2023: The National Assembly calculation

No vehicle can run indefinitely without refuel, just as no tree can hope to remain sturdy without water and sunshine. Without doubt, the events of recent weeks have invested in the above quotes with unbelievable seriousness and inscribed this painful truth deeply into the breasts of our national life.

As Democracy Day advances closer with the speed of light in the face of mountains of social distractions diverting attention from the biting economic conundrum; its high point cannot be treated with kid gloves. Learning  from some erroneous decisions (policies) made from the outset of this administration which mutated to haunt it like an explosion of virulent cells, many stakeholders are eagerly waiting with the aggression of a Jewish moneylender for the new blueprint and lists of the field marshals (ministers and other sensitive appointments) that will join forces to salvage the economy from life support.

Many are vexed that things are going south on different fronts and fears that the frequency of the movement could take the economy to intensive care unit if economic emergency is not declared.

Despite politics of godfatherism, ethnicity and religion which normally takes the centre stage during the compilation of ministerial and other key appointments lists, getting it right this time will lorry out our nation from economic and infrastructural stagnancy. This official somersault and political gate-crashing of these lists by lobbyists who have obviously relocated abroad to have conversations with the President and his Man Friday (Abba Kyari), are some of the reasons why incompetent and under qualified individuals make it to the goal posts thereby bringing mental poverty to the table.

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The lists should be peopled with technocrats with tall antecedents of economic magic wand marinated in razor-sharp intellect of 21st century (digital) governance.

Nigerians with elevated integrity, those without any badge of corruption and will effectively walk its talk on anti- corruption war.

It should look beyond ethnic and religious prisms to pick competent and capable Nigerians using the principle of federal character commission (As every tribe and religion showcases the best) to engender equality, oneness, unity and justice in the polity.

In a political clime where loyalty is are bought and sold like bean cake and allies turn bitter foes at the drop of a hat, some remain unflinching masts profoundly flying on single boat. The 2023 map starts from the National Assembly elections. It is believed that the camp which plants the National Assembly leadership stands at advantage to wear the 2023 presidential crown.

On the D-day, it will be battle of titans, party loyalty and betrayal, rain of cash, raising tribal and religious flags, etc. Deep horse-trading and extensive alignments and realignments are currently ongoing by different camps to outwit each other in order to install their cronies.

With the division in the ruling party triggered by the 2023 permutations, the grossly underrated opposition party has donned the toga of a giant beater, a mythical cat that has seven political lives and a phoenix that rose from its ashes to dictate the pace of politics in the chambers. A possible replay of the 2015 high wire intrigues loads with the refusal of the ruling party’s gladiators to shift grounds.

Agada Ikechukwu

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