APC and Nigeria’s dark history

Seventeen years back, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) assumed the leadership of this country with the shared hope of leading its people to the fountain of economic and social freedom, premised on political good. Sixteen years down the path, the story leaves much to be desired, though not out of a manageable reach for many […]

Seventeen years back, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) assumed the leadership of this country with the shared hope of leading its people to the fountain of economic and social freedom, premised on political good.
Sixteen years down the path, the story leaves much to be desired, though not out of a manageable reach for many citizens.
In those sixteen years of PDP’s reign, particularly, towards the close of that era, Nigerians witnessed about their worst moments in social welfarism, economic wholeness and developmental drive, a stage many thought and hoped would be Nigeria’s lowest point under a democratic government.
Today, the narrative has ‘changed’, as Nigeria now has a new government under a new mega political party – the All Progressives Congress (APC) – having emerged the winner of a life-time election against the ruling PDP in 2015.
Swinging into power through its change mantra, the APC was the toast of the nation, brandishing itself as the messiah of Nigeria’s many challenges dating back to the nation’s pre and post independence era but more pointedly, PDP’s.
Unfortunately, in its almost 12 months of governing Nigeria, the APC has refused to let go of the nation’s dark history, pinning its people down to it, reminding them of the past, only to sap them of today’s energy and tomorrow’s joy.
At the moment, economic activities are at standstill in Nigeria, due to an unstimulated economy, owing to endless delays in the passage of the budget, just after an election year.
Nigerians are battling to stay alive with(out) energy either government and self produced. Power generation has reached an all time low nationwide, fuel price has skyrocketed with many buying for as much as N500 per litre only after long hours of queues.
In all these, it is not uncommon to read and hear the APC engage in the blame game on issues of severe concern to the citizenry. From blaming vandals for the poor power supply to recounting and plugging the days of PDP in power to the unbearable fuel situation in the country, the APC is fast becoming a league of blame pundits.
For a country at this juncture, I contend that the most distasteful thing to do by the leadership of this country (APC), is to constantly remind Nigerians of their history particularly under the PDP, without providing remedy to the situations at stake, rather, compounding it. This for me, is an unfit leadership trait – making endless allusion to the past which has nothing to be celebrated although, with some lessons to be learnt which the APC has failed to recognize and glean from.
Disturbed by the endless complaints from the APC, one wonders if the APC has ever assessed the level of damage done by the erstwhile government before raising the hopes of Nigerians.
Moving forward, the APC-led government should brace itself for the uneasy task of governance in Nigeria and take it head on, stopping the blame game. To continually hold on to the past yields no reward.
Yesterday is history, today hosts the events that will shape tomorrow.
The APC should not betray the trust and confidence reposed in it by the citizenry through their votes. This government has enjoyed citizens’ goodwill, an essential commodity in politics, losing might will just be to grave a disaster.
Nigeria’s present should not be directed from its dark past. The future is brighter than we can imagine.
Tayo Elegbede Jet is a communication strategist and freelance journalist. [email protected]