The political landscape of my country at this time can aptly be described with nothing less than the phrase; tremendously interesting and overwhelmingly exciting. This is not an attempt at hyperbole or sensational journalism, which like a plague has swept across the literary community of this same country, but before I digress, that is perhaps a story for another release.
I intend only to discuss the plots and counter plots that have marked the current era regarding political parties and affiliations, which has made politics such an interesting area, at least to me and I assume to any politically-conscious Nigerian. Nay, to any Nigerian that values the future of this geographic entity and diverse people we call Nigeria.
A quick disclaimer before I deliver the crux of my current discussion for which you are willing participants (I assume). I do not claim to have an in-depth knowledge of the various intricacies of the Nigerian political scene. I have no exclusive information from any source entrenched in a political party or government parastatal nor do I even belong to a political party. My analysis is based on information publicly available to all Nigerians in the papers, blogs and the other numerous sources of information obtainable. Now that we’ve gotten this out of the way, my main interest in this particular publication is the phenomenon I’ve heard some term the New Super Party, the great Messianic opposition to the monopoly on political power held for so long by the PDP, APC.
Like most things political, the APC story started as a rumor, discussions on the merger of a couple of moderately powerful parties who wielded a limited level of influence on the political landscape in different parts of the country. A chance at a real mega party to challenge the established authority that has remained largely unimpeded in its domination of the country, at least at the Federal level.
Fast forward by a few months and a few details later, and the APC has emerged. Bloated and quickly fillings its ranks with all and sundry. Steadily becoming a behemoth or so we are made to believe, who knows what’s true or not these days. With this emergence comes the sign of a two party system at the Federal level of almost equal strength and influence, a divided Senate and House of Rep and perhaps, the slight hope, the glimmer of hope of a somewhat democratic government. A government where the Presidency, Legislature and Judiciary aren’t all controlled unanimously by the same political godfathers or whims of a party chairman like puppets with strings pulled by a common master. A government where bills in the Senate and House of Rep have a chance of being passed or rejected by consensus on what’s best for the country and not what suits a single political party’s agenda. Like I said earlier, Hope. But before we start with the celebratory fireworks and shots of sweet tequila, perhaps we should examine this “Hope” and be a little more pedantic, you know, just to be unnecessarily thorough. Here again, the temptation to digress and discuss the Hope campaign of Obamerica and how its played out is strong, but I shall also shelf this discussion for another day, another time.
So before we hope, what exactly is our hope riding on? Lest it’s some form of mirage we celebrate with our collective shortsightedness as a people.
Who are the main political juggernauts behind this APC? Were these same until recently politicians active members of another party, active members of what is now their main opposition, the PDP, perhaps? Have these politicians ruled or governed at any level in this country? What were their tenors marked with? Good governance, exemplary leadership, rule of law, you know, all the good things our politicians are known for? Perhaps I should leave you to determine this from memory or research or better still, both.
Maybe we should scrutinize the body of the APC and not just the leaders. The pages of the newspapers and political blogs, TV and radio discussions and news are agog with news of tens and hundreds of PDP faithfuls cross-carpeting to APC. Sounds all well and good, this is a demonstration of the freedom of political association, which we have as our fundamental right in this country, but should we not take a moment to question the motive behind this mass exodus? Is APC the promised land where these governors, members of the House of Rep, Senators, Local Government chairmen, lobbyist and all other characters that make up the political ecosystem can execute the reforms to positively change the current dangerous and sometimes blatantly shameful course of this country? Has the PDP been stifling the creative and positive ideas of these leaders and holding them back from providing even the most basic amenities for their people? Or is APC the new thing in town, the new sensation, and the best bet at a ticket for reelection? You know how fickle and easily beguiled my Nigerian people are. Elections are coming up in 2015, and with any luck, the masses will be riled up with enough anti-PDP sentiments and rhetoric to blindly vote for any logo that isn’t an umbrella. As a political gamble, this is probably not a bad hand to play.
Perhaps, I’m just focusing on the people and not enough on the ideology of APC. Well I would focus on the ideology if I knew what it was. Is the ideology mainly “we are an alternative to the PDP” or is there something more? Hopefully,“Vote for us, we are not PDP!!!”isn’t the underlying message meant to propel this party into power.
I do certainly hope that I have in no way come off as pro-PDP. I most certainly do not want to be affiliated with the PDP, at least not at this time, just to be clear. I would love to discuss the PDP also in greater detail, but in keeping with my policy of not digressing, I will also shelf that lengthy discussion for another day. So many other days have been promised, I know.
So what exactly is the point to these musing of mine and questions I’ve asked you, I assume you would like to know by now. Look before you leap, the popular maxim that we were taught as kids’ jumps to mind. Before your throw your support behind the APC and jump on your soapbox to extoll the emergence of this political messiah, be sure you understand what this messiah represents and what/who drives it. I am glad there is an opposition but what sort of opposition is this and should I really be glad? Like a doubtful John that expects a less corrupt, more people-focused and forward-thinking political Messiah to save us, we should ask the APC, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?”
– O.O.O