Merger Of The Opposition Parties By Caesar Onuoha

A democratic system of government
since the 90’s, made prominent by
the United States of America, has
slowly but steadily pervaded the
system of governance in many
nations of the world. Suffice to say,
some nations adopted a mixture of
democracy and another system of
government while some imbibed
democratic system in its entirety.
As a nation created in 1914 and
liberated from colonialism in 1960,
Nigeria has at several periods in the
past attempted with little or no
success to usher in full democracy as
her system of government. However,
the peaceful handover of government
from the military regime to a
democratic government in 1999
seems to have broken the jinx. The
13 years of democracy in this nation
has slowly brought conviction to the
hearts of her populace that it has
come to stay. For those who
witnessed the unconstitutional
military regime shrouded in brutality,
intimidation and unleashing of
mayhem to supposed oppositions in
broad day light will attest to the
return democracy as the way forward
to salvaging Nigeria from her many
woes.
It is no fallacy stating that since
1999 Nigeria, not until the 2011
general election that witnessed a
tsunami of unprecedented electoral
victories by some opposition parties,
has been under the control of one
political party (The Peoples
Democratic Party, PDP) both in the
federal and State levels. In addition to
other factors that may have retained
PDP in power is the persistent
prevalence of no formidable, powerful,
and cohesive opposition party to
match their political and financial
clouts. Despite the many flaws of
PDP, their cohesiveness cannot be
easily shrugged off.
Suffice to say, it is only normal for a
person or group of persons standing
with little or no opposition to regard
him/them invincible and a god.
Understanding democracy as a game
of numbers, the cohesive and astute
PDP, therefore, has utilized to its
advantage the scattered and ever
confused fragmented supposed
opposition parties to consistently
control this game for the 13 years
snce democracy returned to the
shores of this country. Be as it may,
the nation indirectly practiced a one
party system and the argument
buttressed by the repeated decamping
to PDP of several political office
holders who contested and won their
offices under the umbrella of a given
opposition party.
Just as a helpless doe watches its
fawn possessed by a Lion, so these
opposition parties look in dismay as
it loses its members to the powerful
and ruling party, PDP and out of
cluelessness of how to redeem itself
condescends to an appendage of the
ruling party. The supposed
oppositions’ helpless relinquish of
their political rights over the period of
13years has stifled the enshrinement
of true democracy in Nigeria, hence,
birthing pseudo-democracy which
has and will continue to be a bane to
the complete revamping of this nation
if not put to a halt. Conversely, it will
only be unbiased to absorb the
People’s Democratic Party of this
dangerous trend because the party
has never coerced an opposition to
relinquish their rights. Politics is a
game made for shrewd personalities
and groups; hence, PDP has over the
years beat the opposition parties at
this game.
Considering the futile merger attempts
of opposition parties in this country
in the past, many people took with a
pinch of salt the well publicized
merger negotiations between some
opposition parties in the last few
months. Alas! On the 6th of January
2013, the much anticipated merger
came to fruition with the fusing of
Congress for Progressive Change
(CPC), Action Congress of Nigeria
(ACN), All Nigeria Peoples Party
(ANPP) and All Progressive Grand
Alliance (APGA) into a new umbrella
of opposition party, All Progressive
Congress (APC). For those who
understand the essence and meaning
of democracy, the birth of APC –
irrespective of the ulterior motives of
the persons involved- is a step to the
right direction for the solidification
and enrichment of democracy in
Nigeria; hence, expunging the
pseudo-democracy that has been in
existence for 13years.
As a young and only supposed
formidable opposition political party
at present, however, personal
interests, ego and self-
aggrandizement should be subdued
for the common good of that which
they claim to represent. Nigerians are
still sceptical of this new party, even
though it has been long expected by
many. It will be a pending political
suicide if the members of this party
project it solely as a means to
wrestling power from the centre;
hence, they should with no
procrastination swing into action to
bringing to our knowledge how APC
emergence will foster a new, dynamic,
economically revamped, and a true
democratic Nigeria.
It is pertinent to bring to the party
members’ cognizance that Nigerians
are mentally, socially, and physically
exhausted from hearing empty
rhetoric promises thus was made
lucid in 2011 general election in
which votes were casted not for “a
party” but for “an individual as
regards his/her pedigree irrespective
of party affiliation. It will be
egregious and too hasty to vilify or
acclaim in high esteem All
Progressive Congress (APC); the
world and indeed Nigerians look
forward in the weeks ahead to
hearing the strategies that this party
intend to explore to making the
contents of their manifesto a reality
to solving the myriads of challenges
staring this nation to the face–should
they get the people’s mandate.
To members of all political parties in
this country, the good and resilient
people of Nigeria have had enough of
your churlish demeanor in office. With
the power of our votes in 2011
general election, we buttressed the
fact we can no more condone the
ineptitude which most of you exude.
For those politicians still basking in
the euphoria of inane mannerism,
sleaziness, and profligacy, the
electoral hurricane that blew across
this nation in 2011 will be a child’s
play to what the good people of this
nation will unleash come 2015. A
word they say is enough for the wise
but the wise becomes foolish when
the word is treated with disdain.

Email: caesaronuoha@yahoo.com