The selection, rather than election of candidates for the forthcoming Local Government elections in Lagos State, is a bad omen for the state.
It is a bad omen in the sense that the All Progressives Congress (APC), which prides itself as an ardent supporter of democracy, should not be seen to be involved in this charade of selection, which the party referred to as compromise.
This does not speak well, not only for APC, but for the entire democratic process, as it seemingly signals the beginning and the end of APC as a party.
It is unfortunate that as a result this imposition, unpopular candidates in their respective Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas LCDAs) were returned by their leaders to contest the election, especially in Ikorodu division. The party leaders, Olorunfunmi Bashorun and Biodun Ogunleye, who have become unpopular among youths in Ikorodu division, have decided to impose their stooges on these councils faithful.
Ogunleye has succeeded in imposing on the electorate, Wasiu Adesina, whom many described as a non-performer when he was the Executive Secretary of the council for almost two years, and is now coming back to rule Ikorodu people.
The popular candidate, Alhaji Rilwan Jinadu was rejected by the party leaders because of the power and influence they would get from their stooges. It was being touted that the party leaders had reasoned that it they went for primary, Jinadu would win the election; hence, they resorted to back door selection.
Already, WhatsAPP is awashed with various fraudulent activities of Wasiu Adesina’s administration during his last dispensation in the council (see box for peoples’ reactions).
Our last word here is to quote extensively from Punch Newspaper editorial of May 29, 2017.
Here, the failure of the formal institutions is stark. The people should, therefore, exert pressure, using all legitimate means, to demand better governance. Successive administrations have failed on almost all counts, presiding over massive looting, economic mismanagement, and failing to deliver security and life’s basics. Our legislators are reckoned by many to be the worst in the world; yet, perhaps, the highest paid, appropriating resources for themselves and unaccountable to their constituents. The judiciary is adjudged corrupt, swift to impose harsh penalties on the weak but aggressively protective of the rich and powerful, who plunder the public treasury. People should demand briefings from their Councillors, Local Government Chairmen, State and Federal Legislators. Petitions, peaceful marches, law suits and town hall meetings are ready tools.
Nigerians, who abandoned their destiny to politicians, should resolve today to shake off their lethargy. Where even political parties have failed, the active organs of the people should rouse from their slumber. During the oppressive military era, the labour unions, students, professionals, civil society groups, activist lawyers, market women and the mass media stood for the rights of Nigerians.
We have a rich history of making our voices heard: Aba women rose against colonial oppression in 1929; Egba women under Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti resisted unjust taxes in 1947; Abibatu Mogaji rallied market women to join the resistance against the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election result. Labour activists, led by Michael Imoudu, held strikes in 1948. Indeed, Nigerian workers hold a heroic track record of activism and protests under colonial and post-independence military and civil rule. This also is true of students, who, together with workers, civil society and the mass media, became the only real opposition to successive military juntas. They were the vanguard of the struggle that ushered in the Fourth Republic while a majority of politicians, who became its beneficiaries, were active collaborators with the military.
Without active participation and insistence on accountability, the politicians have no incentive to stop ruining and stealing the country blind. An obsequious “Big Man” attitude towards public office holders is the very antithesis of democracy.
Rather, the social contract principle that underpins it, confers on the people the right to remove unjust representatives. It was the people who ignited the Arab Spring, turfed out military dictators in South Korea, Ferdinand Marcos in Philippines and in Latin America.
While popular activism may not always lead to ideal outcomes hoped for, the right of the people to exercise their power is necessary for democracy to truly thrive. Venezuelans have been on the streets to break the logjam created by feuding politicians. Nigerians have to make a choice today: whether to continue to leave democracy to politicians alone or to insist, using all lawful means, on accountability and corruption-free service delivery from public officials. They can choose to continue to line up behind corrupt political actors, ethnic champions and religious demagogues, or join the global movement of people demanding accountable governance and inclusion.
And lastly, with this quotation from The Punch, enough is enough and our leaders should start thinking of how to hand over the reigns of governance to the youths, who have become very aggrieved.