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Joseph Ifeanyi Chikunie

 Head, Space Control

  Opebi Road
Ikeja, Lagos

more articles by Chikunie

Nigerian workers must be galvanized and organized to vote the PDP out of power. Let the Labour party become the beacon of hope and let all men and women of goodwill rally round the SNG, NDLF and labour to form a broad based peoples’ party while relentlessly agitating for INEC and EFCC bosses’ ouster and for Justice Uwais report to be adopted wholesale by the government and the National Assembly else we make this country ungovernable. Our cravings can only be realized when we act.
SOCIO-POLITICAL CRAVINGS, EFFORTS AND REALIZATIONS AS PANACEAS TO BAD GOVERNANCE.
by Joseph Ifeanyi Chikunie
 

E. C. Ejiogu is a political sociologist, Saharareporters online blog columnist and public commentator. He recently wrote a good piece entitled, “My happiest day”. Essentially, he revels in the Save Nigeria Group’s success at meeting with the Acting President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan where they tabled the position of the body on very sensitive political matters.

While rejoicing with Dr. Ejiogu, I state unequivocally that I am happier than him owing to the realizations of my wishes widely expressed in my last column here titled: “Nigeria belongs to us too”. More than the SNG’s successful meeting with the Acting President, the Nigeria Democratic Liberty Forum (NDLF) will next Saturday, March 13, convene the "Nigeria Peoples Parliament" to reflect on a variety of issues affecting our nation. Readers can therefore understand why I am so overjoyed mainly because I recently called for the opposition activists to form a kind of shadow government in order to show those clowns in Abuja and in the states how best to govern.

It is an unpleasant experience for Nigerian socio-political writers and activists simply because the more we churn out write-ups, columns and commentaries daily, the more our bad rulers inflict misrule and brigandage on us. Our lives are traumatic, harrowing and sad. We know the potentials of this country; we believe in our fatherland and know that good governance is founded firmly on free and fair elections where the votes of the people count. Yet, to our disgust and dismay, the powers that be, who we allowed to foist themselves on us; blatantly frustrate all attempts at doing the right things for their selfish reasons and to the detriment of our country and its development.

I have consistently argued that it is no longer sufficient for activists and public commentators to endlessly agitate and pressure the government of the day to do the right things. Albeit, those actions are very vital and must continue but the point is that it is high time we started engaging in some kind of formative action as well. I have passionately campaigned for activists to stop shouting themselves hoarse from the sidelines but to enter the fray properly. Let us begin to participate actively in politics thereby making life unbearable for unscrupulous and egocentric individuals who have for long messed us up and ravaged our collective wealth.

In my struggle, I had caused my good friend, ‘Dr. Salisu’ to write to publishers of Sahara reporters, pointblank news, Nigeria Liberty Forum, elendureports and huhuonline to consolidate on their efforts by uniting to set up a shadow government of good and selfless Nigerians. The purpose of this is to deepen democracy and strengthen the opposition. I had argued through him that one of our many tragedies as a nation is that we are too focused on dancing around those in power that we relegate the critical role played by the opposition. Weak opposition in any state allows the ruling government to trample on the people, hold them in contempt as it rapes democracy repeatedly. In Nigeria, there are shades of opposition here and there: Lai Mohammed and Joe Igbokwe of Action Congress, the league of activists, SNG, ACF, Ohaneze Ndigbo, Afenifere, online bloggers and others. Essentially, none of these bodies is very well organized as an opposition body per se. There is no consistency in their roles as active opposition nor do they regularly provide alternatives to government policies, actions and programmes. There is a total lack of a shadow government, which is an integral part of democracy in advanced democratic societies. They are merely fire brigade opposition.

The consequence of this is that whereas the Tories (conservative party) in British politics are a single opposition, the party’s role in British politics has by far, a much more impact than the many innumerous shades of opposition in Nigeria’s polity.

It is not by accident that there is a very weak opposition in Nigerian politics. It is a microcosm of our societal degeneration into the idolization of wealth, power and influence. The winner- takes- all mode of our democracy, sedates losers in elections into oblivion. Ultimately nearly everyone panders to those in power and when a member of opposition is appointed into government, he or she simply joins the bandwagon. It is a price being paid for our disrespect to principles and strong values. Our forefathers would be so ashamed at how their children now trade their conscience for a plate of porridge.

Ideologies, principles and values of individuals are what binds them together and they swim or sink together regardless of the situation. These attributes are the political cement, which is impregnable in the face of lure of power, the splashing of national wealth and the subtle witch-hunt of the power that be.

To buttress my point, Robert M. ("Mike") Duncan, held the position of the Republican National Committee during the last American Presidential elections, which witnessed the historic victory of Barack Obama. He belongs to the Grand old party (GOP) Republican Party. Imagine a scenario where he is today appointment into government as the secretary of state by the Democrat’s Barack Obama. Do readers expect him to denigrate his party and haul invectives at GOP leaders simply because he belongs to the government? I do not think so, because of his strong principles and ideologies. No matter what, he will remain a republican until he leaves government and thereafter. Now, reverse to the likelihood of the PDP government appointing any chairmen of the other parties to serve as information minister. Do not be surprise to learn that that ex-party chairman has joined the PDP soon after the appointment.

It is against this backdrop that it is gratifying to witness a change of strategy by both the SNG and the NDLF as we seek to create a better Nigeria where things work. It is a privilege to see them act in consonance with my plea just recently. It has inspired me in no small way that being a political writer is not a waste of time as many have tried to convince me. This in fact is the second time that my write up may have caused bodies and persons to act.

