About the time American Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, was expectedly asking Nigerians to either shape up or ship out from the comity of would-be viable nations of the world, a friend was treating me to the ingredients of ‘a Failed State.’ Going by his definition, a ‘Failed State’ is one “in which the state can’t provide or guarantee the provision of basic amenities for its citizens.” Needless to belabour issues again on further definitions of subject. Nonetheless, as if he was in the Consulting Room, examining a terminally-ill patient, the friend pungently asked: “But why has Nigeria not been declared a Failed State?” Well, since I had no answer to this disturbingly recurrent question, I simply left him to his thoughts and conclusions.
Dishearteningly, that Nigeria is drifting towards failure of statehood is heightened by some major fundamental flaws that have in recent past characterized Nigeria’s socio-political landscape. And, unless necessary steps are taken in the right direction, our cherished fatherland, which Ogaga Ifowodo recently referred to as “an imagined nation state”, is just some few metres away from this cancer. The nation is palpably at a standstill as its leaders have summarily gone slumbering. The political space is charged; hitherto admirers of the nation are complaining that things are not moving in the right direction but all the actors could do is to further fan the embers of disharmony. In their views, since we “do not know the names of our Local Government Areas”, we are mere “academic hitmen” who practically should not have any say in how we are being ruled by emergency democrats of Hitlerian disposition; none other than certified lovers of naked power who think that the best way to lead is to mortgage the future of a people for thirty shekels of silver. Interestingly, as Nigerians continue to cope with one avoidable problem after the other, election year seems nearer than we had ever envisaged. And the pertinent question that daily stares us in the face is: ‘will we( be allowed to) get it right this time?’
When the late sage, Obafemi Awolowo, predicted that Nigeria might not in our generation witness true democracy again, not even the Ikenne-born politician, ever thought it would come so soon. In 1993, Nigeria came close to repositioning the hand of the clock but the Ibrahim Babangida-led junta bungled that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Now, here we are, lamentably contending with the shame of a nation.
Defection. Decampment. Cross-carpeting. Abandonment. Realignment. These are some of the embarrassing words which define the political absurdity in which Nigeria is pleasurably plunged. Things are fast falling apart but it is as if our rulers are less concerned. Vagabonds have hijacked Nigeria’s socio-political space and all they do is to shamelessly bargain with disgusting felicity the remnants of their integrity. Despite dear nation’s many leadership-induced shortcomings and related externalities which have brought about the scarcity of good governance in our clime, those who love her must act now - and act fast, too.
As 2011 draws nearer, it is again one of our inalienable duties to persistently drum it into the ears of Nigerians that politics in Nigeria has changed from the way it was in 1999; it has moved into a despicable Next Level. For instance, and with a particular reference to the Southwest, the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, has moved away from where people were lured, or, begged, into becoming members in 1999. Now, things have changed, especially, as the party now ‘controls’ five of the zone’s six states. How it secured their control is another issue entirely. But, despite this ‘success’, do we need to repeat here that the party still admits adherents and disciples, clappers and even passers-by? Are we saying that those who wish to partake of the spoils of (mis)governance, come 2011, have not commenced their ‘do-or-die’ preparations? And are we unaware of what it takes to belong in, especially, a ‘do-or-die’ conglomerate like the Party Destroying People?
When Olusegun Obasanjo came on board as Nigeria’s president in 1999, he told us how many pests and rodents he left behind when he was exiting power in 1979 and how many waited for his return to power under the guidance of providence some twenty years later. He told us how he never attempted to have an eye on his would-be successor when he was leaving in 1979 which, probably, was why he couldn’t influence what came out or what went in into the system. Obasanjo has now learnt his lessons and has known better as he is now not only rated as one of Africa’s richest former leaders but also has his people in all the important facets of the Nigerian economy.
We heard of the Oputa Commission and all the mysteries as well as the miseries that went with it. We were not ignorant of the antics as well as the larger-than-life posture of former President Obasanjo, incidentally, the man who inaugurated the Panel. Principally, we can conveniently recollect some of the near anarchical altercations between the man from Owu and Femi Falana. Oddly enough, was it not a frivolous court injunction, obtained by Babangida, which curiously prevented the Commission’s Report from seeing the light of day? As ridiculous as the injunction was, has government deemed it fit to vacate it in any court of competent jurisdiction?
