One of the features of federalism in the true sense of the word is the lack of a preponderance of power or privilege of any of the federating units over others. For this to be, it is presupposed that the country is well structured. The issue of the current structure of Nigeria is one that makes the word ‘federal’ or ‘federalism’ become abominable to the ears, when used to describe the country, and rightly so. This has led to a recent clamor for restructuring of the country – a clamour for a ‘promise’ used to hoodwink the citizenry in the 2015 general elections by the current administration.
While several reasons could be adduced to why politicians in Nigerians renege on their promises, on assumption of power; the reason for the refusal to restructure the country isn’t far-fetched. Government is more powerful than the citizens in Nigeria. In addition, it portrays itself as omniscient, and as a benefactor to citizens who have been reduced to political beneficiaries of this benefactor called government. This is why it concentrates power and the wealth of the land in its firm grip, and may never yield to the call for restructuring. The current structure of the country has given rise to a cabal of personality cultists comprising the president, legislature, and state governors, who will always ensure that the decision of who controls the resources of the land is always within their control. This has reduced the offices of the executive and legislative arms at both the national and state levels to trophies that must be won and retained at all cost.
Little surprise those who ruled Nigeria or have been in the corridors of power since their thirties, are still there as septuagenarians. These members of the corrupt establishment of Nigeria have taken turns to share the country like a birthday cake among themselves. The buildup to the 2019 elections has witnessed a huge number of people vying for various political offices. Also notable, is the emergence of young visionary Nigerians with proven records of excellence in their fields of endeavour, contesting for the highest office in the land. There are also two members of the gerontocratic class, contesting for the same office. These geriatric politicians are contesting under the platform of the two major political parties, whose difference is smaller than that between abortion and euthanasia.
In the not too distant past, it has been erroneously believed that there are no alternatives to the personality cultists who have held sway in the country for so long. The emergence of Durotoye, Ezekwesili, Sowore, Moghalu and others, show the avalanche of credible alternatives at our disposal. But it is worrisome and depressing that many Nigerians still stick to either of the two members of the old guard. Several reasons have been offered to rationalize why none of the new entrants should vie for the highest office in the land. The reasons range from inexperience to lack of structure in their various political parties.
It is erroneous to absolutize experience over intellectual and technical competence. Moreover, if there is any experience members of the gerontocratic class possess, it is in the looting of the country’s collective patrimony and impoverishment of the citizenry. There has been a dearth of technical and intellectual capital in many of Nigeria’s past leaders, and this has been our bane to development. 21st century development is knowledge-driven, and this is an area of comparative advantage for non-establishment candidates such as Oby, Fela, Kingsley and Omoyele.
On the issue of structure of their political parties, structure is formed by individuals. It behoves the masses who are discontented and fed up with the kleptomania and megalomania of the corrupt establishment politicians, to volunteer to form the support base of these candidates, and ensure that they give the corrupt candidates of the old guard a run for their money at the polls. It is equally important to state that elections are won by the number of votes garnered. With the youth demographic constituting 65% of the populace, it shouldn’t be difficult to retire and send to political oblivion, recycled, corrupt, geriatric politicians come 2019. But the economic depredations of the country have led to the primacy of stomach infrastructure over competence- intellectual, moral and technical. As long as the masses fail to realize that the price of food commodities, and the general cost and standard of living is contingent on the political choices made at the polls, the litany of woes and suffering would continue to be an anthem on our lips.
The new entrants into the race for the presidency don’t have a prebendal orientation. They are individuals whose endeavours outside of politics are well known and are noble. As a result, it is highly unlikely that they are in the race in order to maximize profit or pleasure. This is in sharp contrast to members of the corrupt establishment, most of whom are nothing and nobody outside of politics. This explains why political patronage is a do-or-die affair for them.
Politics is an intelligent act that requires the careful regulation of our common-life to achieve the common good. As the elections draw closer, let us ask ourselves this question: which of the following should take preeminence over the others at the polls- power, profit, knowledge or pleasure?
