America’s example is all very instructive for Nigeria, as the country navigates itself towards the decisive “tryst with destiny”, come 2023. After what would have been the Buhari interregnum, Nigeria too will be in need of a rebirth. The Buhari interregnum has been so divisive, insular and incestuous that only a rejuvenation of the idea of a nation will save the republic.
Whatever one says now about the just concluded United States presidential election may sound very much like a cliché. A key issue many have commented upon is: What might have happened if Donald J. Trump had won a second term? Analysing the issue on CNN on Sunday, former British foreign secretary, David Milliband, pointed out that the problem with a dictatorship lies in the consolidation of power in a second term. Frankly, America got off lightly, as the consequences of a second term for Trump would have been dire. The stress on America’s admirably strong institutions would have become pronounced. It is better not imagined, given the consolidation of dictators in power after using the democratic route into office. A lot of hallelujahs are in order. America clearly desired a rebirth after four hate-filled years. On a wing and a prayer, Americans found a persona to match their craving in the calm and avuncular Joseph R. Biden Jr.
America’s example is all very instructive for Nigeria, as the country navigates itself towards the decisive “tryst with destiny”, come 2023. After what would have been the Buhari interregnum, Nigeria too will be in need of a rebirth. The Buhari interregnum has been so divisive, insular and incestuous that only a rejuvenation of the idea of a nation will save the republic. Any sensible perpetuation should centre on the emergence of a new cadre of leadership, in alignment with a disgruntled and disaffected youthful demographic. The new leadership must be cosmopolitan, internationally exposed to best practices and technologically savvy. Nigeria’s leadership of 2023 must make a decisive and irreversible break with a dismal past.
The decade 2020-2030 is make or break for Nigeria, even though there hasn’t been any sensible start to comprehending the magnitude of the problem. Nigeria’s problem is made more complicated because of the absence of a “natural party of government”, as discerning commentators have observed. Countries like India (Indian National Congress; INC), Malaysia (United Malays National Organisation; UMNO) and South Africa (African National Congress; ANC), which were led into independence with a cohesive force, have transformed better. For example, the UMNO, founded by Onn Jaafar, Nik Ahmad Kamil, Zainal Abidin Ahmad, Hamzah Abdullah, was a national movement founded on real objectives. Until it lost its mission, the International Revolutionary Party (PRI) in Mexico forged a sense of national identity, pride and purpose and held power for 71 unbroken years. What these parties infused in their nationals – a sense of belonging, of ownership, of national identity, pride and purpose – is what is missing in Nigeria. The closest we came, for a brief tantalising moment, was the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC), between circa 1945 and the early 1950s. Thereafter, Azikiwe succeeded Herbert Macaulay, he adopted Unitarism in its 1952 manifesto, and that was the end.
…picking the right presidential candidate for the 2023 presidential election could reboot the party and rekindle the original notion. Unfortunately, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) doesn’t seem to have it together as an opposition party, other than the occasional flashes of coherence in gubernatorial races across the country.
Cynics might argue that all dominant parties like the Congress in India, PRI in Mexico and UMNO in Malaysia, inevitably lose their way and their moral authority. Nevertheless, at the initial stage, these parties had great advantages. The fact remains that at that critical juncture, a country needs a cohesive national force capable of forging a sense of nationhood. The initial hope that the All Progressives Congress (APC), as presented in 2015 would be such a party, has been dashed. It turned out that the APC is just a special purpose vehicle founded to win elections and share power. Sadly, the party has not found a philosophy to transit beyond winning elections. However, picking the right presidential candidate for the 2023 presidential election could reboot the party and rekindle the original notion. Unfortunately, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) doesn’t seem to have it together as an opposition party, other than the occasional flashes of coherence in gubernatorial races across the country.
If the office of Treasurer of the APC is zoned to the South-West, as it seems it will be, it will be an indication of past trends when the party zoned the position to the area which eventually presented the presidential candidate. Zoning should also be used as a way of rekindling faith in the national project, as part of solving the national question. A lack of sensitivity on the zoning issue and failure to honour past, implied “gentlemen’s agreement” will implode the party. The consequences for the nation itself will, in the absence of a convincing alternative, be unpalatable. The key issue for Nigeria, going forward, is to find a presidential candidate who fit the “cometh the hour, cometh the man”.
Looking for a presidential candidate in 2023, if the APC must regain its footing, they must develop a platform, a manifesto, which will be a modern upgrade of the Action Group’s “Life more abundant”. A platform which convincingly sells government as a project in favour of the interest and well being of the overwhelming majority of the people and their families.
For 2023, Nigeria must find a unifier, a philosopher king to implement a programme of regeneration, and a programme of social and economic reconstruction. The person must be in tune with the modern political currents and have the intellectual confidence to assemble and coordinate a world class team of technocrats, including very crucially, the mouth-watering expertise to be sourced from the diaspora. Whoever we choose or are stuck with, will pilot the country through a make or break decade. We need presidential candidates who will appeal to most Nigerians and are devoid of baggages of sleaze.
Looking for a presidential candidate in 2023, if the APC must regain its footing, they must develop a platform, a manifesto, which will be a modern upgrade of the Action Group’s “Life more abundant”. A platform which convincingly sells government as a project in favour of the interest and well being of the overwhelming majority of the people and their families. This will be the first step in incorporating the disaffected youth demographics, as well as those left behind. The party must put the big D back into Development and emphasise the supremacy of civil society over political society. New forms of organisation and media must be created to sell the platform. At the head must be a candidate who is in alignment with the current mood of the country and the heightened anxiety which will be in place by 2022. May our rebirth be near and easy.
Bámidélé Adémólá-Olátéjú a farmer, youth advocate and political analyst writes this weekly column, “Bamidele Upfront” for PREMIUM TIMES. Follow me on Twitter @olufunmilayo
