PDP, APC, AP, LP and the rest of us

PDP, APC, AP, LP and the rest of us

"When change is not completed, we shall continue to analyze and criticize, when change is completed we shall continue to consolidate. We shall never rest" - John Stalin.

Since the AbdulSalam Abubarkr's handing over to civil rule in 1999, Nigeria political landscape have been under the surveillance and ownership of the neoliberalists and capitalists. Though with changing faces and nomenclatures, the characters that play our political game have been those whose interest is siphoning public treasure, amassing wealth that ought to be for the citizenry for the benefits of their family and kinsmen.

In practicality, the People's Democratic Party (PDP) had been the umbrella that houses these illustrated set of lootocrats; the party had been controlling the country at the centre and majority of the states since 1999. And going by the unfortunate circumstance of the unitary system, much power are centralized at the PRESIDENCY. Hence to hastily conclude that the Presidency determines the 95% of the country's fortune and misfortune is never an exaggeration.

The above is not to insinuate that other parties of the then like AD to ACN, ANPP, APGA are handled by pro-masses. Our experience under Bisi Akande in Osun State, and Lam Adesina of Oyo State in succinct term of mass retrenchment of workers was a simple indicator of their insensitivity to the plight of the common man. But due to the same reason of this centralised power orientation, much is expected from the PDP; the only party that has national colouration, the largest party in West Africa.

The struggle to install another party at the centre became more loud in 2011 after a repetitive show of shame by PDP for good 12 years. However, as the political permutations and combination went, 'vote for Jonathan, and not PDP' was a broad day robbery tactics that was used on many innocent but ignorant Nigerians, as well as some religious bigots and ethnic chauvinists perforated the masses' chance of another alternative trial through religious and ethnic line.

The experience in the last two years by Nigerians vis-a-vis the killing policies of GEJ has naturally multiplied their quest for a change of power at the centre. The economic indicator understandable by an average Nigerian in the street is no where to be found. This is normal, expected and appreciated. It does not take a genius to discern how anti-people this Jona-led administration is. WE NEED A CHANGE IN POWER.... The call becomes louder and clearer!!

The existing opposition parties deemed the power shift necessary abeit for their own political arrogance, and thus followed the path of history as experienced in Senegal and France. All Progressive Congress was formed and formally launched, then the need to answer some germane questions becomes important. The political sensitivity to analyse PDP, APC and also the stand alone Labour Party and Accord Party (the PDP offshots) is of utmost relevance.
The rest of us in this piece symbolizes the non-partisan but politically conscious Nigerians, those whose interest is the journey of experiencing their dream Nigeria.
Thus, wish to go by the rational conclusion of the analysed data at their disposal. Some of us who do not believe in this democratic setting at all are also acknowledged, but since we could not fold arms without making our feelings known. At least by the power of our keyboard; the present pen, our voice must be heard.

The central question to an average Nigeria with the description of those whose sole interest is BETTER NIGERIA is that: Will APC gives a better governance and delivers democratic dividends as expected? Who answers this question matters in determining the content of the answer. However, to avoid undue stress on the reader, and due to the fact that it is not a YES or NO answer, I shall briefly asserts my stand on this topical issue.

Does party name dictates the inherent characteristics of the members of the party? Does formation of parties in Nigeria ideologically based? There is no gainsaying that answers to the two lately posed questions is NO. The characters of Ikimi & co in the newly formed APC and the incessant cross-carpeting of the party politicians respectively prove the NO of the answers given. Therefore, it will be irrational and too expensive a psychological risk to take if 'we' hope and believe that our saviour has come, if we start throwing thanksgiving parties that the deed has done, if we begin planning a send -off parties of PDP.

In this what-to-do situation, it takes a well analysed mindset to appropriately discern what to do, exercise trade-offs as deemed fit and decide correctly on steps of actions to do. The masses will be left with no other option than to test run APC also. The wise decision is to change the voting equation and see if fairness in polls and other political strategies will be favourable to APC, and could bring to the fore a change in the custodian of the power at the centre.
The decision is simply to experience a healthy competitive political play. A scenario to explain this and to avoid misrepresentation of position is the obtainable in the business world. Both Globacom and MTN are growing from the proceed derived from their customers, however, the emergence of Globacom mitigated the exploitation of MTN. But, Glo also need to break even, and not in to dish out its services free of charge. This is a simple analogy.

In conclusion, this is to submit that the APC if voted into power will do better than PDP. This is not to say the actors in APC are pro-masses, but as a strategy to maintain being in the good book of the masses (if the masses detremines who rule them).
To those expecting a party of saints and angels in a system of power that is designed by men need to go and see if that is possible in the mars. Certainly, not on earth.
To the leftists and conservative socialists, Nigeria's journey has just started. You just keep the socialist's conscientization moving, nothing says you cannot have it 2019. But certainly not 2015!