By Eddie Onuzuruike
The results of March elections shook the polity and resulted in panicky drifts from one party to another. This was slightly envisaged when the same defection became a topical issue in the National Assembly in 2014 when the Speaker and other members considered carpet crossing without the attendant conditions. The speaker, who is the presiding officer knew the implications but refused to call the members to order because he too was intending to defect.
The truth is that many who are today referred to as politicians are mere carpetbaggers. Since the different economic policies of late eighties and nineties, the job market got bloated especially with the downsizing of ministries, agencies and parastatals. Further introduction of international policies of World Bank and IMF to reduce our bloated agencies named above did more damage. Today, many civil servants do not have the liberty and luxury of being chauffeured around. Gardeners, cooks and gatemen (security) are no more needed as every perk is monetized. Most of the dispossessed groups found themselves into politics when in actual fact they do not do more than being chanters and jeerers. Thugs can equally count themselves as politicians as they are now necessary evils who are hired sometime to embarrass opponents of their Oga or do other odd jobs.
These emergency politicians as a friend of mine calls them have very vague knowledge of party politics. One major factor that should ideally guide an intending person to decide on the part to join is ideology. In developed world like Britain, USA, France etc, they have distinct parties with spelt out ideologies. In the United States of America, the main parties are the Republican and the Democratic parties while in Britain are the Labour party and Tory that typifies conservatism. These are either socialist or capitalist in ideology. In the Arab world, religion plays a very important role. We can still remember the Islamic Brotherhood Party in Egypt and the Zionist Party in Israel.
In the nineties Nigeria, nearly got to the ranking of having two major parties with the SDP –Social Democratic Party and the NRC- National Republican Party. We know the story of MKO Abiola’s SDP and his election of June, 12, 1993 where the duo of Abiola and Kingibe cleared the polls referred to as freest and fairest election in Nigeria.
The election of March, 28, 2015, saw the hunter become hunted as the behemoth PDP lost most of the States where it held sway. No sooner than the announcement of the results, than many people started drifted, having the effrontery to announce their exit to APC in radio and newspapers.
This is as odd as it is embarrassing. It shows that many people have party politics as their mainstay. They cannot imagine hunger or hardship knocking on their door for a second.
There was the story of a partyman who after elections which he lost came complaining and pleading with Baba Iyabo to help him with some cash. His story was that he had many children and wives who he needed to take care of, alongside money to fuel his numerous vehicles. Baba in his stern and sarcastic way asked him how he bought the cars. Unable to answer directly, Baba honestly advised the man to sell most of his vehicles. The story above shows that many take on politics as a job, they do not care a hoot about ideologies and policies, and for these they should always be in the winning party. Same reason for the desperation in elections where they make it a do-or-die event.
There is need to rebuild PDP as to offer a good and credible opposition in Nigerian polity like they do in other countries. The conservative party in Britain has not found it easy having lost the elections in 1997, 2001 and 2005 but they are still strong. It is the same with the National Party in South Africa who lost to ANC.
The APC that is now on top did not get there by default. They worked and strategized. Tinubu who is the leader of the party knew their strength, and that they could not go it alone as Action Congress or ANPP. They sat down and crafted a coalition that brought back Buhari who sang his swan song some years ago. PDP needs to do some introspection which should chart the way forward. A good opposition is good for the country as they serve as the watchdog and checkmate certain excesses while they commend the good ones where necessary.
It would be funny to see late Maggie Thatcher in Labour Party or George Bush Senior in the Democratic Party. They have remained in their various parties, giving directions to their parties and helping them in campaigns. As could be seen, theses parties have from time to time caused upsets with Clinton and Obama coming aboard and the Bushes George senior and junior appearing for the Republicans. Opposition is not a permanent position, and hard work, purposeful criticism can elevate a party to win elections like the present situation with APC.
One party system is not good as it could lead to excesses and autocracy. North Korea and Zimbabwe are good examples of one party States. A party need not win the presidency but may still be relevant especially where they have successful legislators who make waves like Tip O Neill and Ted Kennedy who were still heard when Reagan and Bush, from the Republican were in charge in USA. Look at the profile of Thomas Philip O’Neill who was the second longest serving Speaker after Sam Rayburn in the congress of USA. Though a democrat, he was the speaker of the Congress from 1977 to 1987. This involved Republican and democrat Presidents like Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter and Reagan. Two of the congressional sessions were across party lines. Politicians should be taught that there are reasons to be in party A or B. The Nigerians who presently understand and practice this are few in number and can presently be counted on our fingers. Dr Ogbonnaya Onu (Pioneer elected Governor of Abia State), Balrabe Musa, Late Adeniran Ogunsanya make up the numbers. Dr Onu who stuck to APP, ANPP and APC like a gum, is today, vindicated. Opposition is a grooming ground for any good politician. Initially it may sound like ranting but with time one gets heard.