On the 3rd of July, 2001 the essay, reproduced below was published as a follow-up to another essay in which I have posited that there would be a need for Constitutional Amendments in order to curb the proliferation of political parties to prevent abuse as well as an equitable way of election financing. There is no better time than now, to correct this "Twin Evil" (political party multiplicity and corrupt election financing) which had together been wrecking havoc on our democratic experience. Hopefully, our representatives and other stakeholders would ensure that this menace is finally tackled head-on in order to help accelerate our developmental progress.
Nigeria: Our number one problem and possible solution.
In February 5, 2001, my essay titled: "Nigeria: A nation shall rise," was published by an online medium and its purpose was to briefly chart (what I believed) a fair and equitable system of democracy suitable for Nigeria and other developing countries with similar political and leadership quagmire.
Nevertheless, recent happenings in the political environment of my dearly beloved Nation has been
causing me sleepless nights; constant agitation; indeed! Great pains occasioned with disbelieve;
disbelieve that our Leaders’ traveled extensively; widely read; and gifted with wisdom? Yet, they still can
not put it together; Like President Abraham Lincoln put it together for America: He fought his fellow
countrymen within the Union; made "Emancipation Proclamation" for our people; and triumphed in war.
America became one again. Yes, America became ONE again! By 1828, America's few political parties had evolved into only two major political parties namely: Democratic and Whigs Parties.
Though, President Lincoln was originally a Whig party’s representative, however, by the time of his
election as President he was a Republican. In fact, all regional and ideological based parties had joined
together to form 2 parties. We must never lose sight of the simple fact that, the nurturing of ONLY TWO
main opposing political parties, and a provision for Independent party during elections of which, its laws has recently been modified to include ‘part funding’--for meeting certain pre-set criteria has helped to strenghten democratic Ideals in America political experience. For example, the Reform Party was unofficially recognized in the last U.S. General Elections by receiving ‘part funding’ from the Electoral Commission in addition to the two other main political parties. The implication of this phenomenon led to my postulation in the aforementioned essay in which I prescribed a 3 Political Party System for Nigeria, and for all other multi national States in Africa which is faced with similar quagmire.
FIRST AND FOREMOST:
Modern republican form of government was adopted in 1776 when the esteem John Hancock and fifty-five other patriots’ signed THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE that forever freed the people of United States’ against oppression from a class of 'Higher Humans‘--who deemed himself immortal--showing lack of compassion for his extended citizens’ in the New World. The result was evident when they lamented in their declaration, amongst others, that:
"...He has refused his assent to laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good’...’He has
plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burned our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people’...’We,
therefore, the representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name and by the authority of the good people of these colonies, solemnly publish and declare, that these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, FREE AND INDEPENDENT STATES’..."
The rest as they say; is History.
Indisputable fact: Government was formed only for the purpose of managing and regulating human affairs including all sphere of lives efficiently and equitably as enforceable and as necessary. Hence, the
variations of system of government from one country to the other, in order to suit the local contents--that
is--ethnic, religious and cultural composition of the people the government was formed to serve.
When in the course of over 40 years since Nigeria became Independent, her leaders’ have not fully
resolved the need to put in place a political foundation that is necessary for her people to develop
their inherited wealth and God given potentials. Literally and physically destroying the lives of our
people like the British Crown had done previously to colonies in the New World.
From 1776 to 1825, the United States’ political system, after which our political platform is modeled, had evolved into a two Party System with a nearly dismissive attitude for Third party participation. However, experiences of the past over 200 years has led to the recognition for a need of a Third Party in order to serve as a cushion between the extremes within the two other parties.
Should Nigeria have to wait for another decade before her leaderships’ realized the need to institutionalize the system of Three Party System which I strongly believe would alleviate the present "Leadership and Political Imbroglio" which have combined with great efforts to stunt our growth in all areas of human endeavors?
These are the benefits of a Three Political Party System:
It will eliminate the need to form political party on Nationality basis only.
