APC, A Pill Nigerians Must Swallow By Lauretta Onochie

Posted: February 9, 2013 - 03:58

Posted by siteadmin

By Lauretta Onochie

Many years ago, before the advent of Paracetamol, APC was the medicine for headache, stomachache and indeed, all aches and pains. Today Nigeria has a headache, a bellyache and all known and unknown aches a d pains. The good news is that we know the cause of most of these aches. Diagnosis? Corruption and the poor leadership of the PDP! But it looks like the good old tablet, APC is back in Nigeria; not in chemists and pharmacies, but as a political conglomeration that promises to heal Nigeria of many of her aches and pains, commonly known as PDP wahala. It is the ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS (APC).

Hear them, "We resolve to form a political party committed to the principles of internal democracy, focused on serious issues of concern to OUR PEOPLE, determined to bring corruption and insecurity to an end, determined to grow our economy and create jobs in their millions through education, housing, agriculture, industrial growth etc, and stop the increasing mood of despair and hopelessness among OUR PEOPLE.” In one short sentence, they used 'Our people' twice... Yet, Nigerians are sceptical about APC and their real intentions.

Nigeria is a nation where different groups of people in leadership have come to promise us heaven on earth, only to turn around to confine us to hell by impoverishing us the more. The present reality is the Peoples Democratic Party PDP. These people, since 1999, have made millionaires out of their immediate families and friends. That has also changed. They began to make billionaires out of their cronies and now, we are at a stage where many suspect that there might be more Dollars in Nigeria than in America as they continue to make 'Dollarnaires' out of their close associates.

Nigerians have met disappointments at every turn of their recent political history. Where we have been promised bread, we got stones and where we were promised soup, sludge was forced down our throats. Its all too recent and still raw as we all are now choking from air pollution, not only from the fumes from our electric-generating sets but from the corrosive materials in the breathe of fresh air we were promised by the current ruling party and its arrowhead of corruption, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.

We, as a people have come to the stage where we lost all hopes in our leaders and consequently, in our nation. They have cheated us out of our national inheritance. They have run down our national infrastructures and left them in their dilapidated states. Examples are our roads and hospitals. They have, through their greed reduced our life expectancies to 47 and 45 respectively for men and women. They have made us look small among the comity of nations. We have become a people who are no longer warmly welcomed to other nations. Close to home, some African nations have been brave to voice the fact that we are bad news. Our leaders have become the butt of jokes as they go around the globe parading ignorance.

The Nigerian print and electronic media mostly became instruments of misinformation for peddling lies, innuendoes, gossips and propaganda in favour of those who use our collective wealth to suppress the truth. And then the Social Media emerged! Subdued Nigerians found a live wire. Many began joining the social network such as Twitter and Facebook. Some went in with their body, soul and spirit. Others went in slowly and cautiously. And then, it exploded! Nigerians threw caution to the wind, taking the bull by the horn. They went for the jugular, chocking the day light out of the present inept, corrupt and clueless government of President Jonathan. Nigerians on the Social media used it to their maximum benefit, exposing the corruption, ineptitude, incompetence and the waste that were and are still the hallmark of this sick government.

But this government, this sick government of President Jonathan still refuses medication. It struggles on, refusing to see that the people they asked to serve needed to be served. This sick government that refused to take all prescribed medications devised means of avoiding contact with Nigerians for fear of being lynched by angry Nigerians. Private jets became the new means of mass transit for our corrupt leaders and their friends, along with their religious associates. Nigeria's Independent celebration events which we looked forward to as children in Nigeria, became a private affair. Children in our nation have not been given the opportunity, even on children's day to interact with the man who decides on their behalf.

The new found confidence of Nigerians, armed with the deluge of authenticated data on the corrupt activities of the present administration of President Jonathan, gave wings to the courageous showings of the #OccupyNigeria Movement a year ago. That became the first arrow shot in recent times by the Nigerian people at their ignoble leaders to put them on notice that it would no longer be business as usual. A lot more corruption has been unearthed and exposed since then and all we hear from them are denials, denials and more denials. The complicity of our National assembly is not in doubt neither is the collusion of our judiciary. It is common knowledge that people, (yes they are Nigerians), are eager to keep the Boko Haram crises going because of the huge gains from the unaccountable security votes for that region. "Vampires" I call them. Those who flourish and bask in the blood of others are called vampires.

