OUR DEMOCRACY UNDER SERIOUS THREAT!
A non-governmental organization, Re-Awaken Initiative of Nigerian (RAIN), recently convened a meeting with stalwarts/leaders of several (national) political parties.
The meeting which took place at the head office of RAIN in Ikoyi, Lagos, discussed the covert threats to democracy and by extension the existence and survival of plurality of political parties in Nigeria.
The founder of the NGO, Otunba Abayomi Odunowo, and the national coordinator, Prince Samson Adewale, advised during the meeting that more political parties should use the opportunity of this initiative to form a special alignment with one another in 2020. This grand alignment will serve to check the conspiracy under plan between INEC and the present government to deregister them. Essentially their strength in numbers and resources will counter the plot of INEC to use subterfuge to disqualify them individually.
A couple of weeks ago, 74 political parties were illegally deregistered even though INEC was aware that between 31 and 33 political had filed petitions in court to challenge their deregistration.
Winning elections involve rigorous strategic planning, critical thinking and the application of reason, logic and the best permutations of these to achieve favourable results. Transparent elections are about mathematics and calculations and persuasive argumentation that gives hope of a better future to voters.
It is common knowledge that politics in Nigeria is far from transparent and is seriously tainted and compromised by (the power/influence of) money. A grand realignment of political parties in 2020 as proposed by Otunba Abayomi Odunowo will afford political parties adequate breathing space not only to grow organically (expound their but also to develop the capacity to resist the damaging effects of money in our political discourse.
As with all viruses, the virus of money which has infected, permeated and is festering in the entire fabric of our country’s political apparatus must be eradicated/eliminated/expunged. In search of a solution led me to the enduring words of one of the greatest leaders of our time, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who in 1986 stated:
“…I do fervently pray, and will continue to fervently pray, that I may be proved wrong….For something in me tells me that we have embarked on a fruitless search…As long as our people remain what they are, nothing clean, principled, ethical and idealistic can work with them. And Nigerians will remain what they are, unless the evils which now dominate their hearts, at all levels, are exorcised. But I venture to assert that they will not be exorcised, and indeed they will be firmly entrenched unless God Himself imbues a vast majority with a revolutionary change of attitude.”
We are aware that our constitutional provision has given smaller political parties enough latitude as the minimum requirement to avoid them being deregistered is to have an elected councilor. This is your opportunity to be counted and make your presence count. Several political parties in Lagos and Ogun States have indicated interest and signed up to the Alignment 2020 MOU. There are limited spaces left for political parties that recognize the benefit and wish to be a part of Alignment 2020. If your political party is interested and wish to join, please contact the National Coordinator Prince Samson Adewale on +234(0)8075241111.
It is our hope that this clarion call will yield the desired response. Only time will tell.
E-signed
Hakeem Onitiri
National Publicity Secretary
Re-Awaken Initiative of Nigeria (RAIN)