The first was during the height of the Guinean political crisis soon after a total of 157 pro-democracy demonstrators were massacred at the September 28 Stadium in Conakry. Those harmless and defenceless citizens were cut down mercilessly by government troops while over a thousand young ladies and women were raped in broad day light. Some of them were killed after the sexual assault.

I felt so disgusted and angry that I caused another good friend of mine, ‘Dr. Samuel Kargbo’ to write to the African Union, ECOWAS, the UNO, some reputable NGOs, the French Government and most notably, the American Secretary of state, Senator Hilary Clinton. My joy was immense when a few days later, Mrs. Clinton addressed the issue pointedly and came down hard at the junta, which held sway at the time. Others reacted too in no small measure.

It pays to speak up on issues rather than to suffer in silence. Without realizing it, people still read and sometimes, their conscience is poked so hard that they cannot help but act. This is why I hereby implore many more Nigerians to make their voices heard in diverse ways. It is important to sensitize as many people as we can on why there is need for electoral reform so that our votes can count. We must enlighten Nigerians on their fundamental rights and the need to prevent riggers from having a field day in the upcoming elections. There is an urgent need for everyone and all men and women of goodwill to rise from their warm chairs and engage the government constructively while spreading the true democratic ideals to the people. It is time to put filthy politicians to shame.

Now back to the main issues. I may be overjoyed but I am still unfulfilled until Nigerians take their destinies in their hands to free us from impostors who pillage our collective wealth and hold us in great contempt. We all crave for a better Nigeria where electric power is constant, lives and property are secure and votes of the people count. We look forward to a time when offenders who break the law or steal public fund are punished in accordance with the law regardless of their status in the society. We demand a country where there is equity, justice, reward for hard work and competence. The Nigeria of our dream should have true federalism, where those in government act as servants not masters and where rulers engage in a spree of infrastructural developments around the nook and cranny of the country. These and more are our cravings but we must match our yearnings with actions so that the lofty dreams can be realized.

I see no reason why the SNG and the NDLF should not collaborate in our quest to enthrone good governance, realize free and fair elections; entrench constitutionalism and rule of law. We must now consolidate our efforts and move to the next level. Already, the awareness has been created and I am glad that Nigerians in Diaspora seem willing to reclaim their fatherland from political hyenas. The governors who now think that they are our personal lords and saviours will soon be put in their places. They are already jittery at the composition of the Presidential Advisory Council when the real hurricane is just approaching. Many of them who of course are self serving must be swept away first by the anti-corruption bodies that need to be reorganized and re-composed and then by the political tsunami of the next elections. They do not want the electoral laws to be amended; they abhor electoral reforms and pay lip service to constitutional amendment. These governors always prefer the status quo because it is in their favour. They cry for automatic governorship tickets and other anti-people policies that do not impact on development but which are very selfish and parochial.

Bodies as SNG and NDLF must pressure the Goodluck Jonathan government to re-energize the EFCC, the ‘husband of those thieving governors’. I still do not know what Farida Waziri and Maurice Iwu are still doing as EFCC and INEC Chairpersons. The reformed bodies have no place for such persons who blow hot and cold depending on where the government of the day pushes them to. We need men and women of undoubted principles and ideologies to prosecute the war against corruption successfully just as we need a man or woman of impeccable integrity and substance to head INEC at a time Nigerians crave for very free and fair elections.

The success or otherwise of the government depends on whether it retains the moribund services of Farida Waziri and Maurice Iwu. Activists and public commentators must not rest until those very important two bodies are reconstituted to meet the dire objectives of government as originally formulated on paper. Much pressure must be brought upon the government in a relentless fashion.

Beyond this role, pro-democracy bodies and good Nigerians no matter where they reside must begin to take active interest in our politics and governance. For long, we have allowed the vultures to feed on the carcass of what is now left of Nigeria. It is high time power is wrested from People’s Democratic Party that is anything, but of the people. It was long ago that Wole Soyinka described the party as a nest of killers, but if anyone still doubted the party’s occult culture, it amply unraveled itself in the manner, President Yar Adua was cargoed into the country while the sons and daughters of men were asleep. That Mafioso-style escapade ably supported by the PDP leadership, who till the time I write, see nothing wrong with that action, speak volumes about those who run the government.

The SNG, NDLF, MEND and other such bodies must now reinforce to sweep bad rulers from power. It is time to crystallize into a party as a major force to topple the PDP. The power of the people is irresistible and indomitable and Nigerians have shown a strong resolve unprecedentedly witnessed to move the country forward. The opportunity has presented itself to galvanize and organize the people to effect a change in 2011. We must boldly and loudly proclaim that CHANGE HAS COME TO NIGERIA.

Labour and activists have always worked together and this is why I propose the Labour party as the best platform to realize the dreams of teeming millions of Nigerians. The PDP has shown itself to be the clog in the wheel of Nigeria’s progress and it must be crushed at the next polls by the people who are the true sovereign. The leadership of the labour party must reach out immediately to bodies as SNG and NDLF to form a mass political movement under the aegis of the Labour party. Nigerian workers must be galvanized and organized to vote the PDP out of power. Let the Labour party become the beacon of hope and let all men and women of goodwill rally round the SNG, NDLF and labour to form a broad based peoples’ party while relentlessly agitating for INEC and EFCC bosses’ ouster and for Justice Uwais report to be adopted wholesale by the government and the National Assembly else we make this country ungovernable. Our cravings can only be realized when we act.
 

 

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