Nigerians, ordinary Nigerians are therefore left to their own devices as unemployment soars. Lynching popularly known as jungle-justice and mass raping have become popular in a nation that has lost her morals and community spirit. Campus prostitution, armed robbery, kidnapping, human-trafficking fraud and scamming etc are now ways of earning a living in a nation blessed with huge natural a d human resources.

Therefore, I must say that I clearly understand the apathy, suspicion, scepticism and distrust with which some of us view APC, the soup-pot or what some of us call a collection of strange bed-fellows. After all, some of these apothecaries who prepared this APC, have been in the forefront of the Nigerian politics for decades and have not been part of the solution, to say the least. However, we must look beyond the people who are the principal players in APC now. If one was drowning, and someone threw him a life line, he would grab it and ask questions later about the identity of the life saver. Our nation is sinking. We have no time to dilly-dally. Our problem had been that we did not have a united opposition in our nation that was proactive. Now we do. One has presented itself.

A party like this APC is what many of us have been campaigning for. There is no way we are going to have an opposition that is led by people we do not know. Nigerians and indeed the world, are predisposed to starting from the known to the unknown. Many people may not know how tediously many of our well meaning youth have worked to build a solid opposition, but were not taken seriously because they are not known. This is a chance Nigerians must take with both hands and firmly plant their feet on. APC is made up of the known at the present but unless we all join at this its inception, the unknown would remain in the background.

I therefore, appeal to Nigerians, especially our youth population, to join, no, to invade this APC. Its only when we are in that we can have a say from the beginning and make the necessary changes like standing against god-fatherism, mediocrity, tribalism, nepotism and other vices. Once we allow them become a cabal, we would have ourselves to blame.

Nigeria was standing between the devil and the deep blue sea and suddenly, a ship appears out of the deep blue sea. This may be our last chance to recover our nation by ourselves through democratic means. It is not going to be easy-sailing but we are the ones that must make the difference. When the known leaders begin to show self interests, we the unknown Nigerians in APC would be the ones to keep them in check and insist on what we want for our nation or push then aside. Nigerians must arise and hijack this party for their benefit. With PDP, we are outsiders. We don't want to be outsiders with APC too.

Suddenly, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Follow @Laurestar on Twitter

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of SaharaReporters

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23 comment(s)

APC COALITION OF FAILED POLITICIANS

Submitted by Augustine Chukwuma Obodo (not verified) on February 10, 2013 - 09:35.

@laurester, the APC are coalition of failed politicians who can't be trusted the people who are the principal players in APC has nothing to offer Nigerian. Come 2015 PDP will still carry the day election in Nigeria is beyond Facebook activisms, this unholy marriage will fail when the stage is set- They are all road show politicians- If President Jonathan decides to seek re-election in 2015, he will defeat the so called APC in presidential election-PDP will still rule Nigeria in another 25 year.

re

Submitted by Ano (not verified) on February 10, 2013 - 07:14.

The last time I checked, the writer didn't ask you to join apc by force, but adviced the youth should join to checkmate the doings of these "old fagots". So, why ur stress???. If we still fail to take the bull by the horn, then, we shd be ready to bear the consequences. We all claimed or bn claiming we want change in governance and our daily life, but we don't want to contribute our quota to the betterment of this nation. Na waaa ooooo. Its high time we set aside hatred, regional, ethnicity nd religious sentiments and put d love and passion for this great nation above all. We've at our disposal now, a new platform to get rid of PDP, but some of us are still sceptical abt it.
The writerhave said it all. And kudos to him. Its now or next generation.

writer on point

Submitted by anyo (not verified) on February 10, 2013 - 07:07.

writer on point

Submitted by Anonymouss (not verified) on February 10, 2013 - 07:03.

na by force???

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on February 10, 2013 - 07:01.

Competition is a good thing

Submitted by Tola Ayanwusi (not verified) on February 10, 2013 - 03:08.

Yes: competition is a good thing, though it is not a panacea for the many problems entrenched at the heart of the Nigerian society.

Leadership change is very important. But even more important is that the people adopt attitudes other than those that led Nigeria on "this" path in the first place.

I wrote about this here, also: http://wp.me/p37xKO-1p.

from NADECO to obj while late Gani was dealing wit tinuBU

Submitted by DERI (not verified) on February 10, 2013 - 03:02.

