With 2015 general elections by the corner, parties and aspirants on their platforms have again begun to solicit for votes, with promises of what they would do if voted into office.
The recurring decimal has been a situation where politicians ride on the back of hapless electorates to achieve their selfish aim. And as soon as they get to office, all that matter to them are their family and godfathers who bankrolled their campaigns.
We note, sadly, that 54 years after independence and 15 years after the return to civil rule, political parties in the country still have in their manifestoes promises such as provision of electricity, water, and other basic things of life that should have been taken for granted in 21st century Nigeria. More saddening is the fact that manifestoes/roadmaps of the parties show same offerings without any significant difference. For instance, there is nothing unique in either the manifestoes of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) or those of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).
We recall that during the Second Republic, the late Obafemi Awolowo-Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), which controlled five states in the South West (Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Ondo and Bendel), had a distinct programme from the Federal Government. Everyone then knew what the party was offering. With free education, UPN made a huge mark in the areas of its control. But today, it appears the political parties are bereft of ideas, but are only interested in exercising control over the oil wealth at the centre.
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For the avoidance of doubt, manifestoes are clearly spelt-out programmes that a party hopes to pursue in order to provide for the good of the people if elected into office. Over the years, regrettably, party manifestoes in the country have been reduced to mere PowerPoint presentation, as recently observed by an analyst.
We daresay that when a political party fails in the simple duty of marshalling out its programmes in clear terms, it is a recipe for failure. We strongly believe that programmes should be prioritised in line with the need of the country at a given point in time. These manifestoes must not only be presented during campaigns; they should be published in various native languages and made available to the citizens for them to digest the contents and get familiar with the offerings as contained therein. Ideally, the electorate should cast their votes on the conviction that the manifestoes so presented are robust enough to earn a party their votes.
From the manifestoes or roadmaps of some leading political parties in the country, however, it does not appear that there will be a departure from what the experience has been since 1999.
By now, the opposition, for instance, should be selling its programmes to the Nigerian people (i.e., if it feels it has better offerings than the party in power). This should be a sustained campaign. But what we have discovered is that the roadmap/manifesto is not within the reach of most Nigerians.
At all levels, politicians must engage one another on the basis of programmes they have for the people, not unnecessary character-assassination and name-calling that only heat up the polity.
We also note that Nigerians have been docile for too long. This character of being gullible has done the people more harm than good. The inability of citizens to hold their leaders accountable has been responsible for the continued maladministration in the country.
It is our belief, therefore, that for there to be meaningful progress in the country, there must be a paradigm shift in the way we do things.
Elsewhere, electorates vote on the basis of articulated programmes and on the conviction that those elected will not abandon their programmes. In such climes, elected officeholders are the people’s servants and are under obligation to perform the duties of office in line with their manifestoes.
We want to emphasise that serving public officeholders wishing to either return to same office or higher offices must be voted on the basis of how well they have used the mandate given to them to impact the lives of the electorate. As opportunity beckons again, Nigerians must realise that how we use our votes will determine the direction the country will move in the next four years.
