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> NIGERIA: A NEW NATION SHALL RISE:
> SUITABLE POLITICAL SOLUTION TO THE DILEMMA OF
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA.
>
>
> OPENING STATEMENT:
>
> With gratitude to God the almighty creator of all
> things, for his countless mercies on us all.
> The purpose of this essay is to articulate as
> briefly as possible, the mode and modalities by
which
> Nigeria can be moved forward to the 21st century,
dragging along the rest of the undeveloped countries
of
Africa and the rest of the so called "third world",
which share similar political and socioeconomic faith.
The dilemma of bad management of state resources to
outright vandalization, by none other than its'
custodians, who are supposed to utilize, nourish and
protect jealously all state resources for the benefit
of her citizens.
>
> The difference between the developed and the
> undeveloped world is wide as such that it would
> require a total re-dedication of efforts to combat
the crises of bad and incompetent leadership
responsible for the woes suffered in the undeveloped
world.
>
> Understandably, success or failure of any
> organization largely depends upon the organization's
structure and management ability of its'
administrators. Thus; the failure or success of
> any nation depends not only on its' leadership, but
> also on the system of government practiced in that
> nation in relation to the suitability of such
> system to the prevalent socioeconomic condition of
that nation.
>
> POLITICS:
>
> The best system of government for Nigeria is a
> federal system of government with two dominant
ideologies as represented by the "liberal" leaning
left and the "conservative" being on the right of
issues; both economic and social. There is always room
for an independent ideological party: "third party,"
which can serve as a middle ground; a kind of buffer
between the other two parties namely: liberal and
conservative parties.
>
> One of the main advantage of the this
> phenomenon,[2+1=3 political parties] is the
> capability to cut across all divides within a
"republic," be it ethnic, religious or sentimental in
nature. Furthermore, it guaranties mutual respect and
understanding of one another in a multi ethnic state.
>
>
> LEADERSHIP CRISES:
>
> Since the beginning of Nigeria independence from the
> British government in 1960, continuing more than
> forty years later, Nigeria has been corrupted by
everyone from parliamentarians, premiers and heads of
state, to representatives, senators, and governors;
> from chairmen/chairwomen, uniform officers and
ministers to presidents, elder-statemen, moral and
religious leaders; from mothers, fathers, kings and
Queens to indeed everybody, who is anybody whom
leadership is vested upon through whichever means. And
who are supposed to lead by utmost distinguish and
honorable example being the only ways to assuage
future entanglement, but yet led otherwise to the
detriment of everyone including themselves.
>
> Leadership ability is not hereditary, rather, it is
> founded, groomed and sustained through a combination
> of self-motivation, moral and spiritual dedication,
> as well as life experiences and an opportunity to
> extend the leadership quality so acquired. But
rather
> unfortunately, leadership mantle has been placed on
> hereditary leaders, be it in townships, cities, and
the military as well as in civilian administrations.
> Leaders whose qualities range from dismal, due to
lack of basic understanding of life as "live and let
live," to abysmal, due to lack of mutual respect of
fellow humanity by their philosophy of "die and let
> live." Before further expatiation, it is imperative
> that I shed some light on what it truly takes to be
> a leader:
> A leader is a selfless, visionary,
> dedicated, relentless, hardworking, kind and
> courageous person, who predicate his/her authority
on the mandate freely given to him/her by the
citizenry, and are willing unconditionally to
relinquish it when expired.
>
> So now, for informative purposes, for over 40 years,
> there has been no true leader in the administration
> of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who meets
> the basic requirements of leadership, such as, self
> motivation in combination with the moral fortitude
> required to relinquish leadership mantle when
> expired. Nigeria had not equally been blessed with a
> leader who is visionary, morally and spiritually
> dedicated in combination with charm, wits and
> wisdom needed to grasp the intricate of diplomacy
necessary, to lead/rule a multi cultural and multi
religious society.
>
> Without mincing words, Nigeria, or for that matter,
> any society, cannot succeed nor even survive with a
> half baked leader, whose priority is self,
> mandate is self and the execution is also self. For
> Nigeria, indeed, for any society to perform beyond
> mediocrity, its leadership must demonstrate a
> combination of the aforementioned qualities. History
> has shown us, that the common denominators of great
> leaders like Abraham Lincoln, Mohandas Gandhi,
> Winston Churchill and Martin Luther King, Jr., are;
> selflessness, moral and spiritual dedication,
> vision, hard-work and courage, wits, wisdom and
calculated diplomacy, all of which these great leaders
> possessed abundantly and used for the emancipation
and upliftment of their respective people.
>
> While I do not condemn hereditary leadership as
> regards traditional mandate, or even as found in
some
> religions or others, however, the leadership must
possess the qualities needed, and the forthright
attitude required of the mandate invested upon it.
>
> ETHNIC POLITICS:
>
> Political gerrymandering, nepotism and ineptitude
> are the main characteristics of ethnic politics.
Blind, non-ideological political alliance cannot stand
the test of time, because over time, ethnicity would
> further degenerate into anarchy, leading to
> confusion and chaos.
> RELIGION POLITICS:
>
> Politics intertwined together with religion is,
> though, similar to Ethnic politics in
characteristics, but different in so as much as it
cuts deeper across ethnicity or tribe, leading to more
potent pedigree of political woes, chiefly among which
is political chicanery.
>
> IDEOLOGICAL POLITICS:
Whereas; "birds of the same feather flock
> together"; commonality of ideas is the bedrock of
> partisan democracy.
> Political parties formed, based on common
> ideological alliance, if practiced well to suite the
prevailing time and place, is the best political
alliance.
> The point is that, political party should be formed,
based on a common ideology and manifesto, bounded
together for a common cause, which strives against an
equally opposing political party's ideology and
manifesto; for the benefit and betterment of the
society as a whole.
Democracy would come to stay if reason and logic rule
the day, rather than nepotism and sentimentalism that
leads to nothing other than peril.
>
> Organization:
As already alluded to, '2+1=3 P.P.'--3 official
political parties--federal system of government is the
most suitable for Nigeria with all of its multi tribal
factors. This provision of one party to the right,
another to the left, and an independent in the center,
based on a principle of "one man one vote"
would entrenched a long lasting and productive
democracy. This system should also guaranty that
there's equity among the various ethnic tribes in the
distribution of political power. In addition, it would
also always ensured that, the party and, or candidate
who suits the prevailing time wins in any election.
The legislative division of the government should
enact laws limiting the number of times elected
officials can continue to contest and remain in one
particular office, and on the duration of time for
each office.
The administration of government {leadership
positions ) should not be hereditary, perpetually nor
dictatorial--including the executive, legislative, and
the judiciary divisions. It should be maximally
dynamic in the executive division; medially dynamic in
the legislative division and, minimally dynamic in the
judiciary division.
In a truly "federal system of government," a member
state can enact or repel law[s] which it believes can
reasonably and positively imparted on their citizens,
as long as the said law[s] does not contravene nor
contradict the charter that bound the Republic
together in the first place. In the extreme case,
where there is an equally opposing forces on an issue
within a state, it is justly, and highly recommended
that the said issue be brought to a referendum in
order to achieve a non-biased conclusion.
POLITICAL FINANCE:
Financing political parties and political activities
including elections into various offices is a huge
burden, especially on a nation with limited
resources. Incredibly, the beacon of democracy, USA.
with all of its enormous wealth and resources could
not totally finance its political machinery--unless it
chooses to do so. Private initiatives had to be
employed to adequately finance the political
machinery. While on one hand, it looked good and
helpful for various competing interests', to share in
this financial burden, but on the other
hand, the highest financial contributor, be it an
individual or corporation, seems to always receive a
compensation based on their financial contribution.
Simply put: the benefits of democracy always benefit
one particular interest over another based not on
their genuine needs, but rather on financial
contributions to the political machinery.
Whereas; "democracy is the government of the people,
by the people and for the people." Would now become:
"Democracy is the government of the people, by
the people and for the financial contributors, before
the people."
Having thought about the best possible way to finance
political machinery. The only non-biased option would
be, to allow all people the opportunity to contribute
financially to a "political machinery fund."
The government should put in place: a "Monetary
Lottery System," such as the "Cash Lotto or Lottery,"
which main purpose is the adequate financing of the
electoral process, while also providing winners with
pre-determined cash awards.
Therefore, allowing Democracy to be what's truly meant
to be. That is: "a government of the people, by the
people and for the people".
Conclusion:
Leadership position is, and should be seen as a
sacrificial position, whose only objective is the
amelioration of others before self. Only then can any
leader stand upright and proclaimed: I'm blessed!
Nigeria has had its' fair share of leadership crises.
The succor cannot come from the old, or the
young alone, but rather from all, young and old, with
a renewed "theme of purpose," of dedicating self to
service, of ameliorating of others before self, and of
giving it all, for the sake of prosperity and
posterity. But most importantly, for the advancement
of Nigeria's greatness, to enable her play the vital
and deserving role of leadership in the areas of
socioeconomic and political developments, as already
obtained in the area of foreign military
cooperation. And naturally, as a beacon of hope for
Africa and the Black race and for humanity in general.
A Nation shall rise; if her leaders repose greed and
malice, and yet, resort to magnanimity, vision and
courage.
A Nation shall rise; when her leaders lead by positive
examples and moral conviction, and not by brutality
and oppression.
A Nation shall rise; where there is a mutual respect
and love for one another--leading to justice, peace
and prosperity for all.
God bless and long live Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Animashaun, AA
Observer: USA. and Nigeria systems of government.
The writer is a financial consultant in an Investment
Bank as well as a student of politics and finance in
New York City.
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