APC is an out-dated drug. No human uses it again in Africa-the era of deceving Nigerians into seeing APC as the only cure for Malaria, headache, fever, cancer, HIV/Aids is over! I dont see how APC which was created by left overs from PDP can solve our many problems which was there b4 Tinubu inuslted mama Awo! The Real leader of the West is Mimiko-not certifcate forgers like the others in APC-Can Buhari who backed Sanusis call for workers to be sacked be the answer to our self made problems after the theft of over 55 trillion from d SS, by the regional rogues in Nigeria? There is nothing to be proud of in Lagos state where commissioners are being gagged by Fashola and tinubu. Would the same not happen at the centre? Are members of ACN free to air their views in public-Never except with the approval of bakare and tinubu. SHAMELESS HARLOTS WHO DECEIVED AND BETRAYED ABIOLA TO BUHARI ARE HERE AGAIN WITH THEIR SMELLY WARES

Thanks, Lauretta, But No Thanks

Submitted by the skull-stalker (not verified) on February 10, 2013 - 02:11.

What a good pun play - APC as an an analgesic pain -reliever, and,as a political party that has made so claims to being an alternative to whatever the unsurpassable degree of rot we all now agree the PDP has represented, still represents, and will continue to represent, so long as we allow them to keep making our nation into the monstrously unlivable space it has become.Thanks for the pun play.But no thanks.The Nigerian crisis has worsened beyond the palliative solution.The only single vote I own will go to APC the moment they announce a plan to restructure Nigeria via a National Conference ,with a plan for the accelerated devt of the nation.I believe it's a BUHARI/TINUBU ticket that can mobilize the populace for the reinvention of Nigeria.Like them or not, they have the charisma to mobilize the grassroots like no other pair of politicians at this very precarious moment of Nigeria's existence.

We gotta chase d bastards far- Marley

Submitted by Egberipapa (not verified) on February 10, 2013 - 01:15.

Shameless okupe was flounting d phd of dumbo. A degree secured tru unjust govt policy of favouring educationaly less disadvantage states dat rewards mediocrity, pushin half bake into relevance. We are not told if dumbo's articles ever made to major journals. A phd dat shy from debates. So wen co-erudite 9ja deltans like Tam david west, Nimi Briggs, itsay saggay, pat utomi, emma edozien, alele williams were to raise hands (dombo too will want 2). Wuzai ! As 4 ibb his bed is waitin 4 him in evil paradise. I have repented to campaign 4 the pples general come 2015. Sai ! Daura katstina. I wud rather be a slave 2 a peaceful, courageos & devout leader dan a victim in a lawless, currupt, deceptive & occultic bunch of blood suckers !

APC, A Pill Nigerians Must Swallow? Same Coin Diff Faces

Submitted by OmonBendel (not verified) on February 9, 2013 - 20:47.

No, Nigerians don't have to swallow the pill because it is made up of same ingredients (fradulent characters)...

ASPRO!!!!!!!!!!!!

Submitted by Mengistu Mariam (not verified) on February 9, 2013 - 17:04.

You are all too young and naive.The cure-it-all medicine happened to be ASPRO. Ever heard of it? I suppose you were all born a few short years ago. Got a long way to go to catch up with the rest of us seasoned citizens. Keep trying though.Hope you make it to a ripe old age.

APC with presidential candidate from SOUTH, Else, APC to Hell 20

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on February 9, 2013 - 16:34.

APC with presidential candidate from SOUTH, Else, APC to Hell 2015.

If APC IS FOR GIVING APEX POWER BACK TO BURN TO RULE, IT'S FAIL

Submitted by 77895 (not verified) on February 9, 2013 - 16:30.

If during the next elections the brain behind movers of APC, (Alhaji Bola Tinubu, et al) is to consign apex political leadership of Nigeria back to north's 'Born To Rule' class, count me and millions of my people out of it; that APC must therefore surely fail. Nigeria's democracy needs nourishment and entrenchment by leaders who value democracy, not leaders from a group that has consistently truncated democracy in Nigeria.
If by any miscalculation Nigerians consign power to Born To Rule with its known disdain for democracy so soon, Burma's (Myanmar's)long years of military dictatorship shall be a child's play compared to the type of civilian or military dictatorship Nigerians shall be subjected to by Born To Rule. Because Born To Rule must for more decades ensure that Born To Rule succeeds Born To Rule - civilian or military. This time, no NADECO or G34 can deliver the rest of Nigeria from Born To Rule's dictatorial grip. To be forewarned is to be forearmed.

