The registration of the All Progressives
Congress (APC) which was a merger of the main political parties in the
country, has generated a great deal of excitement and rekindled the
prospect of strengthening democracy and hope in our country, in place of
national despair. By this act alone, the leaderships of the merging
opposition parties have demonstrated that Nigeria, its future, progress
and prosperity of its citizens are greater than individual ambitions.
The APC is therefore a platform for Nigerians to have an alternative to
fulfill their aspirations and realise their potential with a party that
is strong and nationally based. What is more? It will help to arrest the
drift towards oppression and anarchy.
Democracy is not just about free and
fair elections, the consequence of which parties alternate to form
governments. It also provides opportunities for fresh policies to move
the country forward. That is why presidential systems have term limits,
such as we have but the failed third term attempt is a clear indication
that given the opportunity, some politicians will try and subvert the
system. In parliamentary systems where there are no term limits, members
of the governing parties remove the head of government, however
successful she or he is in government and popular with the voters. That
was the fate of two British Prime Ministers, Margaret Thatcher and Tony
Blair, in recent times. Alternatively, provided there are free and fair
elections, the electorate will vote out unpopular governments such as
what happened with Mrs. Indira Ghandi in India.
The dangers of one party or an
individual remaining in power for too long are two-fold: first is
corruption of power. Power, it has been said, corrupts and absolute
power corrupts absolutely. The second element is the temptation to
absolutism, the rule of one party has the tendency to become the rule of
a faction of the party and ultimately the rule of one person, a
forbidding path to a Stalinist state.
Regrettably, after the euphoria of its registration, public
discussion has been more about personalities and less on the benefits
of the emergence of a strong alternative to the governing party and the
prospect it offers to widening democracy and stemming the
drift to impunity, where an elected president can say he doesn’t give a
damn about public opinion.
The issue is not just about Buhari, but something greater than Buhari or any individual or parts of its whole, it is about Nigeria-its future, progress and prosperity of its citizens, living in peace, harmony, its evolution and integration.
By joining the army, I had signed up to lay my life for my country. This was what my colleagues and I faced during our tragic civil war to keep our country united. Nigeria has been good to me. I was an orphan but it educated me and trained me and offered me the ultimate prize any citizen can hope for-its leadership.
My involvement in the political process
is another call to duty and my desire to give back to Nigeria a little
of what it gave me, by joining hands with others to provide viable
options to our fellow citizens and evolve social and economic policies
that are sustainable and all inclusive, by a caring leadership that is
dedicated to the efficient management of the economy, social justice and
individual liberty.
Such leadership is not restricted to
government alone, we all have roles to play -- the National Assembly,
the judiciary, the security services, the press and civil society groups
-- to ensure checks and balances, protection of all under the law, and
accountability.
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