An honest analysis of the state of the country leaves no doubt as to where we are heading should we continue in this trajectory.
We are faced with widespread insecurity, a nose-diving economy, unprecedented ethnoreligious inequality, state abetted terrorism among others. It is, therefore, only patriotic to hold the government responsible, but in doing so, we should be reminded that Nigeria is a multi-party democracy and this system requires vibrant opposition to function properly.
Although the PDP couldn’t muster enough votes to be in government in the 2015 and 2019 national elections, that the Nigerian people gave the party substantial votes to be the runner-up imposes on them the responsibility to check the excesses of the government and scrutinize its policies.
Disappointingly, for a party that prides itself as the largest in Africa, it has refused to act its size. Rather than positioning itself as a formidable opposition, what we have instead is a political party that believes it has no business with the people beyond elections.
The People’s Democratic Party acts as though a political contest is a musical audition where runners-up just retire to their homes and wait for the next edition, but, far from that, runners-up in elections have moral duties to the people and chief among them is keeping the government on its toes.
Their first two years outside the corridors of power might be excused as formative years in opposition, but there is no explaining away their impotent opposition thereafter.
Of the over 150 PDP lawmakers in both chambers of the National Assembly, none has distinguished himself as a symbol of opposition. There is in fact no semblance of opposition whatsoever on the floor of the National Assembly.
The Secretariat of the main opposition party remains silent on critical national issues and when it does find its voice, all we get are weak press statements without corresponding actions.
An opposition that remains silent while the country goes through this rough ride does not deserve the vote of the people ever again and should be treated as an accomplice.
Now on the third force, the last general elections have proved the idea of a third force to be an outright myth, of course, a strong third force can emerge in Nigeria, but it is almost unrealistic under these current crusaders.
The 2019 election has exposed most, if not all of them as opportunists who place their ambitions over and above the greater good of the country, contrary to the patriotic image they love to project.
If the current “reactionary” political parties they condemn can easily shift grounds to dislodge the PDP in 2015, should it not be easier for the “revolutionary” third forces to unite provided they are sincere?
As Nigerians wait patiently for the next election to catch their breath, the country can not continue with the double tragedy of a careless government and an insolent opposition.
PDP and others must wake up; their silence is not good for them and it’s not good for our country.
Asubiojo Olujuwon, Marshal.
Ibadan.
April 23, 2021
