By ABBATI BAKO,psc,bsis,UK
Politics is the process of solving public problems and the process takes place through positive communication. This means that by electing the representatives of the people by the people (electorates) through free, fair, credible and acceptable elections the wishes of the people have been fulfilled by means of democratic communication. Communication is an essential element of democracy.
The today’s Supreme Court judgement on the cases filed by the former Vice President of Nigeria Atiku Abubakar of PDP and that of Mr. Peter Obi of Labour party was part of the communication in Political Democratic system. Judiciary is the highest court of law in Nigeria and it’s judgement is final. Judiciary is one of the key elements and principles of Democratic System anywhere in the world. So, the judgement delivered by the Supreme Court of Nigeria indicates that Democracy has come to stay in Nigeria.
So, congratulations to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu/Vice President Kassim Shettima the National Chairman of APC Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje (OFR) and the entire APC family in Nigeria and diaspora.
And again, the next line of action is for the President of Nigeria Bola Ahmed Tinubu to do what he promised to do for the people that elected him in 2023; that’s the meaning of Democratic System.
It’s now remain only 43 months out of 48 for the APC party and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to show up to Nigerians that his government has the political will to transform the country positively and be taken to the promised land.
Nigerians have hope in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to use his “team-ship” policy to remedy the problems that are afflicting the citizens of Nigeria especially what we called in political economy as “stagflation” (insecurity, high inflation, economic aridity, low industrial productions high unemployment rate amongst the youths and unproductive population and so on).
If within the next few months that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu can be able to tackle the above mentioned problems; his slogan “Renewed hope” and his political party APC will be re-elected in the coming elections of the year 2027 and beyond.
The last week’s schedule proposed by the CBN on the 43 items to be imported into the country will create competition in economic interplay in the country. Competition is the pillar of Capitalist Oriented Society like Nigeria. Capitalist market economy will be fantastic if there is competition.
The Tinubu’s promises and ambition right from his presidential campaign in 2022 is to correct the democratic system in Nigeria; of which it is undeniable fact the system is being undermined by corruption, naivety, security challenges, mismanagement, violence, bad governance and generally breakage of all the 57 rules and principles of democratic system in this very resourceful and emerging nation, Nigeria.
Allah (SWT) blesses Nigerian country with both human and natural resources. Nigeria is amongst the top 10 oil producing nation in the world and top 10 most populous (No. 6 position in the UN’s population ranking of 2023) and top 10 most resourceful nation on this planet. The world has confidence in Nigeria and the only problem with the country has been that there is lack competent, good governance, determined, qualitative and functional leadership that will move the nation forward within the shortest possible time. And again, Nigeria must to get honest, forecast, visionary, accountable, positive, with positive mission, democratic, patriotic, ambitious, fearless, determined, with political will and ready to lead. This writing understands that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu can do all that mentioned. So, the predictions made by the “JP Morgan Chase” last week that Nigeria will be amongst the “top 5 global economies by 2075” can be a reality if there will be concrete planning based on calendar time frame before the year 2075.
Globally speaking; all agree that even global leaders asserts that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has the will (as he honestly did in his two terms tenure in Lagos State) with the zeal and patriotism to see Nigeria shouldered with other global emerging nations like S/Arabia, UAE, India, Qatar, S/Africa, Brazil, Mexico and other 30 economic emerging nations of the world.
Unfortunately this huge country (Nigeria) has been technically poisoned via corruption and generally bad governance by the past leaders; especially during the military era.
Therefore, in Nigeria’s democratic setting, the only hope remain for Nigerians is for the citizens to ensure positive changes in their life (mindsets). Nigerians must be hard working and maximization and utilization of time—time is the most precious element in human life that’s to be honest, united and love one another as a united nation and the giant of Africa.
Economic planning from growth to standard in the next 20 years, education as a tool, try to boost mechanized agriculture to feed the nation, local manufacturing (as did by China and India) and leveraging the trade activities within the West African Continent should be the best agenda to locally develop the local economy within the African Continent generally.
But care must be taken because of the high expectation from Nigerians between 2023 to 2027. The APC must carefully serialize and strategize plans that will move Nigeria forward.
Otherwise, Nigerians will loose interest in political democracy. Because the whole system is still facing stagflation especially among the younger generations.
The current Tinubu’s administration should prepare for the quick serialization of 4 years’ agenda that will pave way for the current younger generations for generational shift of leadership from 2023/2027 upwards; this is a must that needs to be done ASAP.
The elders must step aside and groom the younger ones to takeover the mantle of leadership from the year 2031. But they must be taught how to be honest to the people and the nation and ready to lead. And again, government institutions and private sectors must be strengthened, enhanced and be given priority.
Politics means governance or leadership, the young generations must learn how to play the game in an honest way based on patriotism and must be in accordance with rules and principles of the system. Democratic system has 57 key elements and principles that must be adhered to.
*What is politics?
Let me quote the book (Elements of Politics 1999, University of Lagos) edited by Professors Remi Anifowose and Francis Enemuo (late) and others “The great Greek philosopher, Aristotle, began his famous work, politics, with the observation that “man is by nature a political animal”. This means that the social existence is politics and that two or more men interacting with one another are invariably involved in a political relationship. Aristotle also means that very few people prefer an isolated life to one that includes social companionship. Men are engaged in politics as they try to define their position in society, as they struggle for scarce resources and as they try to convince others to accept their points of view. Aristotle then concluded that the only way to maximize one’s individual capabilities and to attain the highest form of social life was through political interaction with others in an institutionalized setting, a setting designed to resolve social conflicts and set collective goals- the state”.
Professor Remi further defined politics as “process of making and execution of governmental decisions or policies”. That’s the authoritative allocation of values or who gets what, when and how, the quest for power, order and justice; the art of influencing, manipulating and controlling others; a process of resolution of conflict, in society and a struggle among actors pursuing conflicting desires on public issues. “Politics is the activity (negotiation, argument, discussion, application of force, persuasion, etc.) by which an issue is agitated or settled”.
Remi says that the Eastonian definition of politics as the “authoritative allocation of values for a society” is considered useful by political scientists”.
What remain for APC party is to try to follow all the rules and principles of democratic politics. Otherwise, no one can imagine or predict the next reactions or emotional feelings of Nigerians between 2023 to 2027.
Sincerely, Nigerians want to see concrete and quick policies and implementations that will suppress the hardship created by stagflation in the country. Otherwise, the people of Nigeria will lose confidence in Democracy.
Abbati Bako,psc,bsis,UK
Political Strategy and Communication Consultant IPRC Nigeria and former Special Adviser to the Governor of Kano State Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje (OFR) on Public Affairs—
