For what it is worth I am not going to end this article trying to whip up any renewed movement in favor of the/any 3rd force.
As the election day draws closer I feel it is important I shed some light on the choices we as the electorate are gradually gearing up to make. For the past 4 years the majority’s choice for President has presided over the country of Nigeria in a most unimpressive fashion, from the biased and pretentious manner the corruption campaign has been carried out, the poor handling of what was an already failing economy and to the alarmingly disappointing way the war in the North East has been fought it has been clear this administration has found itself out of their depth.
The opposition is clearly seeing an opportunity here but how prepared they are is another issue entirely, but one thing is clear, there isn’t that much difference between both parties. In fact the rate at which former PDP members who have pending cases with the EFCC are crossing over to the APC tells you how pro-corrupt the ruling party is. Not like these former PDP members have publicly admitted to looting public funds or committed to returning stolen funds back to public coffers, no, they have simply crossed carpet and have been welcomed with fanfare and back slapping.
When you look at the two political parties you realize the difference between them is simply the brazen level of tribalism present in the current administration. By performance, both parties did achieve some level of infrastructural development in their time in power (at least enough for them to campaign about). Which leaves me flabbergasted when election season comes around and the masses as well as the intellectual elite are stuck in this endless back and forth about the same set of people who have just assumed different platforms.
It’s like we are suckers for pain and disappointment. Why will a population of so many people be so fascinated with ineptitude and corruption? You would wonder if the true solution isn’t staring us in the face but we are all too consumed in our love for power and money that we fail to see the full extent of the damage being done and the time being wasted.
Nigeria which used to be a country once described as the giant of Africa has become a by word for untapped potential. 10 years ago we were the darling of the international community with many reports highlighting the massive population potential we had in terms of market size and labor capacity but 10 years on that conversation isn’t even on the table.
We need to understand something really quick, the current system is unsustainable. This present political process fueled by rent seeking and corruption will end sooner than we think and we most likely will leave our children in so much debt, the country will be far poorer for centuries. The need to elect leaders who will oversee the revamping of both our political and administrative systems is more than imperative. As it seems the two parties that we seem to identify as parties with structures have other plans than ensuring the long term future of the Republic. Anyone who isn’t a paid hack but chooses to opine that the current opposition is capable of changing our situation is clearly intentionally forgetful or simply rooting for the opposition party for their own selfish interests.
The ruling party might have tightened the free flow of careless cash around the Federal capital in the past 4 years but it still hasn’t stopped them from encouraging other forms of Nepotism and corruption. Their continued campaign of opacity around the President’s health while continuing to leave the health system at home on a continued downward spiral leaves a lot to be desired. Getting into the issue of the economy might as well require an entirely different write up.
Whoever wants to present a 3rd force needs a formidable strategy, one that will negate the so called structure reportedly put in place by the 2 main parties. Of the array of candidates putting themselves forward in this current campaign the minor players have shown different strategies and we have seen how far reaching they have been. The path to change can never be easy but if an aspiring candidate feels his calling is to lead this nation then he might be better off mapping out a long campaign and be ready to fail several times. You disagree? Check the path our current President took on his way to the highest office in the land.