It will cut across all divides within the Republic that formed Nigeria.
Sharing of Ideological principles would be the main reason people will aspire for political party membership/ candidature.
It will discourage mediocre personalities’ who are parading as Leaders--because of their ill-gotten wealth used for perpetual subjugation of our people--from ever coming near the seat of government again.
It will eliminate all form of quotas and encouraged decent competition amongst representatives of the
people.
FINANCING POLITICAL ELECTIONS:
Further expatiation on the mode of election financing that I proposed has become necessary, urgently so,
because Nigeria at this particular time is strongly considering the overhaul of her political system.
CASH LOTTERY REVENUE: In the beginning of this essay I posited that government was particularly formed for the benefit of the citizens that occupied its’ land area and jurisdiction in order to serve it. Thus: the people ought to be able to finance election as fairly as possible to prevent certain miscreant from
hijacking their destiny. As often the case when men of scandalous wealth, selfish notion, greedy and devious aspiration becomes leaders. Technology have made it possible in recent times for individual States to institute CASH LOTTERY SYSTEM in order to create wealth for its’ people and to supplement its’ revenue in order to meet societal needs. It is not uncommon for states in the United States to use revenue from this cash lottery program to finance Education and other local necessities.
For the sake of argument; Nigeria with all of her resources cannot totally and periodically finance
political elections, but Nigeria should be able to put in place a fair opportunity for everyone to
participate in financing election. Hence, the proposed CASH LOTTERY SYSTEM. The need to also institutionalize this system has become apparent in the face of all kinds of fraudsters’ masquerading 'as political leaders--many of whom possessed not one iota of leadership quality except "wisdom"? Wisdom of Frauds! '
The benefits of CASH LOTTERY SYSTEM include the followings:
It will provide for wider financial participation of the populace.
It will prevent the so-called moneybags/God fathers from hijacking leadership position.
It will discourage the mediocre cadre from participation, because substance rather than rhetoric
will dictate victory at the polls.
It will allow for accountability from the leaders to the electorates.
It will create wealth for the citizens and the society at large.
It will lay a solid foundation for our great Nation to become even greater and develop its’ true potentials.
Most importantly, it is legal, moral and to me personally; it’s logical.
Conclusion:
It is not enough for Nigeria to appear as if Democracy has come to stay; foundation has to be laid for a long lasting, widely acceptable, fair and effective Democracy, in order for it to impact on the generality of
the citizens on whose back the political leaders purported to ride to power. However, sacrifices have
to be made by all and sundry: we must shed the burden of religious bigotry, ethnic prejudices, intolerance, avarice and other inhumane characteristics that have always been our bane.
We must be ready for the sake of ourselves and future generation unborn to prove wrong the notoriety associated with our lot. We must remove the cloud of deceit enveloping our land in form of Constitutional rights’ of an individual to form political parties which only purpose is to cause CHAOS in the land and the perpetuation of misery by the cabals. Whether or not Nigeria practices federalism or unitary system of government, the number of political parties allowed should not be more than (3) three. Otherwise, every single Nigerian--120 million of us should form our own political parties to serve our own individual political interest. Or, we should institutionalize our political parties to (3) three namely; Conservative, Liberal and Independent Parties to reflect the three main divisions in human ideologies in coping with its’ predicament.
Finally, modern democracy literally means that, most members of the society delegated and somehow conceded part of their rights’ to a few others amongst them in exchange for a good, accountable, renewable and terminable representation. So, in other for it to work creditably, it must be contained by limiting the number of political parties and by financing the machinations equitably. By so doing, Democracy will truly be "Government of the people, by the people, and for the people.
Update: I also rise in support of a SINGLE TERM SIX YEAR TENURE FOR PRESIDENTS AND STATE GOVERNORS. And for the splitting of election periods so that all offices both in the legislative and executive divisions would not be contestable at the same time. God Bless Nigeria and her people. Adebayo Animashaun, the writer, is an keen observer of Nigerian Politics.
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