Political chit-chat

Political thoughts

I got up the other morning with a strong resolve to pen these political thoughts. Now let me share same with readers here.

Opposition in politics is not conceived to be a permanent state. It is a temporary position where you grow capacity to grow up into being the ruling power. The operative words then would e ‘growing capacity.’ And when you grow stuff, it invariably has to be seen. Bringing it down to the realities of the Nigerian political condition today, we would charge the mainstream Nigerian opposition parties today, and particularly too, the ACN and CPC. If they do not reform with a view to continuing to grow capacity even in these non-electoral times, they would still not see power federally when the die is cast in 2015 or so. As for the ruling PDP, someone high up within its own fold once used the metaphor of ‘dry fish that cannot be bent.’ We still dey laugh.

 A second thought is that Power at its base indeed, is a structure. While strong individuals may be important in pushing the required political goals from time to time, it is however more strategic to work on an even more enduring template that structures must continually be built, overhauled and re-examined.

Tinubu, Buhari, Ribadu and all of the prominent frontline players in the political class, today should watch it. There would be more revolts from the middle.

It s important today that we check out Labour’s metamorphosis as we go on. That party, like the APGA, has a story to tell. Among other things, top players within its system today must recognize the immediate baggage that comes with its name. Why not necessarily being a hostage of its naming, the truth however is that it can change it if it can no longer carry it! The recent body-speak of Gov. Olusegun Mimiko is not helping things. The Iroko and his platform must be seen to stand for something. Anything goes would clearly not work now. Let Labour speak clearly now or forever remain silent. A word is enough for the wise.

Fashola, Rochas, Al-Makura, Oshiomhole, Ogboru, we salute you. We are waiting to see how things would play out for and with you in the coming months. We dey greet o.

Professor Attahiru Jega, though you have done basically quite well this time around, but please we enjoin you to work harder even now as the new Nigeria that we are talking about looks like it is still ahead. In this, you may want to start looking at the troublesome issues of the last polls afresh and start preparing early for the next one.

Education and jobs, Mr. President will save you, and you can take it that this blogger who has been around for a long time surely knows what he is talking about. This is what those immediate post-election riots were all about if the truth is to be told in these more sober moments. And it is a very strong fuel in both the Niger Delta militancy as well as the Boko Haram inferno. Learn from Lula in Brazil who though elected a socialist sturdily crossed the ideological line to grow Brazil into being one of the most prosperous economies in the world at his exit from power last year. You also have the lesson to draw from the ubiquitous Communists in China who have also built a formidable economy for themselves even when the world continues to debate whether they are right, left or center-leaning. The answer, my dear Presido, is in the details. And while we are at it, what really is the game that we are playing with this new Single Tenure dribble. Is it as innocent as you are putting it? No shaking sha. Well done o.