By The Qoheleth
Anyone who wants to bring desired change in Nigeria must not follow the old politicians and political system. They all lead to the wrong direction. The old political system was built like a cult. If you are in it, you must keep to their laws or be kicked out.
New entrants are not given free opportunities to express themselves or bring new ideas. The old ones feel insecure about these.
There are ways the old politicians use to guide their insecurity. They first impoverish the people so that they will accept whatever is given to them. Secondly, they make politics so enticing to attract new entrants. But when they join, their hands would be tied from effective performance. They also hijack all systems of government such as the media, public opinions, pressure groups and other agencies.
Through corrupt practices, they set faulty standards and make laws to protect themselves. These include immunity clause, multiple political parties, hijacking all arms of government and tiers of government, hijacking independent agencies, creating dichotomy in tribes and religion as well as privatizing governance.
They also oppress and intimidate any experts or technocrats who want to bring new ideas.
This is why many technocrats and religious leaders who have attempted to enthrone the desired change in the country did not succeed in winning elections especially at the highest level.
Many of the technocrats, entrepreneurs, religious leaders and decent people who have joined existing political parties or their systems have all failed in one way or the other. Some of them have brilliant ideas before been coopted into the dirty game. After joining, they devote all their time in defending the laxities of the politicians without contributing anything positively different from the sleaze. They usually become different when they come out of governance. Some of them are brilliant media executives, trade union leaders, academics, scientists, the clergy and even community leaders.
The only way Nigeria could be salvaged politically is for a set of patriotic Nigerians to sever themselves from the current political parties and the existing system; initiate independent system and political party that is different from the existing ones that will create opportunities for genuine people to participate, change the orientation of the people to join them and then follow the process legally.
The old politicians will definitely work against this. The new ones may not have courage to do this but it is possible and doable.
No matter how good any new politician is, he will not perform or win at the centre by joining the existing old order. People like Peter Obi can be jumping from one party to the other to get tickets. Even if they win elections, they will not perform within the old political order. Technocrats such as Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Prof. Pat Utomi and Mr. Fola Adeola have at one point or the other been frustrated out of the system by the old politicians who seem to be masters of the game. Same with religious leaders such as Pastors Chris Okotie and Tunde Bakare.
Some people have experimented on this strategy before but did not have the courage to carry out their convictions. Some were misled and discouraged by the old politicians. There is no way one can reform the country and regain its pride while staying in the same old system.
When Babangida introduced an entirely new system, it brought out credible people and led to credible elections which would have brought out good governance if the politicians had not joined the military to abort the system.
There is hope in redeeming and reclaiming the country. But the question is, how many people are courageous enough and have the will power to take this initiative? Talking down on the country and calling it a failed state can never yield any positive results. Asking the military to take over or calling for revolution is not also a solution.
The worst decision is to join the old political order and wish to change them from within. The old political cult will kill such idea before it grows.
They know themselves and are collectively working for their selfish interests. That’s why they refer to politics as a dirty game and still feel comfortable in playing it. No country develops with such system.
That is why we call on well-meaning Nigerians to come together to design a new path that will create equal opportunities for genuine Nigerians. Such platform will eventually produce genuine and efficient leaders who will enthrone true democracy and usher the desired good governance. It may take time but it is possible and doable.
