USA Africa Dialogue Series - Fw: EDIFYING REVOLTS IN OUR POLITICAL PARTIES

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From: maggie anaeto <maganaeto@yahoo.co.uk>

Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2012 14:56:06 +0000 (GMT)

To: <ayo_olukotun@yahoo.com>; Maggie<maganaeto@yahoo.co.uk>

Subject: EDIFYING REVOLTS IN OUR POLITICAL PARTIES

EDIFYING REVOLTS IN OUR POLITICAL PARTIES    by   Ayo Olukotun        "To keep ourselves honest we need to question everything and argue for the other side so that we can appreciate the views we reject." Garry Gutting         Political parties once thought to be the preeminent mobilisational and agenda-creating institution of modern democracy have fallen on hard times globally. Renowned essayist, Baeghot of The Economist, describing the current status of British political parties in the 29th September edition of the Journal informs that: "The three main British parties have fewer members than the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds." For the quantitatively minded this translates to less than half a million members.    The situation is no less dismal in many other democracies where party identification and membership have been eroding for over two decades. Though clearly endangered, the party is not yet over however, as its competitors such as social movements, online petitioners, single-issue advocates, independent candidates and bloggers cannot rise up to several key roles including representative ones played by parties.  It is safe to assume therefore that no matter how actively we dislike or deride parties they are not going to go away in a hurry. Here in Nigeria, the names of our major parties are the butt in popular culture of several irreverent jokes such as Pikin Deceiving Pikin (PDP), Asiwaju Congress of Nigeria (ACN), and All Nigerian Pilfering Party (ANPP), among others.      In other words, the low trust of and sceptical, even derisive attitudes by many citizens towards parties and governmental institutions rampant in the older democracies also abound in Nigeria and for broadly similar reasons. These reasons include the failure of parties and for that matter government as reformatory or emancipatory projects, economic downturns, repeated scandals, big money politics as well as  authoritarian decision-making styles in which undemocratic caucuses call the shots. Recently in Nigeria nonetheless and in the aftermath of the Ondo state election, this writer discerns edifying tendencies which if followed through may yet save our political parties from their looming archival status.  The first example comes from an unlikely source, the People's Democratic party (PDP) where Olusola Oke, the party's defeated gubernatorial candidate has heroically stood up to the party bosses by publicly chiding them for rushing to congratulate the victorious candidate, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko without consulting him and the party at the state level regarding the conduct of the election.    The point here is not whether Oke's complaints are valid or not - indeed some believe that he is merely grand standing - what I find instructive is his willingness to challenge the party on a point of principle, namely, the need to take positions based on consultation with those who are most affected by the issue under discussion.  It is noteworthy that Oke has refused to alter his position despite the deluge of congratulatory messages coming from chieftains of his party including the president Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and president of Senate, David Mark. Even if Oke's minority stance leads nowhere it may have taught his party a valuable lesson in reticence in a context where all the facts have not been accumulated.      The second example of edifying revolts within political parties comes from the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) where Edo state governor Comrade Adams Oshiomole broke ranks with his party leadership by congratulating Dr Mimiko at a time when his party claimed somewhat ominously that it was still studying the details of the election and will issue a public statement in due course. Again, the point of interest for me is that the comrade governor was willing to stretch a point of principle to the point of openly disagreeing with his party.      Changes and reforms, let it be noted, do not come to institutions by routine or from those who are following laid down procedures but by men and women who have the courage of their convictions and are willing to stand up for them. True, bedlam or confusion can easily be created if everyone in a party carries on as he likes, but organisations as sociologists inform us too easily submit to authoritarian instincts precisely because people are afraid to differ from official cant. An anecdote will amplify the point being made here.  At a public lecture in my undergraduate years at the then University of Ife, Chancellor of the university, Chief Obafemi Awolowo paid an open tribute to Prof. Sam Aluko at the time Head of the Economics department. Aluko, Awo said was the type of character who if he disagreed with you on a point of principle will make his objections very clear to you in private. If he failed to secure your attention or consent for his point of view you would later find him stating his position in a national newspaper. Obviously, Awo was glad to have a man of Aluko's stature and convictions around him who was willing to stand up for what he believed to be right. It is of course also revealing that the political leader had the generosity of heart and intellectual playfulness to tolerate a maverick but loyal compatriot such as the professor of economics.        The bane of our parties and several organisations is the dearth of men and women who are willing to leave their comfort zones and speak truth to power. Obviously leaders surrounded with yes men who are merely second guessing them are not likely to have the benefit of rich and informed counsels.  As is well known and as the opening quote suggests adversarial policy analysis in which an established position is rigorously interrogated often helps to focus perspectives and refine strategies. Our parties are in the mess they are in because their intellectual foot soldiers or court advisers are receding from taking principled positions.      Going back to the PDP for example, much was heard two or so years ago about a reformist group within the party imbued with the agenda to reform, overhaul and rebrand the party. Tragically, the reform effort fizzled out without noticeable impact on the underlying structures of the party. The nobility of Sola Oke disagreeing with the party even if his premises are tenuous may be the required impetus to get the party bosses to do things right. As for the ACN, its current soul-searching and turbulent ruminations forced on it by signal electoral loss could well be productive if they lead to thorough going reform of the party structures as well as a redefinition of strategies and tactics.      Such an edifying juncture will not come about however without an ameliorative momentum developing from party members standing up for what they believe.   Prof Olukotun is Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Entrepreneurial Studies at Lead City University, Ibadan. ayo_olukotun@yahoo.com 07055841236