SECTION D: Remodeling Political Culture
In conclusion of this momentous question series, the new political culture that Nigeria requires her next democratically elected President to facilitate by starting with his political party on May 29, 2023, is one encapsulated in my article titled “From Tea Parties To Political Parties: Formatting The Highfliers Of Democratic Regression To Livewires Of Demonstrable Progression”. The piece was published on the 12th day of June, 2022, in commemoration of Nigeria’s 2022 Democracy Day and the 30th anniversary of the annulment of the June 12, 1993 Presidential election believed to have been won by the late Chief M.K.O Abiola.
If politics is not all about power-grabbing but intended for good governance, and good governance is in turn intended for service, imagine both the ruling and opposition political parties in Nigeria taking up a new culture that entails;
1. Civic volunteering & community service: Without contravening the electoral laws (that is, without engaging in open campaigns; without wearing politically branded items etc.) and after notification of relevant authorities, wouldn’t it be a remodeled political culture for political parties to mobilize their members to do the following even when the elections are not around the corner;
• clean a dirty market on a weekend;
• clear blocked drains of major roads;
• control road traffic during a logjam;
• coordinate fund-raisers to rebuild a dilapidated round-about, primary health center, school or Police Station;
• and many more
2. Development-inclusive meeting agendas: “An X-ray of the usual meeting agendas (pre-election and post-election) of political parties divulges 5 major discussions around self namely ‘how’ to raise & share campaign funds; distribution formula for political offices; contracts-lobbying; influencing, planning & execution of empowerment programmes by legislators within the party; and extension of moral & financial support to members hosting social events like birthday, burial, chieftaincy & house-warming ceremonies). Instead, why can’t a political party meeting in this new age have an item on its agenda that permits discussions of identified classrooms without roofs within the party’s geographical location? Whether your party is in power or not, is it forbidden to take a picture of the dilapidated classroom and attach same to a letter to be written and forwarded to the Ministry of Education after your political party meeting?
3. Physical development-related innovation in political contests: For instance, instead of N100m (one hundred million naira) price tag for the purchase of Expression Of interest (EOI) forms for Presidential contests, can political parties be innovative in compelling contestants to undergo physical development of their society? For example, can’t the party request aspirants to each expend N50m on the upgrade of 1 primary health center or 2 schools or 3 Police stations in their LGAs of origin (with verifiable evidence – pictures, videos etc.) within 4 weeks before coming forward to procure the form for (the remaining) N50m?
4. Political party Academy: An APC Academy, Labour party Academy, PDP Academy and so forth will do well to articulate respective party ideologies; enlighten new members; train new public office-holders on legislative or executive duties (as the case may be); develop policy thrusts for Presidents, Governors & LGA Chairmen and function as their routine think-tanks; regularly update old members on party ethos; adapt/adopt best development practices from various parts of the globe and share same with members etc. Won’t it?
5. Stoppage of the crowning of Presidents and Governors as ‘leaders’ of political parties: It is despicable and anti-democratic, in my view, for a ruling party (not the government) to subjugate the decisions of thousands or millions of party members to the whims and caprices of one President or Governor within the party. What does the job description of a party Chairman imply, if he/she is not the leader of the party? When Mr. President or Mr. Governor falls short of the party’s ‘legitimate and selfless’ expectations, will any of the Chairman, Working Committee, Executive Committee, Board of Trustees, Council of Elders or other organs of the party be empowered to reprove and nudge him/her back to track when he/she is already seen as the ‘leader of the party’?
Therefore, do you agree with the five points above as examples of how political parties in Nigeria can remodel our political culture?
a. I strongly agree because the points truly represent a new political culture and they are practicable.
b. I agree but I’m not really convinced that they are practicable.
c. I disagree because the points are too idealistic and not practicable.
d. I strongly disagree because the prevailing political culture in Nigeria is not as bad as being portrayed.
Dr. Adetolu Ademujimi is a Medical Doctor, Author, Reformer, Coach, Public Policy expert and social entrepreneur, who wrote in from Akure in Nigeria. Email: ademujimi@yahoo.co.uk; Website: www.adetoluademujimi.com
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