Organizing for Nigeria

I have learned over the last few years not to only agonize about certain situation, but to equally brainstorm about relative solution to issues during any process of thoughts. As we may have to recollect, the political history of Nigeria had been collectively dominated by Military regimes including some periods/intervals of Democracy. It is, therefore, believed that Nigeria's current situation dates back to some few decades ago.

Historically, the "First Republic" had been an administration with a parliamentary system plagued by intense regionalism; declining revenues and bitter power rivalry; magnified by the disparities in economic and education standards between the South and the North.

Indeed, one crisis of power struggle had led to another until the government was replaced in 1966.

The "Second Republic", which literally reflected the American Presidential System of Federalism, had a strong leadership to lead the country - but in almost the same manner as the First Republic - with a deplorable legacy of ethnical rivalries and reckless spending among many political parties across ethnic and religious groups.

The consequent to that sort of ineptitudes cleared the pathways for the Military to overthrew the Second Republic with the single argument and aim to build a new, viable economic and political regime. However, they (the Military) as well unfortunately governed the country in a shockingly iniquitous, villainous and wayward dictatorship - which solely led the way towards the abortive "Third and Fourth Republic".

Toyin Falola (1997) inferred as follows:

"The Military has ruled Nigeria for most of the time and has succeeded in building a strong centre that controls power and resources. While this has helped to minimize tensions among the states, it has increased the competition for control of the centre... The emergence of Democracy is made difficult by the excessive interest of the Military in government, the failure of civilian political actors to rise above self-interest, and the weakness of the civil society to constitute a respectable public opinion and opposition to dictatorship. No government has been able to sustain lasting popularity or confidence among the populace because official use power to promote selfish ends and to defend parochial, religious, and ethnic interests."

Yet the present "Fifth Republic" under a peaceful transition from Military to Civilian Government in 1999 is being expected to continue operating on the basis of the new presidential constitution, federalism, multiparty system, basic citizen and human rights, federal states arrangement and dissolution of states and religion.

Although Nigeria is momentarily experiencing her first periodic civilian-to-civilian regime and democratic hand-over since the Independence - but to which extremities? Unfortunately Nigeria is still - for one reason or another - confronted with a long-standing dubiousity, machanisations, political atrocities, ethnic and religiously strained-relations.

So what do we do or, rather, how do we go further as young-egghead Nigerians?

Do we have to keep watching the country being led to the ground by some favourable few or, do we argue for a favourable future?

How can we stop the cycle of nepotism, favouratism, oppressions, suppressions, lawlessness, and atrocious manners of many government officials that is holding back millions of Nigerians from striving, thriving and pursuing some standards of happiness?

Or do we seize a one time opportunity to develop a social and political movement based on the preponderance of good governance and the footsteps/legacies of all our Founding Fathers such as Nnamdi Azikwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Umaru Diko, Tafawa Balewa, Bola Ige, among many others that had once shaped the country with their constructive thoughts?

These very questions have become our own; and I am very confidence that the latter could be among the best and legitimate approaches to counteract all the on-going abracadabras in the country; to end the suffering of those trapped by poverty; and to forge a common bond of humanity, security, and shared purpose across cultures and religions.

Really for the first time in history, our generation would have the opportunity/possibility to end all atrocities by laying a more prosperous and secure future for posterity.

We can learn from many; and today we can invoke the same logic of many Founding Figures to declare that bad governance can be ended not in the time of our grandchildren, but in our time.

Perhaps I am too naiive, but let us all start organizing for Nigeria and her future!!!