Nigeria’s Political Future In The Next Decade

The year 2020 has arrived but Nigeria’s projected visions are far from being achieved, however, all hope is not lost.

Nigerians have a never give up spirit and that will come in handy because 2020 is a very significant year that ushers in a new decade, thereby availing Nigeria another opportunity to try at attaining the long desired growth which would see the country take its rightful place in the community of nations.

For any nation to grow significantly, the leadership and the people must be open to trying new ideas, especially those that have stood the test of time and have yielded desired results for many other countries.

Here are five ideas or ways of thinking that would help change and secure Nigeria’s political future within the next decade. 

1. Meritocracy Not Zoning

For too long the idea of zoning has been the basis upon which so much is done in Nigeria, but with a critical look at this concept, one cannot but come to the conclusion that zoning has not in any way gotten us closer to the goal of greatness as a nation.

To make this clearer, one must define the term – Zoning.

Zoning of public office is a form of political arrangement in which power as resides in the executive and other arms of government are shared, rotated or shifted from one section to the other either based on region, ethnic group or religious bias.

The problem with this system is that in a democratic setting like ours, when the time comes for public office holders to be voted in, political parties present choices not based on the most brilliant or most competent for the job, but solely on what region is next in line to occupy the seat and as such the nation continues to be served that which is not best for her development.

Meritocracy is the answer to the problems that Zoning has caused us as a people. If the nation is to grow politically in the next decade, then we must do away with zoning and begin to pick public office holders based on qualification and merit.

With meritocracy as the yardstick for selection, godfathers will be easily relegated to the background, as they can no longer impose on the people a candidate which the masses do not want.  

Read More: Britain Is Nigeria's Worst Enemy - Nnamdi Kanu

The principle of meritocracy should go even beyond our politics; it should be the standard of operation in every sector, if this idea forms the basis upon which everything we do as a nation is hinged, then we will have more people striving for excellence and it must be stressed that only the spirit of excellence can lift Nigeria from the doldrums of mediocrity where we have been for decades. 

2. Rule of Law

No nation has ever succeeded without operating under the rule of law; this is because chaos and lawlessness can only birth desolation and if by error a form of progress is attained, one can be sure that such progress will be destroyed in no time.

The rule of law simply means doing all within the confines of the law or as permitted by the constitution. Nigeria has for too long been ruled by leaders who do not obey the law, and that crippled the nation within the earlier years of her formation when the military were at the helm of affairs.

Though then military are no more in charge, still the rule of law cannot be said to totally hold sway over the operations of the democratic governments that have been in place within the last twenty years.

If we are to make progress in the next decade then all we do must be carefully guided by the law and these laws must be thoroughly reviewed so that they are in line with international best practices as well as with what is acceptable by the people.

It is pertinent to stress again that a lawless country cannot grow, no one wants to associate him/herself with lawlessness and as such investors will always shy away from a country where laws are not obeyed.

International relations will also be fractured if the rule of law is not given its rightful place in the scheme of things, the big nations will withdraw their supports and that would be a disaster because for a nation to develop and maintain its growth, it needs the support of its allies, without them, the nation can be left susceptible to various attacks that can render it grounded and failed.

3. Diversify/Be Open

This point cannot be over emphasized, Nigeria must begin to look beyond her nose and see opportunities beyond oil and gas. There are fertile grounds in other sector from Agriculture to Sports and down to Tourism.

Our leaders must become more open to the possibilities that exist; they must embrace technology and be ready to flow with advanced ideas that can help us move forward faster.

Fresh minds must be brought into the corridors of power where the fate of the nation is decided, they must be allowed to express freely and their opinions must be made to count.

We must begin to look beyond gender, race and tribe, with meritocracy as the watchword, the nation must be open to embrace whoever comes up with the most brilliant initiatives that will alleviate the suffering of the masses and enable the birth of a bright future for generations to come. 

4. Patriotism

If there is one major thing that has set us backward as a nation then it is the lack of patriotic individuals both within the masses and among those who lead us.

Nigerians must begin to see themselves first as Nigerians, without tribal sentiment and political bias.

When the American wakes in the morning he says ‘God bless America’ when the Briton arises at dawn he says ‘God bless the queen’; we too as Nigerians must cultivate the habit of Saying ‘God bless Nigeria’.

And beyond this prayer we must begin to cultivate the habit of seeking the nation’s good before our very own comfort, it is only in so doing that bribery will not be an issue, no one will sell their votes, no one will be pressured into paying their taxes and every one will frown at corruption.

It is patriotism that will help us come together and proffer solutions to the manifold problems besting us as a people.

5. Love

No house divided against its self can stand and no two persons can work together except they agree; hence we need love to make headway into the future.

We must love one another like we love ourselves; we must see each other as one nation and one people. If the Yoruba and Igbo will come to agree with the Hausa, and these three major tribes listen to what the minor tribes have to say and embrace them in unity, one can be sure that there is no challenge that the nation will not surmount.

Our minds must be transformed as not to see every other person as the enemy; we must identify our common enemy and channel all our resources to ensure that the foe is ousted.

If we channel our strengths in love towards building Nigeria and making it a better place, the world will marvel as to what we will achieve in the shortest possible time.