Opinion
"Ignore your past history and make the same mistake."
Let me remind our politicians that in the 1960s, ONE OF THE POPULAR SLOGANS IN NIGERIA WAS "NO CONDITION IS PERMANENT" following the military coup. You saw what happened to the PDP in its 16 years in government. Look at what is happening to the PDP today. Many are cross-carpeting to APC so that their sins could be forgiven. And, what is more? We have politicians who boast that they don't believe in the rule of law. For a nascent democracy, these acts are dangerous. Regrettably, often the "law of self-interest" trumps our moral judgments and values as this video from Arise TV, among other things, attests.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUSrNQO230U
I was one of several political scientists who called for a variable-sum-game against a zero-sum-game policy for this administration after the 2023 presidential election given the depth of political divisions in the country. This counsel followed the Mslim-Muslim presidential ticket. It should be recalled that the Vice President himself was aware of the issue. Indeed, he called for the "most corrupt, and most incompetent Christian from the South to be named President of the Senate. I do not have to remind the VP and the nation of the disturbing outcomes, IN THE SENATE, of his recommendation.
Today, the performance of our major institutions of governance, both at the national and sub-national levels, leaves a lot to be desired. To make matters worse, the government has not only ignored the views of Nigeria's intelligentsia on the matter of good governance, but also marginalized her university professors and medical doctors. How can members of these groups support such a government enthusiastically? Indeed, as the discussions in this video suggest, please reach out to a cross-section of the country by placing the national interest of the country above the APC's interests.
Finally, may I remind the our politicians that:
A NATION DIVIDED AGAINST ITSELF CANNOT STAND! (Abraham Lincoln)
A HOUSE (OR CASTLE) BUILT ON QUICKSAND CANNOT STAND!
Right now, you can appreciate why we have been calling for PATRIOTISM and GOOD GOVERNANCE!
I rest my case.
Ike Udogu
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