2023: The Solution Nigeria Needs -By Abdulrosheed Fadipe

One of the common refrains among political analysts and good governance advocates today is that Nigerians need to get their permanent voters cards. On social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, and in physical interactions, these people are urging(with enthusiasm) Nigerians who are eligible to vote with the eternal chorus: “Get Your PVC” as though it were the solution to the current situation of the country. Whenever I hear this watchword, the questions that readily come to mind are: go and get your PVC to do what exactly? To perpetuate the country’s status quo? To choose a lesser of two evils who would not upgrade to an angel come 2023?

I cannot but wonder how some people remain oblivious to the fact that the current political structure in Nigeria is bad; and if there is no restructuring of the system, our vote will not count, let alone produce good leaders.

We have experimented with this system and it is apparent that it is not working (at least, for the Nigerian masses whose interest the government is expected to serve). Like the Biblical Israelites, we keep moving in rigmarole, a voyage to the Promised Land that might have taken us 40 days has been elongated to a 40-year arduous journey.

Tons of questions need to be answered urgently; many problems need to be tackled. The high rate of unemployment among youths, the surge in ritual killings, poor socio-economic performance, widespread poverty, insecurity, corruption, low level of basic infrastructure, children’s out-of-school syndrome, hyper-inflation, deteriorated healthcare as well as faulty educational system, and many other problems in the country need urgent solutions.

It is a well-known fact that if a disease is not properly diagnosed, the patient cannot be cured. My diagnosis of Nigeria’s problem is bad political structure and the panacea is the total overhauling of the system (if you will, restructuring). Low turnout of eligible voters is not the problem of Nigeria. The political system should be reformed. Bringing in more Nigerians who lack the necessary background in economics and citizenship education to vote for good leadership without, at first, reforming the political system, will further exacerbate these problems. The quadrennial charades will continue to produce (recycle) bad leaders foisted on the country by the ‘owners of Nigeria.’

The present political system is structured to sustain bad governance which has given rise to poverty, insecurity, unemployment, and other crises hindering the progress of the country. Emphatically again, if the needful is not done and we keep going for elections every four years without reforms, the process will keep producing inept and corrupt leaders who will perpetuate the execrable living conditions of the masses. And if by chance, the populace unanimously elect a candidate thought to have good leadership traits (as they did in 1993), it will be akin to enthroning a new king on a cursed throne, and we all understand what will be the consequence: bad leadership.

I think our slogan now should be #WeWantAPlebiscite. Yes, we need a public opinion poll in which all matters affecting the country will be discussed and lasting solutions proffered with members representing all geographic areas, economic groups, religious and political affiliations, ethnicity, etc., in the country. Its resolutions must be accepted and executed by the sitting government.

By doing so, our political system will be transformed. This will encourage more political participation and we will be able to produce political leaders who are competent, tried-and-true and dedicated to serving the public’s interest. It is only when we have a government or leadership that works on the principles of good governance and is accountable to the Nigerian people that the country may be cured of its present afflictions and attain its rightful position: Giant Of Africa.

Abdulrosheed, a creative writer and Public Affairs Analyst, writes from Ilorin.

abdulrosheedfadipe@gmail.com

09036208508.