[Comment]The Death Of Opposition In Nigeria

Papino · Oct 16, 2009 , 02:09 PM

Your article made an interesting read: However, i am frustrated about what to use as take off point in response to a few misrepresentations that i see in your article.
Opposition is in truth, what makes democracy thick and should be as active as the ruling party if not more. However, we must recognise the peculiarities of the Nigerian situation. What type of people do we have in Nigerian politics? The real answer to this is that Nigerians are the ones involved in Nigerian politics and have turmed it into a business venture. This applies both to the ruling party and the opposition. Would it surprise you to discover that the ones that parade themselves as opposition are actually disgruntled elements from PDP who are presently displaced in a power-game they couldn't turn their way? Are you aware that the "power of Incumbency" in Nigeria which,you casually reffered to in your article means much more than one sentence you used in writing about it. That is the power that installed INEC and every other contributing agency towards the perpetration of power.How else do you explain the boast of a former PDP chairman that PDP would be in power for a century if not for this power? How else would you have vote counts more than the registered voters in a supposed election? Did you even talk about election? Well, the best we can use in qualifying what happens in Nigeria is selection and not election!
By now, you would understand why am having a problem with how to respond to your article. My brother(I guess am right), untill people who would relegate self to the background get involved in Nigerian politics, what you are seeing would continue to happen even to more horrible proportions. It applies to both the ruling party and whatever else is existing alongside. It is so bad that when the opposition complain of rigging in election, they do so not because they are pasionate about keeping democratic principles rather because they were out-rigged by the person they are complaining about.
The best we can hope for is that clean characters get the chance to be in leadership and the irony of it is that the ones you seem to have issues with could fit into that category better. What do you think now?

Kay Soyemi (Esq.) · Oct 16, 2009 , 03:03 PM

Papino,

You add more poignancy to an already pregnant article by Adepoju.

Like you both recognised, there is a dearth of opposition politicians and where there are; they usually are the disempowered and emasculated dregs of the PDP i.e. ten diseased fingers of the same leper. In essence the difference between those in power and the opposition is akin to that between six and half a dozen.

However, the thrust of the changes we seek do not lie with the politicians but those of us who remain inactive in the face of provocation and remain mute when our votes are blatantly stolen.

When we learn to voice and give vent to our anger at such machinations, WE, would empower those who can effect meaningful changes to come out for elective offices as WE would have sent out a clear message that the era of charlatans, jobbers and miscreants in Nigeiran politics is over, but until then, we offend HOPE by relying on it to sort out our own problems borne out of despair.

M. Akosa · Oct 16, 2009 , 05:10 PM

How can you have a credible opposition with 50 to 100 actively registered political parties ?

Then, you have disgruntled individuals like Ikedi Ohakim of Imo state, who was disgruntled and exited PDP, only to go perch with PPA, while sitting on the fence, winning a governorship election, then only to prostitute himself again and jump back into bed with PDP. Of course only in Nigeria.

Do not also forget a certain presidential candidate front runner, who cannot boast of one seat in parliament or a single state under his party control. How can he be taken seriously that come presidential election time, voters will all suddenly deviate from who ever (the party) they have always been voting for in local elections to go and vote for him as their President ? It is very unrealistic.

I do not at the present time give myself any headache on Nigerian politics or oppositions, or even who wins or loses in Nigerian elections, they are all monkeys to me. Until the time comes when Nigerians will wake up, grow up, and realise that their political system and the structures are serously dysfunctional, then unite all over and request for a change across the land.

Law Mefor · Oct 16, 2009 , 11:52 PM

fficeffice">
> >

One of the legacies of Obasanjo is hoisting a one party state on ffice:smarttags">

lace w:st="on">Nigerialace> and this does not brook opposition. Mark my word,
Nigeria will not see next 2 general elections with any party other than the PDP controlling any of the 37 states in

lace w:st="on">Nigerialace>.

> >

My fear with this ‘arrangee-democracy’ is that it leaves the nation’s military as the only useful option left for the masses to turn to for succor. I am not saying we have not heard the last of the military; I am saying…the masses will demand good governance from the corrupt elite pretty soon and one party misrule will not be able shove amnesty in their faces then.

> >

What then will be the fate of the nation when this predicable bleakness dawns?