Time to stand up for Nigeria
At independence in 1960, the founding fathers of the Nigerian nation committed themselves to build a united, strong and prosperous nation, where all Nigerians, irrespective of tribe and religion, shall rise to protect and defend our dear country. Indeed, this commitment was to ensure that our diverse people who are blessed with abundant human and […]
At independence in 1960, the founding fathers of the Nigerian nation committed themselves to build a united, strong and prosperous nation, where all Nigerians, irrespective of tribe and religion, shall rise to protect and defend our dear country. Indeed, this commitment was to ensure that our diverse people who are blessed with abundant human and material resources live in peace and harmony; hence the notion of unity in diversity.
Over the last 51 years, Nigerians of all walks of life have left no one in doubt of their total commitment to this sacred ideal. In this vein, though Nigeria fought a three year fratricidal war, it emerged from it a stronger nation. There was no victor and no vanquished! Through the subsequent challenge of the last two decades of the 20 the century and the beginning of the 21st century, Nigerians have remained ever united in the indivisibility of their nation.
While the greatest challenge of the ‘80s and ‘90s was how to return Nigeria to the path of democracy, May 29, 1999, became the watershed in our collective struggle for the enthronement of democracy as the best form of government. I must say that while we celebrate 51years of independence, we have every reason to also celebrate our democratic gains as a nation. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is pleased to be associated with the historic progress the federal government has made to further the realisation of the vision of the founding fathers of Nigeria. That Nigeria has been under democratic governance for 12 years, the longest in the fifty-one year history of the country, is an easy explanation of the fundamental changes that have taken place in the civil society.
Today, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has unfolded, as well as taken critical steps in the quest of our great party to transform Nigeria. It deserves mention at this juncture, that for the first time in our recent history, Nigerians went to the polls to vote their leaders in elections adjudged by local and international observers as free, fair and credible. To many concerned Nigerians and non Nigerians, this is the basis for a sure start of a sustainable transformation. The unabridged right of the citizen to freely choose their leaders through fair electoral process is tangential to core elements that conduce to good governance. The institution of a responsible and responsive government is only possible when the outcome of an election is truly reflective of the sovereign wish of the people. Many have therefore, rightly argued that with the good foundation which the last April, 2011 general elections significantly signpost, Nigeria has taken the long expected course in the direction of nations with credible democracy.
Of course, many have asked what Nigeria is celebrating at fifty-one. Some have gone as far as suggesting that Nigeria was better under colonialism. Such mind set though many have arisen from some contradictions that are usual with evolving nations like ours; however, it is easily dismissed by the metaphor of choice between chains and freedom. That Nigerians are united in the indivisibility of their country despite socio-political challenge of the last fifty –one years is enough to celebrate. This is not to understate the significant progress the nation has recorded in the quest for development. To avoid flashing so long back in history, the last one year-plus of President Jonathan’s administration are replete with enough development efforts, the facts of which easily bear selves out.
There is least doubt the successful amendment of the Nigerian constitution in 2010, the first time such an exercise would be completed in the life of one legislature has impacted so much on the polity. Some of the areas of the constitution and the Electoral Acts that were amended played pivotal roles in the success of the 2011 general elections. This explains on one hand the great deal of maturity that the legislature has attained over time and on the other hand, the level of independence among the tiers of government. The synergy especially between the legislature and the executive has been instrumental to the resolution of crucial issues that confront the nation. Perhaps, stricture to the rule of law and transparency on the part of the president, explains his much misunderstood statement that he would not rule Nigeria like a military general.
Corruption is really a bane on development; unfortunately, the battle against it makes meaning to some Nigerians only when the members of the ruling party are involved. Hence, efforts by the federal government to make corruption less attractive to everybody including the members of the opposition are being interpreted as intolerance. But such proposition makes sense to only very few who may conceive Nigerian opposition as the abode of saints! When some people refer to PDP as being intolerant, they quickly forget that there are states where the opposition has been in power for over a decade and that Nigerians are not unaware of how restrictive the political space in those states are. That the PDP has not been exterminated in those states only lends credence to the spread and the strength of the party as the only truly national political party. This very fact has in so many ways given stability to the nation. This piece is not devoted to assessing the performance of the states led by the PDP against others in the hands of the opposition, but suffice that one cannot confidently point to any state run by the opposition that is capable of beating the PDP states in such contest.
At a similar level, the implantation of the 18% minimum wage by the federal government, the establishment of six new universities, and the re-invigoration of the Almajiri education may be waved aside by arm chair critics but the impact on the nation’s index of development is important. That Nigerian women have never been represented in governance as they are today is a glaring fact. Besides, the graduation of women as combatant officers in the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), is a thoughtful product of a political party insistent on elevating Nigerian women.
There is no doubt that the task of building a strong, united and prosperous Nigeria as envisioned by our founding fathers is not easy. However, the commitment and steadfastness of Nigerians, coupled with the numerous efforts of our leaders past and present, are enough assurance that things can only get better.
Perhaps, there is no better time to stand up for Nigeria than today. There is no better time to prove that the efforts of our heroes past shall not be in vain than now. The present challenge of development for example, will no doubt melt away in the face of the iron cast resolve of our people to live together in one indivisible nation, Nigeria.
As we mark this year’s independence anniversary therefore, we call on Nigerians to remain undaunted in their determination for peaceful co-existence. We call on all interest groups with any form of grievance to seek the path of dialogue rather than resort to senseless violence on the people. We further call on all Nigerians and friends of Nigeria to continue to support President Goodluck Jonathan in his efforts to transform Nigeria.
Professor Alkali is the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP