The Coming of the Progressives, Et Al
By
THE prevailing political instability in the country is reminiscent of the military days which was punctuated with military coups and counter-coups, hence the nation is the poorer for it in terms of political progress, economic development and infrastructural provisions. Our political environment is today replete with intemperate and intolerant activities of political leaders, fortune seeker, the grouping together of strange bed fellows, and the elevation of ethnicism and nepotism of high heavens.
No party lays any claims to any ideological direction, rather they formulate party manifestoes which may be jettisoned at will. Many of our politicians today wallow in indiscipline. They greedily dine and wine with the parties in power from the federal level, states to the local governments.
Their hearts have moved to the emerging political parties where they can again dominate and be recycled so that they can continue reaping their investments in bounties. This is tantamount to civilian coup-d'etats. The bug of moving to new parties have caught all the existing political parties and the expected destinations are National Frontier, National Solidarity Association and the New Progressive Association. The early polarisation of National Frontier into two factions over merger propositions with Chief Sunday Awoniyi and Chief Ezeoke on one side while Alhaji Fari and Martins are on the other side, each side of the National Frontier are wooing Afenifere and NSA as the new brides.
These maneuvers show vividly that Nigerian politicians value positions and booties of office more than the interests and the development of the masses. From the look of things, we have groups of opportunists aligning together in political formations to capture power and satisfy their personal lusts, but not to improve the welfare of the masses. One's intention here is to see where the so-called progressives stand in today's political re-alignment.
It need no restating that Nigeria politics since independence has been shaped and dictated more by ethnic considerations and primordial cleavages than ideological posturing.
We cannot forget so easily the alliance of the Action Group and the NCNC who described themselves as the progressives under the common name of UPGA; this is different from the UPGA which some Igbo leaders are trying to resuscitate today, that earlier attempt at forging a progressive front came to naught because of mutual suspicion and mistrust.
Between 1979 and 1983 there was the unity of the progressive Government comprising the UPN, APP, GNPP, and PRP against the NPN, which again failed in spite of the committed support of high profile and dedicated leaders such as Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Alhaji Aminu Kano and Waziri Ibrahim who all had large grassroot followings. This later move also failed disastrously.
What are the special circumstances that have propelled the new proponents of progressive ideologies to invade the political landscape today? Have the misunderstandings and intolerance that bedeviled and ruined the past progressive political associations been solved? From the lists of willing leaders of the progressives, some like Alhaji Rimi, Chief Samuel Mbakwe, Alhaji Jakande, Chief Olu Falae and Chief John Oyegun and Dr. Izuogu participated in some of the past attempts that failed.
The situation of the progressives under the banner of the SDP in the last presidential election in which M.K.O Abiola successively won the presidential elections was most pathetic, as they compromised their victory by succumbing to Babangida's annulment. Most of the leaders who called themselves progressives compromised that rare victory. They crossed over to eat and dine in Abacha's military dictatorship.
How can the masses trust such a pack of political opportunists who even allowed the man to whom the victory was given die in prison?
In its inaugural meeting, Dr. Izeogu, the convener of the progressive front in an effort to mobilise the progressives all over Nigeria called "the progressives to come together under a progressive platform for recognition as a political party with the intention of capturing power because the progressives have the key to national development".
That was the key given to them in 1993 which they all threw away.
It must be re-stated that many of the present leaders of the progressive moments have held positions under the military and civilian regimes; only few of them can be listed as performers. Therefore, not many of the present leaders of the Progressive Front have had enabling performance to convince the electorate to follow them this time around. In an attempt to be relevant in the on-going political dispensation, many hide under the aegis of progressivism forgetting that no one party is absolutely different from the other, especially as the Nigerian masses have become weary of politicians who promised and never delivered.
That the masses are more interested in purposeful leadership and political movements that are incorruptible and capable of delivering the dividends of democracy.
The Nigerian masses have experienced failure to match promise with action under the military for about thirty years, therefore many politicians who tend to equate agitation or position politics with progressivism should analyse the political terrain more carefully.
While some politicians today have traversed the three political parties, most have tasted and participated in the activities of two, only few who are vintagely placed in their original parties are still unstained.
Like many of the pro-democracy activists of the past, many of the present politicians take extreme positions because they were not given what they wanted in their governments.
The future is very bleak for the development of this nation if we persist in the deceit, intolerance and corruption that are prevalent in this land. It is therefore important that the nation must embark on some ethical and moral revolution. While politicians participate actively in wrecking the three political parties. Can the leopard change its spots?
Since the new entrants into the these new political associations are not from outer space, they are the products of this same society, the problems encountered in one party are waiting for them in the new political parties. But in the face of such political instability and intolerance, society is worst for it.
Senator Farukanmi lives in Ondo State.
August, 2001