by Ife Adebayo

The party has proven that it has what it takes to deliver the dividends of democracy. The party also has the widest reach of any opposition political party.

The term “democracy” is derived from two Greek words – demos (or people) and kratos (rule). This is why democracy is often defined as the government of the people, by the people and for the people. In simple terms, in a democracy the people rule. Unfortunately in Nigeria what we have at the national level and in most states is a DEMOCRAZY, this is Nigeria’s situation of bad leadership disguised as a democracy in which the government rules the people with crazy policies.

The Nigerian political space is still dominated nationally by a political party that has in its fold the bulk of former military dictators and their civilian cronies. They have used the wealth illegally acquired while in power to develop a party structure that is far reaching, thus limiting the growth opportunities for a viable opposition. This is bad because strength of modern democracies is built on the back of a strong opposition with noble ideas that keep the government in power on its toes and also keep the people constantly aware of the options available to them.

For democracy to function, the role of the opposition cannot be overstated. I constantly hear of how ‘stupid’ Nigerians must be to continue to vote in a government that has failed on many fronts. What I do not hear is a debate on the alternatives available. We must climb out of our ethnic and regional rabbit holes where we are comfortable with the local championship status conferred on us and bury our excessively massaged ethnic egos and  opinions of self in order to come together to build electoral alternatives that are appealing to every region of the country. Alternatives that can lay claim to clear ideologies and policies on every aspect of national development.

During the last elections, the opposition was close to forming an alliance that would’ve been the best alternative for Nigerians. The merger deal between the Action Congress of Nigeria and the Congress for Progressive Change however fell through. The result of that is what we have today. A continuation of years of misrule, misappropriation of funds, misalignment of ideals and misplacement of priorities by a government that has since lost its sense of direction. A government by a party that has no laid down plan of where it is leading Nigerians to. When you do not have a destination every bus stop looks like your destination. This is why we have seen successive governments of the ruling PDP start, restart, close, re-open, decide and un-decide the policies, projects and decisions of their predecessors. When the ruling government is blind and can’t see its own mess, the electorate are bound to be depressed, sad, dis-enfranchised and interested in change. Nigerians want a change, the question is – what alternatives are we giving to them?

I can state without any fear of contradiction that the only party that offers a formidable alternative to the ruling PDP is the Action Congress of Nigeria. The party has proven that it has what it takes to deliver the dividends of democracy. The party also has the widest reach of any opposition political party.

The Action Congress of Nigeria holds sway in the South West Region of the country and has made amazing inroads into other regions, twice winning the Governorship seat in the South-South state of Edo and putting up a good display in Adamawa, Benue, Akwa Ibom, Kwara and Anambra states.

As stated by Lord Kinnock, UK Labour Leader 1983-92, “In between elections you can, by dint of persistent organisation and force of argument, get the Government to shift its position in a positive direction that shows your opposition is working.” The ACN has come up with alternative policies that have been clearly popular with the ruling party. One example of the leadership tendencies of the ACN is the creation of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA). This initiative has been replicated in PDP governed states like Kwara and Rivers. The ACN’s free education policy has also been replicated by PDP governed states Imo and Rivers. That is active opposition; an opposition that brings up ideas and policies that helps the ruling party govern better.

Anchored on the ACN’s belief that every Nigerian deserves a right to good governance irrespective of ethnic, religious or political affiliations, the party has since the end of the 2011 elections reached out to opposition politicians in every region of the country and has made good progress in building the opposition of our dreams. An opposition that is a government in waiting. We are already 13 years late in forming an opposition that can take Nigeria out of the doldrums. As the party is in talks with opposition parties for a merger, I urge the youth to stand up now and be a part of the progress being made. Time is not on our side, 2015 is already upon us.

 

“Opposition can be your friend. Opposition can be the fire that tempers the better sword, as well as the ice that cools a fiery temper. Don’t ever run from it; learn from it!” ― Jack R. Rose, The Cedar Post.

————————–

Ife Adebayo is an IT Consultant with work experience in Germany, United Kingdom and Nigeria. He currently runs his own IT firm in Lagos, Nigeria. He is an ardent believer in the Nigerian project and encourages all Nigerians to become actively involved in making Nigeria a better place.

Ife is a registered member of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Epe Local Government, Lagos State. He was an active member of the UK branch of the party, holding the post of Youth Leader for the year 2010/2011.

 

Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija.