Food For Thought
By BASSEY ITA
So much emphasis has been laid on the prospects of giving Nigeria a new lease of life with the 2023 elections,and the change of political or democratic reins in May 29.
Importantly, the major takeaway is the fact that the unity and stability of the country is paramount.
In 2015, when it was purported that Nigeria’s existence was in the precipice,it became the preoccupation of State Actors then to act according to the realisation that there must be a country for any meaningful political activities to take place. Such action is one major interest which defines the quality of leaders that an entity should throw up.
In fact, in a democracy,one expects that the political class must be Democrats, and that they must live out that nomenclature or disposition to the fullest.
Wikipedia,the free encyclopaedia describes Democracy as a system involving the distribution of political power based on four elements: the freedom of the citizens to make choices based on a free and fair process of elections; the citizens also actively participate in the process of making choices of leaders; there is protection of the human rights of all citizens; and there is also the rule of law in which the laws and procedures apply equally to all citizens.
However,Observers and Analysts have maintained that the Nigerian situation has been a case of having Democracy without Democrats. Suffice it to say that this ‘postulation’ holds true over the antecedents of the current People’s Democratic Party, PDP leadership in the country. If nothing else,the build up to the 2023 elections has clearly exposed that party’s utter disregard for the rule of law where the notion of equality applies.
Recall is made that during its primary elections,the PDP threw the principles of justice,equity and fairness as embedded in its statutes and precepts, to the winds by settling for a Presidential Candidate from the Northern Nigeria extraction even when that part of Nigeria currently holds sway.
Methinks,this it did in utter disregard for the principle of unity and cohesion which often should guide our democratic choices.
This singular act of misdemeanour has been greeted with utter resentment of party faithful bent on the unity of the country as well as the mass of Nigerians who insist on keeping Nigeria together. It became unfortunate therefore,that a party which had once pride as the beautiful bride of democratic governance could go so low. Worse still,it has become so enmeshed in a deep crisis that it cannot come out of.
What actually started as ‘dew-drop’ crisis after its primary elections has plummeted now as an irreversible twist.
The ‘Dollarisation’ of the 2023 electioneering process, notwithstanding,the PDP is currently experiencing a simmering crisis which is bound to blow up from the 2023 polls outcome.
In fact,the ensuing muscle-flexing between its Presidential Candidate,Atiku Abubakar on one hand and Nyesom Wike and four other Governors on the other,goes further to summarise the fact that the crisis is a jolt which runs to the very fabric of the party.
Incidentally too,in some states,the crisis projects itself a ‘red flag’ against the party’s existence.
In Cross River State for instance,media spaces have been awash with reports of a face-off between the Atiku’s faction and that of Wike which lends credence to the polarisation issue raised in some circles.
A Leader was said to have been so aggrieved with the Wike factor in such a manner that he allegedly warned of ignoring the Atiku project by the major Candidates as a dangerous phenomenon which was capable of summarily rocking the party’s chances.
PDP is in shambles, and that is the truth!
It’s inability to arbitrate now in the face of mounting electioneering challenges,further exposes it’s weakness of the moral fibre to win the elections and avail Nigerians the kind of leadership they desire.
It is important at this point particularly for the Electorate to do a thorough ‘soul-searching’ to know whether it is justified of them to waste their votes for a party of that calibre which has clearly shown it’s incapacitation to govern and give them a befitting democratic experience or vote in one which has clearly shown it’s readiness in the wings of time to recreate Nigeria and make it a hub of progressive, prosperous governance.
For all I know,there are now two major gladiators in the 2023 polls. One is a Pretender. But for sure APC is the major Contender!
In Cross River State,we have a replication of what played out at the national echelon of the PDP where the issue of rotation as embedded in the PDP constitution was equally thrown to the dogs.This is as it is making meat of the introduction of ‘Dollar- for-votes’ politics in its ongoing campaigns which further insults the sensibilities of the peaceable,cohesive and calm people and thereby couching some in a mad-rush for money.
Whatever pattern is seen of the PDP’s desperate-for-power machine,there is an obvious proof that it has not the moral capital to lead the people.
Also,the majority are only waiting for the whistle so to come out to lay the mines that will turpedo the PDP from existence in 2023.
BASSEY ITA
Writes in from Calabar.
