Political and governance development in Nigeria is in its infancy since the return to democratic/civilian rule in 1999. Coupled with series of reforms in the political and electoral system in Nigeria, very little improvement is seen on how political actors and stakeholders play politics in Nigeria. The political landscape/atmosphere is characterised largely by the conventional politicians with rudimentary political ideologies of profit making which goes for the highest bidders and moneybags.
The conventional Nigerian politicians and political stakeholders see politics as a business venture for economic gains. This informs the current price tags on all elective positions from all political parties in the land all the way from a local government counsellor to the President. And the resultant effect of this kind of system is the do-or-die tendency the politicians bring to the political scene to win the election, recoup their investment and make profit. This has caused those who would venture into politics to make developmental impact to stay clear from the scene due to lack of economic and monetary muscle on one part and the inability to play the do-or-die game.
Although there have been calls for political participation of the mainstream population, these calls only end at election and voting. However, participation in party politics has received so little attention, especially from the young population. Party politics is very key in political participation because that is where elective positions and decisions are shared and taken. Therefore, the ability to stand for any elective position is seen by many as a great feat and it is presumed that one has garnered enough financial resources to withstand the rigour of party nomination, electioneering campaigns and several other activities that would see to the eventual victory of such an individual. However, this ability can only be achieved through sponsorship thereby creating room for godfatherism both economically and politically. The current bill that would pave way for young people to stand for elective positions if pass into law and the ongoing amendment of the 1999 constitution to allow independent candidature run parallel to the current political structure and electoral system in Nigeria if the later is not tinkered with.
It is, therefore, imperative for a new set of politicians to emerge in Nigeria’s political landscape to counter the conventional politicians. These sets of politicians are called development oriented politicians with development mindset to create impact in the Society and not for monetary or economic gains. Development-oriented politicians can only emerge from community-based organisations (CBOs), civil society organisations (CSOs), faith-based organisations (FBOs) and other non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that are development based. These organisations other than political parties would act as the sole benefactors to these politicians and their focus is purely development, impact-driven and service. They would search within their membership, identify good and impeccable individuals that can stand for elective offices, fund their electoral activities – from grassroots mobilisation to electioneering campaigns through a political party platform that suite their ideologies. In return, the candidate only ploughs back to the organisation based on agreed terms and conditions for the organisational sustainability in order to fund and sponsor others in future elections.
The advantage of this is that –
- These sets of politicians stand a better chance to deliver on their electioneering promises because their sponsors would not require them to pay back whatever has been invested in their electioneering exercises thereby freeing up resources for developmental projects and activities
- Political godfatherism is eliminated so the individual has no encumbrance in discharging his/her duties
- They are only answerable to the people who send them there
- These organisations are closer to the people and have wider and broader structures than political parties so they are better placed to reach a larger audience
- They utilise both the party platform and the platform of the organisation that sponsors them to reach a larger audience for support
- These organisations stand a better chance of fielding best brains, intellectuals, technocrats and young people for political offices that deliver.
Finally, it is suggested that CBOs, CSOs, FBOs and NGOs begin to partner and collaborate with relevant groups to midwife this new set of politicians to wrestle political powers from the conventional politicians and political actors in Nigeria. It is believed that if this is done, the conventional, archaic and moneybag politicians will realise that their game is up and that the people have woken up to rewrite Nigeria’s political narratives for the development of the nation and the people. They will have no choice than to leave the scene.
Anyetye Umoren
It saddens my heart to see that our leaders go into politics for the purpose of making money. A wise man once said “what is wrong with the black man mind?”
This questions got me thinking.
But it gladdens my heart that our generation is beginning to have a change of heart and working towards positive change.
An intentional act towards the right direction will yield awesome result.
Thanks for sharing.
You are welcome. Let’s work together in our generation to rewrite the narrative for our coming generations
true talk bro
nothing is wrong with black man mind… we just got too many bad heads in the government system
Exactly bro enough of criticism youth must wake-up take responsibility for their actions.
Bad governance has always been d primary problem in Africa.
Things will change eventually…..but who knows when?
