₦airaland Forum

[size=14pt]Which is which?[/size] .
Sunday, 30 January 2011 01:30

“We will not agree with this Baba so pe (the-leader-said) arrangement. We are in another level in politics and we should make everything democratic, else we shall work for the opposition party in the forthcoming elections” That was the statement credited to some ACN members who protested the imposition of some candidates at what were supposed to be a democratic primary elections of the Action Congress of Nigeria.

This nature of grievances was recorded at Ekiti rerun, Lagos congress and Ogun congress. It is on record that three aggrieved members of the PDP in Ogun State were given automatic tickets to contest for the state legislature on the ACN platform. Whatever happens to those who have consistently gone through thick and thin and built the party over the years? That they are now inconsequential? What then is the reward for being loyal on one hand and being disloyal on the other hand? PDP is evil; as usually postulated by the ACN; but then the same evil people are being allowed to come into the fold of ACN. May be they are not evil in character but in ideology.

But even at that, can the leopard change its skin overnight? Now that the Turaki of Adamawa has lost the PDP ticket to President Goodluck Jonathan, he may have to consider returning to ACN which he co-founded with Alhaji Bola Tinubu; after all the leadership of ACN had said that any candidate who lost in the PDP is free to come to their party. But then what would happen to the former Czar of EFCC, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu for having consistently articulated the ideology of ACN? Time, they say, would tell. It is also on record that a stalwart of ACN came all the way from Abuja to Lagos to anoint Governor Babatunde Fashola - saying:

“By the powers conferred on me…” And if I may ask, who conferred such powers on him to offer an automatic ticket to Governor Fashola to be the party’s flagbearer in the next gubernatorial election? In what capacity did he act? I’m aware that Chief Bisi Akande is still the Party’s Chairman. Whatever happens to the much talked about internal democracy?

Are we saying that there are no other gubernatorial contestants in ACN who could give Fashola a run for his money; his lofty achievements in Lagos State in the last four years notwithstanding? I think the pot should stop calling the kettle black. If the ACN are criticising the PDP and probably some other parties for not conducting their affairs democratically, which may have led the entire country to this shameful stage, the ACN shouldn’t also been seen perpetrating such undemocratic acts.

Given what Fashola has done so far in Lagos State as governor, I’m sure he’s capable and able to win another ticket to bear his party’s flag come April this year. Lobbying, scheming and intrigues are all part of politics in political permutations, but that methinks should be done in the background and not overtly. It may not be bad idea to have a godson to succeed one in office and carry on with the “good” job, but it is bad enough for a supposed leader to be seen being partisan when primary elections have not been conducted and concluded. It is not enough for us to always compare ourselves with the United States of America, but for us to walk the talk. The anointing of godsons and daughters that has pervaded our spheres and polity should by now be eschewed if we must take Nigeria to her next level.

As towering and commanding as the Awolowos, Akintolas, Balewas and Ziks were, they never imposed their children, wives and daughters on Nigerians. Rather, they allowed every party member to evolve; they allowed party’s internal democracy to thrive.

But today, a supposed great elder statesman could threaten that he would quit a party on which platform he had enjoyed absolute power for eight years; just because his daughter was denied an automatic ticket to contest in a general election.

What have they turned this country to anyway? Does Nigeria belong to them alone? Why must Nigeria do their bidding at all times? I recall that a very large section of the Yoruba nation vehemently refused to queue behind Dr. Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu, daughter of the late sage Awo; just because they felt that another person from another family should also be given the opportunity to lead them. In the days of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, he had all the powers to impose his son, Oluwole, on the Yoruba people, but never did; even when the son had wanted to contest.

Oluwole Awolowo eventually contested the UPN Primaries (for the House of Assembly ticket I think) but lost. Chinese writer, Sima Guang, said “Even though a ruler may be wise as a sage, he must humble himself and yield to others. Then the intelligent will offer him their counsel and the brave will exert themselves to the fullest for him.” Papa Awo is talked about today as one of the greatest Nigerians to ever live; because he humbled himself and allowed internal democracy to come to play. To me, that’s the spirit of great leadership; not the ones we have today, where some Yoruba moneybags would want to buy leadership by hook or crook.

Leadership is not bought but earned. Wonders, they say shall never end; especially in Nigeria, where anything can happen with the highest measure of impunity. I read in a couple of national dailies about the ACN Electoral Form which has the clause: “Notice of Withdrawal of my Candidature.”

Ever since I saw the prototype of the said obnoxious form in the papers, I’ve not ceased to wonder the rationale behind such forms being issued alongside the usual nomination forms for the House of Representatives, Senatorial and governorship aspirants. The content of the controversial form reads thus: “I hereby voluntarily withdraw as a candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria for the post of, in the April 2011 election for personal reason. I express my gratitude to the party and my supporters. I assure the party of my continuous loyalty. Thank you. Signed…

Apparently, this clause is unusual, undemocratic, unlawful and immoral. Some of the aggrieved party members accused the party leadership of imposing loyalists, blood relations, their wives, concubines, sons and daughters-in-law on them. Really, nothing is wrong in one’s child or wife contesting in any election for that matter, but such a relation should be allowed to politically evolve. After all, George Bush Jnr became U.S. President after the eight years tenure of Bill Clinton and not immediately his father George Bush Snr left office as the President.

Former President Bill Clinton probably had what it takes to lobby his wife’s through; but he never allowed emotions and sentiments to becloud his sense of reasoning. Bill Clinton reasoned that the African-American guy had better chances, programmes and methodologies than his dear wife. After all it was the same former U.S. President Harry Truman who said that “A leader is a man who has the ability to get other people to do what they don’t want to do, and like it.” Mrs. Hillary Clinton eventually lost the ticket to the current U.S. President Barack Obama. I hope our leaders would learn some lessons from this exposé and mend their ways so that Nigeria could actually grow beyond this level of myopia, bias and prejudice. I salute the courage of all those political aspirants that gallantly lost in the just concluded primaries of various parties and are ready to move on to support the winners. The bottom line is to have a better Nigeria of our dreams.

2011 General Elections, here we come!

•Article reproduced due to public demand.

Yemi Adenuga

Text only to: 08023042512.

yemiadenuga@yahoo.com

http://www.compassnewspaper.com/NG/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=74215:which-is-which&catid=67:opinion&Itemid=678

Action Consensus of Nigeria according to Mike Ezekhome is a political party of witches and wizard where they just sit in their coven and say,you and you will contest,while you and you would not.