Where are we as a people, as a race, and as a country? Are we happy with our present pass? If ‘yes’, then, let us clink glasses; make some noise and triumphantly go home. If ‘No’, then, what do we do in order to get what we want? In Rivers State, former Governor Peter Odili conceitedly obtained a perpetual injunction to shield him from the wrath of the law. Up till today, Odili walks our streets, free from investigation and/or prosecution. And, unless the miraculous takes place, it may forever remain so! What a country? That we live in an unfederated Federalist State where might is right and where political demons and rapacious grabbers and willing accomplices dictate the pace and space of events is no longer news. When it suits them, they say we are running true federalism; but when they are at the receiving end, they simply coax us into believing that our policies and actions, however genuine, are “inchoate.” What a system? Once, President Umar Yar’Adua was going slowly. Later, he went stagnant. Now, our president has with disgusting optimism embraced retrogression. What a leadership?
Apathy. Fatigue. Stupor. Exhaustion. With the dubious culture of politics currently holding sway in our land, it will not be out of place to say that people are rarely passionate about voting any longer. We need not access another planet before realizing that quite a good majority of Nigerians have lost interest in the process that distrustfully throws up those who occupy leadership positions in Nigeria. For instance, since 1993 when Babangida, in connivance with some of those who still direct the affairs of our ship of state, decidedly inflicted the ‘June 12’ monumental injury on the psyche of Nigerians, my parents have never had “any reasons to vote again.” Since that electoral insult on our collective intelligence, all have been said and pleaded but my parents still stick to their guns. But I can hardly blame them either.
Without doubt, there are many who still share my parents’ sentiments. And their number is increasing with each passing day. While they cannot – and should not - be blamed for being what our leaders’ greed has turned them into, history will also be on our side should we succeed in positively affecting their thinking. In other words, it is our inalienable duty to refreshingly reassure them that, unless they vote and jealously guide their votes, those who, with every election go home with bountiful harvests of fraud will never let go. Should they allow their ‘rightly placed’ apathy to continuously dominate their democratic thinking, our rulers will continue to have feast days; and our children will one day have to demand from us the roles we played in bringing Nigeria on her knees.
So, in our search for succour, where do we go? To some pseudo-democrats who have selfishly eaten all the honey in our political honeymoon, leaving behind nothing but moonshine? Or, continue to siddon look, watching and waiting for when God will fight our battle for us even when we dutifully fail to realize that faith without work is dead? Or, simply move, en masse, to the ruling party and forget whatever the definition(s) or intents of the opposition? Or, engage in rallies, protests and related forms of civil disobedience designed to change our leaders’ attitude to governance? Or, confront the system with the language the system understands: brute a la the Niger Delta; or, to Nigerianise it, the ‘Tarka-me-I-Daboh-you’ option? Curiously, it is those who disabuse the minds of the populace on the use of violence that end up capitalizing on the weakness of the people to wickedly disenfranchise the electorate.
One other point which the opposition needs to take along with it n its continued search for relevance is that propaganda doesn’t win a war. The number of an army doesn’t either. What wins a war, be it political or armed conflict, is the strength of an army. In fact, it is not just its mere strength but the level of sophistication of the weapons in its arsenal. But this does not mean that propaganda is not an essential part of politics and governance. One complements the other. Bola Tinubu perfectly understood this principle while Bisi Akande did not. Currently, Oyo and Osun States are two examples of propaganda without work.
Other problem area that demands the opposition’s attention is the religionisation of politics. Another is its traditionalisation. Adebayo Alao-Akala’s mode of thanksgiving a la rolling-on-the-ground style after his ‘success’ at the polls during the 2007 gubernatorial elections; and our traditional rulers’ disgusting mortgage of traditional values; here call for mention
On a last note, it is in the best interest of the opposition to sensitize the voting public, especially, the rural people, the peasants and the artisans; those who not only possess the proclivity (or the temerity) to make their votes count but also have the natural effrontery to confront any crudity if and when the need for such arises. They were there during the time of Adekunle Ajasin. And they were never in short supply during the ‘June 12’ struggle. Indeed, the dexterity with which they fought ‘step asideism’ to a standstill in the ‘90s has not waned. But they need to be encouraged. They need to be further educated on why they have to fight for their rights now that they have any being in them.
May God save us from our rulers!
Komolafe writes in from Ijebu-Jesa, Osun State
ABIODUN KOMOLAFE,
020, OKENISA STREET,
PO BOX 153, IJEBU-JESA,
OSUN STATE, NIGERA
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