Letter To Nigerian opposition parties

By RAHEEM
OLUWAFUNMINIYI
In the last couple of years
and most especially since the
beginning of our nascent
democracy in 1999, what has
been pelted against the vast
majority of Nigerians has
been a degeneration of basic
democratic values and
unfulfilled promises from the
ruling elites. Nigerians have
watched helplessly, how few
powerful individuals suddenly
altered their quest for social
justice, equality and welfare
for all, by personalizing
power and using it to further
suppress the collective will of
the vast majority of the
people.
When we speak of
democracy in Nigeria, it
ought to be spoken in terms
of what the government
ought to have done for the
people in a mutually binding
social contract, yet all we see
on a daily basis are massive
corruption unprecedented in
our history, the rise of
militant and Islamic groups
both in the North and South-
South, a rising and morally
decadent society, swift
violence and police brutality,
broad day light robbery,
massive unemployment,
dying education, a
compromised judiciary, a
bastardized economy and a
weak leadership whose mien
has failed to reciprocate the
kind gestures of the peoples’
vote.
When one looks at the
country today, it stinks with
nothing but desperation,
hopelessness and disaster.
The country reminds one of
the feudal era in Europe
where the King, Lords,
Vassals and Knights held
sway while the Serfs, who
were the hewers of wood and
drawers of water watched
helplessly. The ruling elites
paints a perfect picture of
this grim illustration while the
serfs in the feudal era
certainly are the vast majority
of people living below the
poverty line in the country
today.
This writer cannot but say
categorically that the ruling
party at the centre have not
only failed the Nigerian
masses in material things,
but have held no hope for
them in time of despair. It is
for this reason that the
opposition in whatever guise
and with whatever ideology
they hold dear must begin to
pledge a new deal for the
Nigerian people. The Nigerian
opposition since 1999 has
refused to muster enough
courage to fight and bring to
a halt, the myopia and babel
of confusion that is of the
ruling party or how else
could one describe their
continous defeat for the
fourth time running, despite
the ruling party having
nothing to show for their
long years of democratic
rule?
It sparks off nothing but
sheer negligence on the path
of the Nigerian opposition
not to come together as a
collective, in order to sweep
away those who have nothing
to show for democratic
governance and
consolidation. The country
today is even more divided
than the pre-civil war years
and if reports of a possible
break up by 2015 coming
from the U.S and elsewhere
is anything to go by, then the
opposition must begin a
process of co-operation,
linkages and grassroot
orientation and mass
mobilization to sensitize the
Nigerian people of the need
to join forces with them to
seize power from
kleptocratic, less ideological,
myopic and clueless
individuals at the centre.
The Nigerian opposition must
seize to make unnecessary
statements or heap counter-
accusations against the ruling
party but act swiftly on
behalf of the people. They
must do away with the
benign spirit and disposition
that has made them a mule
and greenhorn amongst
political horses and
gladiators. Whatever
differences that exist among
them must be pushed aside
for the fulfillment of their
desire to take power from
political shenanigans whose
rule has continued to place
the country in the deep
chasm of wanton poverty and
underdevelopment.
From all indications, it is
crystal clear that the vast
majority of people are fed up
with the ‘goodluck train’ and
want quick change. Nigerians
are unhappy with the
myriads of policies enacted
by past and present
administration, simply
because they have not only
rendered the people poor,
but stagnant. It is for this
reason that the opposition
must brace up and begin a
transformational agenda
where the people would see
its seriousness and capability
in presenting a capable,
sellable and viable ‘consensus
candidate’ that will not only
appeal to the yearnings and
aspirations of the people, but
defeat whichever candidate
the ruling party endorses.
If we must deliver the
country from the current
mess it is in today, it is
imperative for the opposition
to sell itself well enough to
the electorate, knowing fully
well that Nigerians are
becoming wiser by the day.
Not even the rigging
machines and electoral
manipulations that
characterize elections in the
country would change the
fact that the people are
willing to vote in a candidate
who would not force subsidy
removal on us all but one
who understands our pains
and wore good shoes to
school. The opposition would
have itself to blame if it does
not use its hold on the
‘power of the state’ coupled
with the disaffection of the
people on the powers that
be, to make a name for itself.
The opposition must learn
from history, else they
should be condemned it.
Change can never be
sacrificed on the alter of
stagnation. Now is the time
to make things work for the
opposition so as to alter the
power equation in the
country, most especially from
those whose hand it has
always been. The opposition
can make it happen and it
begins with strong
determination and a
penchant to win with a
difference.
RAHEEM OLUWAFUNMINIYI,
a social commentator

#CONSENSUS 2015