“I can retain neither respect nor affection for a Government which has been moving from wrong to wrong in order to defend its immorality.”
- Mohandras. K.
Ghandhi (1869-1948)
Since the advent of
another phase of democratic rule in Nigeria in 1999, the year preceding the
general elections never falls short of its billings as being the most dramatic
in the nation’s political space. So far, the year 2018 has not disappointed
many. The striking and interesting difference between 2018 and other
penultimate election years is the relative high number of aspirants who had
officially declared their interests to unseat the incumbent President come
February, 2019.
Whilst some have mooted
that 2019 might just be the last chance to salvage Nigeria from the monstrous
claws of the carnivorous elite, a handful are resolute in their beliefs that
the APC (the ruling party) would beat all comers come February, 2019. Amongst
the latter, opinions are widely divided as to why and how the Buhari-led
government would remain in Aso Rock for another four (4) years.
Judging by the varying
commentaries in the mainstream and new media, there is a consensus that the
People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was definitely not an option to consider. The
reasons are not far-fetched. The hitherto ruling party is on a gradual descent
to the abyss. In the last twelve (12) months, erstwhile party stalwarts of the
PDP ignominiously defected in droves to the ruling APC. Arguably, the PDP might
not rise to her former glory (again) courtesy the APC.
The recently released list
of looters of the nation’s treasury by the APC which was replete with active
members and political aficionados of the PDP might just be the death knell
officially signalling the demise of the PDP. The released list is
one-out-of-many ruthless strategies the APC would deploy to decimate the
PDP rendering it impotent en route to 2019.
Undoubtedly, the crux of
Nigeria’s political juggernauts is evenly distributed between these two
political parties. Many have argued that the lack of asymmetric ideologies
makes both parties birds of a feather. The shameless ease of
cross-carpeting lends credence to this assertion. Simply put, the seeming
contrasting forces (party names and ideograms) coupled with the interrelation
and interconnectivity (ease of defection) morphs both parties into yin and
yang-the Chinese philosophy for tangible dualities.
READ ALSO: REV. KING ON DEATH ROW MAY BE SET FREE SOON
It is against this
apparent dualistic vicious cycle that the cry for a Third Force became the
rallying point for two broad categories of political activists viz (1) The
former President Obasanjo-led Social Democratic Party (SDP) and (2) A raft of
politicians who appeal to the larger young demographic.
This
brought-back-from-the-grave Social Democratic Party (SDP) is obviously not the
stallion the late Chief M.K.O Abiola rode on in his quest to becoming the
President of Nigeria in the ill-fated Presidential elections of 1993. The
make-up of the SDP obviously makes it a hard sell. There is a growing disdain
for recycled leaders. Some have labelled the SDP as The Third Farce-a Dead on
Arrival (DoA) project.
The second constituent of
the Third Force would be where real the action is. Leading the pack is Mr.
Omoyele Sowore (Sahara Reporters), Mr. Fela Durotoye (Popular Motivational
Speaker), Mr. Ahmed Buhari (an Entrepreneur), Dr. Kingsley Moghalu (Former
Deputy Governor, CBN), Dr. (Mrs) Remi Sonaiya (KOWA Party), Dr. Bukola Saraki
(Senate President), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar (Former Vice President) to mention
few. With exemption of the last two Presidential aspirants, attention should be
beamed on these new breeds of political neophytes ready to the wrest power from
the ruling APC.
With the benefit of
hindsight, electioneering in Nigeria is beyond the game of numbers. Money plays
a pivotal role in determining what direction the pendulum of victory swings.
Besides the significant roles money plays, most elections in Nigeria are marred
with a broad spectrum of irregularities ranging from underage voting to ballot
box snatching under the watchful eyes of electoral officials. The Third Force
political office seekers should definitely not be oblivious of these grim
realities.
To make meaningful impact
in the Presidential elections of 2019, it behoves all the political parties
underneath the Third Force umbrella to form an alliance. In addition, elections
are not won on Social Media. Arguably, the new media is fast becoming a
veritable platform to gain traction, the real critical mass are the plebeians
whose self-worth are measured in Vietnamese Dong during elections.
Finally, the political
parties constituting this Third Force should embark on a massive campaign for
the collection of the Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs). The only legitimate
voters are the PVC holders. This does not require rote understanding. The
political parties in the Third Force have less than nine (9) months to come up
with a formidable plan to become the real force to be reckoned with.
Any strategy outside
political alignments would only make the contending presidential aspirant a
minced meat in the gnashing jaws of the political Cerberus at the elections.
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Disclaimer: Comments from our readers do not represent the editorial policy of The Bulletin Press.