DEATH OF THE OPPOSITION?
by Arinze Alinnor A.
I do believe that Unity is not Uniformity. We are very much aware that
some cities in the United States of America are bigger in land mass
and population than some countries in the world. We know about United
Arab Emirate, United Kingdom and so on. Their unity does not mean
uniformity. Most of them have different leaders at different levels
who are not under one platform or political party. All the governors,
members of Congress or Parliament all belong to different political
parties, yet they work together and are united for the sake of their
nation. Unity therefore does not necessarily have to mean uniformity.
In Nigeria, we have different ethnic groups or tribes and languages;
we all form the entity called Nigeria. We now have about fifty
political parties. But there is an error spreading in the land. Many
are trying to sell the opinion or idea that unity means uniformity.
But I do beg to differ. They are trying their best to make sure that
unity in Nigeria means having only one political party. Everybody by
hook or crook must be made to be under the 'big umbrella'. Many half
baked democrats have been hooked and are trying to get others hooked
to be part of the campaign to have everybody come under the 'Big
Umbrella'.
We do not need to use the United States of America as reference point
again. Our neighbour Ghana may need to teach us some political tricks
or lessons. In Ghana, President John Kufour did not ask every right
thinking Ghanaian to join New Patriotic Party. National Democratic
Congress proved a formidable opposition in Ghana. In Zimbabwe,
President Robert Mugabe would have become the only living 'god' of the
land if not for M.D.C (Movement for Democratic Change) and Morgan
Tsvangirai. Kenya that used to be very peaceful and a tourist
attraction was in the news not too long ago because the opposition
refused to be rigged out or intimidated by the ruling party.
The voice of the opposition only dies down completely in a situation
where there are no genuine democrats or just a handful of them. Many
who claim to be democrats over here are only political jobbers and
political prostitutes. Some have never stayed in a particular party
for more than a year. They just jump from one political party to the
other and you cannot see clearly what and what they actually stand
for. Senator Hilary Clinton did not dump the democrats when she did
not pick the presidential ticket of their party. But over here selfish
personal and party interests have made many sell their integrity,
their stand and ideals; there is a scarcity of men and women who mind
about their reputation during and after tenure in the polity.
The feud between the Presidential candidate of A.N.P.P (All Nigeria
Peoples Party) and the National Chairman of their party is a pointer
to the fact that many lack reputation in the political terrain. The
Chairman is very much interested in what he stands to gain than even
what the party would gain should they remain as a formidable
opposition. Nigeria is experiencing all manner of crisis and
corruption because many put selfish personal or party interest far
above National interest. Our political parties are more like social
clubs or beer parlour groups devoid of values and virtues. Opposition
is not in the number of political parties.
Nigeria is gradually becoming a one party state. Greedy politicians
are helping to make sure that there is no opposition or a weak one.
You need to see the faces of the stalwarts of the ruling party
whenever they lost at the Elections Petitions Tribunal. To them
everybody supposed to be under the 'big umbrella by hook or crook. We
need to understand that even goods and services are better when there
is stiff competition or rivalry. Nigeria may become a nation of
Zombies if the voice of opposition kicks the bucket. Without
opposition the ruling party might turn all policies and it becomes
dictorial democracy - the equivalent of military dictatorship. Let the
ruling party stop their bid to turn Nigeria to a one party state. The
opposition can only make them shape up and perform better. Mediocrity
is celebrated in monopoly. We do not need a mediocre democracy. Let
the opposition become formidable like in other places. Our banks are
performing better since some of them merged, the opposition can be
formidable if they merge together. Let our democracy be democracy
indeed. The voice of opposition should be strengthened and not snuffed
out. The ruling party should not force all to be under the umbrella
and democrats should not be cheap articles!
ARINZE ALINNOR A.
P. O. BOX 17985, IKEJA - LAGOS.
08033001782, 01-8964893
arinze198@gmail.com
www.arinze198.wordpress.com
