TIMES like this make me wish feverishly that Nigeria operates a two-party system like the United State does. You are either in one party or the other. True that it restricts multiplicity of choices but yet it entrenches structure, discipline and perseverance. Nigeria is multi-ethnic and so also is the United States. Nigeria is multi-faith based. So also is the United States. The latter is a nation of liberals and a nation with various departures from the conventional faith, yet there is a strong party structure and discipline despite them being two. And in spite of it being liberal people belong to the two parties either by reason of family roots, convictions and decision. But sadly, that cannot operate in Nigeria because there is no form of personal discipline and strong convictions that that will hold true to committing to just two-party thatwould not shift over time due to selfish interests rather than personal convictions.Nigeria is a religious nation yet there is so much that divides it ranging from issues of faith, bigotry, tribe, ethnicity, class and or status, and even gender. With the provisions of law being an enabler of a multi-party system also comes with it an abuse of the opportunity. Politicians continue to cross carpet and move from one political party to the other and back due to self-serving reasons and personal dissatisfaction of being cheated or shortchanged in parties where they have worked or diligently served. Such dissensions have caused implosions within the party structure and birthed era of parties which only bear a name or a symbol but basically members are strange bed fellows. The motto of each party has gotten somewhere mixed up and despite Nigeria operating a multi-party system, only two parties are obviously in the game. I said obviously.
With the elections coming closer, earlier this week in the office, there were heated arguments with colleagues in the office. The grouse of one of them was that Nigerians are equally bad followers and that it is hypocritical to say that we have bad leaders. We have the right to refuse to follow those bad leaders and in so doing we take the power away from them. His argument was that Nigerians had other choices and do not have to limit those choices t to the two big wig political parties.
While I was of the view that his concerns were legitimate, the reality of the present political landscape is that money is a big game changer in Nigeria politics. It’s a sad reality. Second in my opinion is that many of the other political parties in Nigeria despite having good manifestos which are more refreshing than what have been constantly recycled however lack solid party structure. For instance we hear nothing of them except when it’s time for elections. I rarely see any actively coming out to oppose unhealthy policies or acts of government. We hardly see many coming out to address constitutional matters and governance and so there is no awareness created to make people aware that there are indeed other viable option. Solid structure and party awareness and reach in Nigeria will only be funded by money. The easiest reach is using the media, both print, electronic and social media to disseminate information. None of these operates freely.
I drew an analogy from the distribution process of products of bottling companies or breweries in Nigeria. No matter how good a brand might be, profit is greatly determined by reach. If the reach of one brand is not far even if it is good, consumer are forced to settle for a what brand they see, even if it’s not the best. In so doing they acquire a taste for the available brand. In essence the available becomes the desirable.
That is replicated in Nigerian politics, which is quite unfortunate for parties who do not have adequate funding to spread their reach. But be that as it may, a lot still also depend on followership. And our future will only be reshaped when we decide it’s enough. But in my understanding, Nigerian isn’t yet ready for a revolution because when we are, then the need for a collective overhaul will become a fire burning in us, that desire for a better country. Until the trappings of political office are reduced to the barest minimum that it becomes unattractive is when we begin to see those that want to be in politics for true governance.
The desire for good leadership begins with the right followership. It begins with each and every one of us. It begins when money fails to become a trap. It begins when we shun greed and desire to steal the commonwealth. It begins when followership seek accountability and transparency. It begins when we have had enough. Then we will begin to set higher standards.
and then