Crossing the red line by the Opposition and Government(5), by Eric Teniola

From last week continues the narrative on the post-election formation of a coalition government of NPC/NCNC as  not one single party had won enough seats to form the government alone; this also entailed the appointment of ministers based on regional representation of the parties concerned

Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola, deputy leader of the Action Group, was appointed Premier of the Western Region on December 15 in succession to Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who had become Leader of the Opposition in the new Federal Legislature.

On January 12, 1960, the new Federal House of Representatives held its first meeting. On January 14, 1960, the Parliament passed a motion for Nigeria’s Independence. April 22, Prime Minister Abubakar left Nigeria for London to complete talks for final transfer of power to Nigeria on October 1, 1960.

In his remark after the election, Chief Obafemi Awolowo wrote: “In 1959, during the election that was to usher in Independence in 1960, I embarked on an elaborate campaign in the North. I was using helicopter to campaign in every nook and corner of the North. The most important aspect of the campaign of the Action Group was free education, life more abundant for the generality of the people etc, etc.

Our manifesto was centred on the development of man. We worked so hard that the Sardauna of Sokoto, Ahmadu Bello, was forced to campaign, a thing he was never used to. My hope at that time was to liberate the North from illiteracy, ignorance and the ‘ranka dede’ mentality. If I had won the election, I would have put a lot of money educating the North in order to bridge the educational gap between that Region and the Western and Eastern Regions. This was because I saw the lack of education as a stumbling block against political enlightenment of the whole Region.

“But I think that the sooner than later the leaders of the North will see the repercussion of their selfishness and carelessness in their attitude towards Western education. But the time will not be too late, and if they don’t regret it or blame themselves for lack of foresight, the Northern youth may ask their leaders some questions when they see the rate of development that goes with education in many parts of Southern Nigeria. They may then wonder whether it was in their stars or in the selfishness, carelessness and lack of foresight of their leaders. If I had been given the chance in 1959 or 1979, I would have changed the fortunes of the North as a place that can be compared favourably with the South in terms of educational, social and economic developments.”

Yes, there was election in 1959, the first, before independence, but not much violence as we are witnessing now. If one observes, bombings, kidnappings and other violent incidents have heightened up in many parts of the country in the last few months; in fact some states are no go areas. We are going to witness more and more and more. These incidents are not isolated. They are related to the forthcoming elections. No doubt it appears that they are coordinated and organised by the opposition to discredit the ruling party as inoperative and a failure. It is the same method those in government now used when they were in opposition some years back. 

No doubt, both the opposition and the government have crossed the red line and there seems to be no ceasefire and no going back. The sad aspect is that innocent people are the victims of the senseless war, all in a bid for power and to loot the treasury.

A system that gives power to the ruling party a winner takes all approach will definitely bring chaos. When we adopted the Presidential System of government, we thought it would be participatory but it is obvious now it is winner takes all kind of government. If you are in opposition in Nigeria today, you are presumed dead or classified dead. The opposition are left out of the scheme of things. The executives have become monsters and greedy who do not want to share power with anyone. So, the opposition feel shut out of the system. 

There must be a ceasefire between both sides. Or else things will continue to get worse. Politicians must not be allowed to destroy this beautiful country.  

•Teniola, a former Director at the Presidency, wrote from Lagos.

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