frightening glimpse of what his attitude
in power will be. He seems to believe that Nigeria needs an autocratic
leader who would use coercion and raw exercise of power like canning
Nigerians who do not cue or executing drug dealer to make Nigerian
behave. I am afraid, Buhari and all who think like him are wrong, very
very wrong about Nigeria and what it takes to effect lasting changes in
human behaviour and conducts. Nigeria does not need strong individual
who have overvalued ideas about their views, religious convictions and
morality. Rather, what Nigeria needs is a leader who is well informed,
honest, ready to lead by example humble, able to listen, has a clear
understanding of the problems of Nigeria and the various ways it could
be solved, ready to consult, take criticism and take evidence based
decisions. Nigeria does not need a vindictive ethnic minded ex coup
plotter, who over values his religious beliefs and puts his sectarian
interests over and above the overall interest of Nigeria as a secular
democracy.
Nigeria does not need a leader who all the evidence show that he stole
from his state and was very corrupt while in office. What Nigeria
needs, is a leader who sees himself first and fore as a Nigeria and not
as a champion of his ethnic group first who wishes to gain power and
remake Nigeria in the image of his ethnic and religious group. Nigeria
needs to remain a secular democracy to survive and it needs a democrat,
who is liberal in thinking but moral in outlook and attitude. A leader
who understands the true meaning of freedom, equality of all before the
law and justice as fairness. Nigeria does not need leaders whose world
view is focused on their ethnic prejudice and think in terms of sharing
Nigeria’s natural resources instead of how to enable every region
achieve their potential. Nigeria needs a leader who will turn Nigeria
into a true federation with greater degree of regional autonomy, to
enable the different regions develop at their pace.
So far, this new concocted political association does not seem to have
the above qualities. A true political party is not built on
personalities and political permutations, but on ideologies and
principles. It will be interesting as this marriage unfolds to
understand the aims, ideologies and principles of this new party. What
does it believe about capitalism? What will it do about the scam being
perpetrated in Nigeria in the name of privatisation in which many of
them have benefited unfairly? What does APC think about those who
looted Nigeria buying it back through privatisation by using the money
they stole from Nigeria? What does APC think about corruption? What
will it do about the politicisation of the civil service? What will it
about the gradual elevation of the office of the first lady to distort
the exercise of power by the executive and the use of the office to
siphon public funds? How will APC stop politicians from having easy
access to state fund? How will it reduce the cost of government? What
is its view about the excessive pay of politicians? How will it create
jobs, reduce crimes like armed robbery and kidnapping? What will it do
differently to stop Boko Haram terrorism and ethnic cleansing by Fulani
herdsmen? How will it restructure the judiciary to stop politicians
from getting away with their crimes and making nonsense of our laws?
I do not believe that these are the questions that the parties were
harmonising their answers in their meeting. Rather, they may have been
discussing which looting office and positions each party will get and
how to share the contacts and other political appointments. The problem
of Nigeria is huge and rhetoric and political speak will not sway
Nigeria. What Nigeria needs a solution oriented political party that is
not tinted by past corruption which is ready and prepared to think
outside the box, challenge entrenched ethnic stereotypes, religious
orthodoxies and political certainties. Nigeria needs a new
ideological truly nationalistic party and not an amalgam, of ethnic
parties whose leaders want to create a Nigeria in the image of their
ethnic group and sectarian world view.
Welcome APC, I hope a leopard can change its skin. The search
continues but at least, some people have realised that Nigerians of all
ethnic groups must come together to save Nigeria. So far the wrong
Nigerians have been coming together, I hope the good Nigeria will join
hands and give PDP and APC a run for their money, after all, Nigeria
belongs to all of us and Buhari, Obasanjo, Tunubu or Jonathan do not
have greater interest and stake in Nigeria than the danfo conductor or
the school teacher in Abia state whose salary is not paid for months
because of political corruption. Let the race begin. I hope that APC
and PDP will commit themselves to politics without violence, so that
the people can be given true choice. Will APC and PDP be prepared to
let the votes of Nigerians to count in 2015 ?
