2015 ELECTION NIGERIANS SHOULD LEARN FROM HISTORY
Record have it that the Nigerian election have never been
peaceful especially in the Fourth Republic, perhaps the only
better one however, was the 1999 election and one can easily
explain why it was a little better.
And to me it seems The 1999 general election was contested
between two interest groups: on the one hand there were the
politicians who camouflaged into different political parties PDP,
APP, AD etc and united in their ultimate cause and that is to
grab power away from the military who were always
interrupting the sweet flow of democracy in Nigeria for more
than a decade. The second group of course were the military
who were waiting for a slight mistake from these 'bloody
civilians' and held on to the reign of Nigerian leadership. But
these politician because they were united in their cause refuse
to give that chance and so they were successful in their
resolution to send the military straight back to the barracks
where they rightfully belong. So, to me the 1999 election was
actually not an election that was contested between politicians
from different political parties though it may appear to be the
case, but it was one contested between the politicians generally
and the military.
We all are witnesses to what happened in the subsequent
elections, how highly violent they were and quite unpeaceful, it
is a known fact that these only get worse by the year, 2003,
election was better and more peaceful than 2007, election and
so it went on and on and on. This is after the politicians became
in charge of politics, and the real battle has started, when they
have their grip on the military and Nigerians through
orchestrated means they know best.
One will hope that these politicians remain united to saddle the
ship to the promise land, that they did not gamble with peoples
life, that they preach politics, true politics a violence free
politics. But the reverse is the case, this is apparent through
their actions and inactions.
At the eve of the battle day we see cross carpeting among
sworn enemy politicians and sworn enemy political parties who
in the past have sow hatred, enmity and disunity in the minds of
their supporters which resulted in thousands been dead,
maimed or permanently incapacitated some were and are still
excommunicated, all because of some foes who in time have
become birds of thesame feather who now fly together, united
again by their interest.
One beauty of history is that it has a lot to offer us and in this
juncture I urge all those interested in Nigeria to join me as I take
a clue from history.
The French revolution lasted between 1789 and 1799, it was an
influential period of social and political upheaval in France and
Historians widely regard the revolution as one of the important
event in human history. One of the driving force in this
revolionary change which later shaped the world from the 20th
century was the Third Estate, and about this Estate one of the
theorist of the revolution Abbe Sieyes wrote in his book
published in the early days of the revolution tittled "What is the
Third Estate?" and he asserts thus:
"What is the Third Estate? Everything. What has it been untill
now in the political order? Nothing. What does it want to be?
Something." and the third Estate came out indeed to become
something. May be this is what Nigeria and Nigerians need to
ask themselves
Why don't Nigerians ask ourselves What is Nigeria? Everything.
What has it been untill now in the political order? Nothing. What
does it want to be? Something.
However, to become something in the political order, Nigeria
must remain United like the Third Estate in the french revolution
in 1789/99 and closely, like the Fourth Republic Nigerian
politicians against the military in 1999.
Let all Nigerians unite and remain united, lets play it safe and
free, lets join hands and fight this menace called violence or
post election violence and get it right this time around. When it
comes to interest, a politician is selfish, if however, these
politicians can sacrifice their individual interest for a collective
interest why not Nigerians? This Nigeria is ours, lets give her
our best and get it right this time, so that while the world learnt
from the French Revolution, the giant of Africa can atleast give
Africa something to learn.
I will end with the statement of a well known activist thus: "
think not of what your country can do for you, think of what you
can do for your country" Long Live Federal Republic of Nigeria.
S.K. Adams
260315
All(R)(R).
Record have it that the Nigerian election have never been
peaceful especially in the Fourth Republic, perhaps the only
better one however, was the 1999 election and one can easily
explain why it was a little better.
And to me it seems The 1999 general election was contested
between two interest groups: on the one hand there were the
politicians who camouflaged into different political parties PDP,
APP, AD etc and united in their ultimate cause and that is to
grab power away from the military who were always
interrupting the sweet flow of democracy in Nigeria for more
than a decade. The second group of course were the military
who were waiting for a slight mistake from these 'bloody
civilians' and held on to the reign of Nigerian leadership. But
these politician because they were united in their cause refuse
to give that chance and so they were successful in their
resolution to send the military straight back to the barracks
where they rightfully belong. So, to me the 1999 election was
actually not an election that was contested between politicians
from different political parties though it may appear to be the
case, but it was one contested between the politicians generally
and the military.
We all are witnesses to what happened in the subsequent
elections, how highly violent they were and quite unpeaceful, it
is a known fact that these only get worse by the year, 2003,
election was better and more peaceful than 2007, election and
so it went on and on and on. This is after the politicians became
in charge of politics, and the real battle has started, when they
have their grip on the military and Nigerians through
orchestrated means they know best.
One will hope that these politicians remain united to saddle the
ship to the promise land, that they did not gamble with peoples
life, that they preach politics, true politics a violence free
politics. But the reverse is the case, this is apparent through
their actions and inactions.
At the eve of the battle day we see cross carpeting among
sworn enemy politicians and sworn enemy political parties who
in the past have sow hatred, enmity and disunity in the minds of
their supporters which resulted in thousands been dead,
maimed or permanently incapacitated some were and are still
excommunicated, all because of some foes who in time have
become birds of thesame feather who now fly together, united
again by their interest.
One beauty of history is that it has a lot to offer us and in this
juncture I urge all those interested in Nigeria to join me as I take
a clue from history.
The French revolution lasted between 1789 and 1799, it was an
influential period of social and political upheaval in France and
Historians widely regard the revolution as one of the important
event in human history. One of the driving force in this
revolionary change which later shaped the world from the 20th
century was the Third Estate, and about this Estate one of the
theorist of the revolution Abbe Sieyes wrote in his book
published in the early days of the revolution tittled "What is the
Third Estate?" and he asserts thus:
"What is the Third Estate? Everything. What has it been untill
now in the political order? Nothing. What does it want to be?
Something." and the third Estate came out indeed to become
something. May be this is what Nigeria and Nigerians need to
ask themselves
Why don't Nigerians ask ourselves What is Nigeria? Everything.
What has it been untill now in the political order? Nothing. What
does it want to be? Something.
However, to become something in the political order, Nigeria
must remain United like the Third Estate in the french revolution
in 1789/99 and closely, like the Fourth Republic Nigerian
politicians against the military in 1999.
Let all Nigerians unite and remain united, lets play it safe and
free, lets join hands and fight this menace called violence or
post election violence and get it right this time around. When it
comes to interest, a politician is selfish, if however, these
politicians can sacrifice their individual interest for a collective
interest why not Nigerians? This Nigeria is ours, lets give her
our best and get it right this time, so that while the world learnt
from the French Revolution, the giant of Africa can atleast give
Africa something to learn.
I will end with the statement of a well known activist thus: "
think not of what your country can do for you, think of what you
can do for your country" Long Live Federal Republic of Nigeria.
S.K. Adams
260315
All(R)(R).
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