Posted by By Dr. Kabir Mato, Weekly Trust (Kaduna) on
A few months to the next general elections in Nigeria - an election that will by all means be very important - the momentum on the ground seems very slow in the manner the politics of the day is played.
A few months to the next general elections in Nigeria - an election that will by all means be very important - the momentum on the ground seems very slow in the manner the politics of the day is played. Candidates for respective offices throughout the country are missing in action. This situation is very disturbing in view of the fact that the likely implication will be that there may be a rush in the entire process which may yet again lead us back to the tragedy that began with the transition program in 1998 that produced the present crop of executive leadership in Aso Rock.
God forbid, Nigerians must not only pray, but importantly, we have to work deliberately towards ensuring that we get a better deal only if we desire our children to have a better life in the future. It will appear like the present stage of stagnation in the nation's polity is aimed at creating paranoia as a strategy of hero worshiping which is certain that the final objective is to discredit any other citizen that may be capable of taking over power through the electoral process.
The desire of this government is to put aside and disregard the views and opinions of the people by selecting or appointing people that are to occupy various offices including the presidency. This is the PDP strategy, which is reminiscent of third world military mentality. Our view is that the present crisis that rages in the country is deliberately created by the political actors in order to confuse issues just a few months before elections.
Ordinarily, in nations that are little more serious, the attention of both the government and citizens at this material time would be more on how to mobilize the entire population into achieving a credible election that will usher in a new government at the centre and other units. Unfortunately, ours at the highest level is more preoccupied with trivial issues in the name of purity of character in governance.
This feeling of infallibility we have argued time and again is a prelude to the institution of fascist dictatorship on the land. It is not an act of accident that a cabal in government will lay claim to honesty over all others even if they are equally or worst than others. By the fact that they control the apparatuses of state in the area of propaganda, coercion and finances, they paint the picture that they desire the population to see and believe in. This is a tragedy and I am sure Nigerians will do everything possible to ensure that they resist oppression.
Nigerians must employ all possible democratic means to face those who do not desire the nation well and tell them that their distortions can no longer see the light of the day. I believe that the best legacy that any person who claims democratic credentials can leave is to leave as at when due. Since when has the political culture assumed the dimension of Plato's Republic where only the enlightened few have the natural right to rule?
Who says that we all do not know what we want? Who says that we require dictatorship in the garments of democracy in order to have an economically advanced society? Development cannot be achieved through sit-tight government and in fact such governments are detrimental to the attainment of economic welfare of the citizens.
Our appeal to the government at this point is that they must stop chasing shadows and face the issues of accountability while in government seriously. We view the developments as purely a desperate strategy of attempting to block the very visible failures while in office for almost a decade in the face increased national revenue.
To keep the nation quiet, they came up with the gimmick of anti corruption so they can cover up for their misdeeds. The irony is that while in power, a government often forgets the reality of its transient nature. This is not the contract the government has with the Nigerian people if there was any at all. If the government believes too much in itself, we urge them to shade off the toga of 'democracy' it is claiming to be wearing and take up arms as a coupist regime. Under that, they may continue to predominate until they are dislodged by certain segments within their ranks.
As it is now, there is no better option for them than to leave as soon as their time is off. After all, one would think that government is a process in continuum. No one government can claim to do everything. The wisdom in Western liberal democracy is that ideas and the transitory nature of succession make it possible to realize the full potentials of the system. As one group leaves others set in with new ideas and thoughts that are likely to move the system forward.
This over personification of successes, failures and the institution of state is dangerous and of course as we know it is an unintelligent third world leadership conspiracy option that has reigned supreme within the African continent especially. Leaders for whatever reason do not desire to leave when their time is off. A curious look at the issue however reveals very glaringly that behind the real reason is the problem of performance more than any other thing that scares such governments and as such they are afraid of vacating office so that their untruth does not readily come to the open.
In our understanding, this is the reality that faces the Obasanjo government and they are of the thinking that they can, just like what others in Africa do manipulate their ways to achieving unlimited terms in government so they my continue to cover for their mis governance. Sad, it was said long before now that whatever they may do, it will never delay their day of judgment.
The government is advised to stop chasing shadows and instead face the issues straight and frankly. We do not desire any confusion at this time when and after the government has wasted over seven of our years. Nigeria will literality have to start again after we successfully push this government out in May 2007.
It is the collective responsibly of all citizens to participate actively in the democratic process as an actor and not an onlooker. The task of reworking Nigeria is ours and this must be done immediately.