The time is now. Let’s join voice to make that happens. We in this generation are the change we need. It’s our hands
we must start the change movement with si4dev..
One day, Africa will get it right in terms of good leadership. It’s a challenge, but it must be conquered. If not now, then soonest.
Very very soon my brother
we must start the movement now..
It’s been a thought that has been lingering in my mind. Thank you SI4DEV for giving the platform to share it. I hope it will start a formidable movement for a positive political change in our nation that bring the much need development
I agree with you on the need to have development oriented politicians. I feel that the developmental organizations must unite forces to achieve this as we know that politics is a game of number. Kudos on your article!
Thanks my first lady. This is my passion
africans youths must stand up to feel the gap, we must prepare to fight corruption in any system that we may find ourselves
Nigerian politicians lacks political will, whatever change we are seeking is tie down to political will which I personally see as a big gab. I am in total support of your final statement “need for CSOs, associations and groups of like-minds to collaborate to bring about change”. Nice article.
Thank you Felicia
Nigerians politicians fail to bring the change that interms of economy as there is stability in our economy and they also fail interms of democratic as ppl suffer from others who seem them self as supreme to others.
We need a change. And that change begins with us. We can do it.
Ope, that’s the spirit!
“Party politics is very key in political participation because that is where elective positions and decisions are shared and taken.” This is apt. I belong to a political party for this reason.
Are you in the right political party??? Joining political parties in nigeria is not encouraging, especially if you want to run for office.
we can still advocate for better nigeria without joining a political party. Joining a political party will make one focus on one side of government, becuase you will always be on one side or the other side:: the ruling party or the opposition..
Our vision will be killed as a change agents if we are in politics.. be a free change agent.
But sir, you can’t change from outside. You can only put pressure. Please note that everyone who is not in government or in the ruling party is opposition. Your own opposition is just that you do not belong to any party but opposing by putting pressure – pressure group.
Yes, Sir! Because political decisions affect us on everyone dimensions positively or negatively. He who has power controls everything! So we must be part of those who have this power.
If the good keep avoiding getting involved in politics because they think is a dirty game bad will keep ruling over the good and the resultant effect is what we see all over Nigeria. So my opinion let the good spirited individuals come into politics.
Nigeria political system will corrupt the good ones, we all know this as Nigerians .
That is why we are calling for a shift from conventional and development-oriented. The political system can only corrupt those who want to be corrupted. Also, using only a political party platform alone would facilitate that corruption because he who pays the piper dictates the tunes. If you use the party platform only for the office you are seeking and not for financial and monetary support, there is a limit the party can dictate to you. The clear example is the President of the USA. He used the party to contest the election but did not rely on the party for financial support in his electioneering campaigns and activities. He didn’t borrow money from big party members and godfathers. So if the issue of money is taken out of the way in Nigerian politics, it will solve 75% of corruption in Nigeria.
the US president is a rich man on his own and he still have some donors that are corrupt, and he is a corrupt man, look at his cabinets..
and i always say corruption is not only about money.
But here in Nigeria, the major and number corruption is money corruption, sir, if we must say the truth.
You are very correct.
I will need to ask you which political party are you in and what are the reasons you join and what office are you running for in 2019?
And write out your party manifesto ??
Change agents need to free themselves from politics..
hmm This is actually attainable, but not with the present set of politicians we have on ground now
They are bunch of selfish and never let go leaders who dont care about you and I
Yes, that why we need to always pettion them and let the world know how bad they are only, if you are not politican thats when your voice will be heard.
Petitions do not go far. These politicians kill petitions. It is getting involved and doing something different is the solution.
Sir, nobody gives out power or let go of power. Power is sweet and power corrupt. So, if we must get power from the current leaders who have failed us, we have to fight for it. Not by carrying guns but strategically and being innovative. One way I am advocating for such fight is by creating a new set of politicians that not money-mongers and the need to de-emphasising money in our politics. It can be done. If international development partners who really are interested in developing our democracy can fund people who really want to go into government to serve and make developmental impacts, the narrative will change.
good way to go..
Good one
Thank you, Musa.
Good article.