Mr Onochie,If do not know

Submitted by oba (not verified) on February 9, 2013 - 15:41.

Mr Onochie,If do not know what to write please save us our time and do not write rubish again.

APC--Armoured Pesonnel Carrier!

Submitted by Udam Ochiaghandigbo (not verified) on February 9, 2013 - 15:38.

APC is a Hausa/fool-ani conglomerate, an amalgam of moslems, islamists, and Boko Haram apologists who want to turn Nigeria into islamic state. Check out the leaders-Buhari, El-Rufai (the religious bigot), Aliyu Babangida, Momodu Shariff, Bola Tinube, Fashiola, Yerima, Mohamed, Aregbesola, etc, all moslems. The SS and SE can NEVER be turned into islam although half of Yoruba (to my surprise) is islam.

APC is an out-dated drug. No

Submitted by DERI (not verified) on February 9, 2013 - 12:38.

APC

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on February 9, 2013 - 10:39.

APC is a good idea for Nigerians future, but they parties involved have to do enough homework to command the full loyalty of APGA members. Also, they have to work on convincing Labour party to join them. Oshomole is ruling with his body under ACN but his soul is not in the party. He intentionally was absent at the meeting of the Ten governors that agreed to the APC, the reason for his absence is not unconnected with his ambition to contest presidential election under Labour Party. Labour Party members are sitting on the fence, and could align with PDP. I advise Nigerians to embrace the APC idea.

We sure will join in

Submitted by Jada (not verified) on February 9, 2013 - 10:15.

We sure will join in millions,no more. Govs loading on us.We the youths wil tak the challenge seriously.

I do agree with the writer.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on February 9, 2013 - 09:38.

True talk. The APC leaders may not be strange bedfellows with strange characters,yet they have provided an alternative platform to break the monopoly of the ruling party PDP. This forum will be providing another good nationally assembled platform for a strong opposition politics in Nigeria. Democracy is made strong by the presence of strong opposition party. It will provide alternative solution to many frustrated PDP members. Monopoly bleeds mediocrisy and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Now that there is strong opposition party, PDP will sit up. Former President and former BOT Obasanjo/PDP/Bamanga Tukur, on knowing that APC is already at the door step suddenly changed to embrace peace within their party. The president with his exco, Governos, all members of NASS will from now change their way of doing business. Infact with a very strong opposition party coming on board, Nigeria will never be thesame again.

Africa Orngu writes from Berlin Germany

APC is Religion Immune

Submitted by J Salvage (not verified) on February 9, 2013 - 09:26.

Those that view the new APC party on the angle of Islamic religion could be very wrong. The die hard northern Islamic people in the party came for redemption for their past political isolation and wrongs.

Many of the SW key people that propelled the merger are themselves Muslims. The SW has not any history of religious politics and violence nor would they now among northern Muslims lend themselves for such. Therefore, religion of whatever denomination will have no place in the party. This is notwithstanding the constitutional provision of our secular state. This firmly binds and restricts the northern Muslims members on any tendency to dilute the party with religion.

To save Nigeria, we anticipate the first President of the country of APC effect from 2015 to 2023 form the Greater South East (South South and South East Zones) With the emergence of APC, the PDP will never smell the Presidency of Nigeria again.

APC, A Pill Nigerians Must Swallow By Lauretta Onochie

APC COALITION OF FAILED POLITICIANS

re

writer on point

writer on point

na by force???

Competition is a good thing

from NADECO to obj while late Gani was dealing wit tinuBU

Thanks, Lauretta, But No Thanks

We gotta chase d bastards far- Marley

APC, A Pill Nigerians Must Swallow? Same Coin Diff Faces

ASPRO!!!!!!!!!!!!

APC with presidential candidate from SOUTH, Else, APC to Hell 20

If APC IS FOR GIVING APEX POWER BACK TO BURN TO RULE, IT'S FAIL

Mr Onochie,If do not know

APC--Armoured Pesonnel Carrier!

APC is an out-dated drug. No

APC

We sure will join in

I do agree with the writer.

APC is Religion Immune

APC NOT A SOLUTION

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