Agenda Papers Editorial: Is One Party System Of Government The Best For Nigeria Today…. Let Nigerians Decide—-By Austine Uche-Ejeke

Once again the political temperature of the country is gradually getting charged and reaching its frenzy as the journey to 2027 general election gathers momentum.

But one significant observation that is attracting global attention is the steady drift of the country towards one party system.

For quite some time now there has been a sustained movement from people in various political parties joining the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) in what many have described as tsunamic political movement of the century.

At this point in time we must state it categorically clear that what we stand for is the evolution of a party system or political culture that is best suited for our clime and peculiarities.

We must sound a note of warning that we are for those arguing that the best system of government must not be the western democracy majorly patterned after the American presidential system of government.

Thus we have suggested different types of political system for the country like rotational presidency among the six geo-political zones in the country, two party system, one term tenure of six years for president and governors and a host of other suggestions or even going back to once practiced parliamentary system of government.

Be that as it may our major focus now is on the rave of the moment, the silent and perceived drift of the country towards a one party state as virtually all the major opposition political parties are infested with one incurable cancerous affliction or the other and as such their members are moving into the governing party which seems to be the adorable bride.

One party system may not be bad after all going by some countries that have practised it or are still practising it today. The country that readily comes to mind is China as a good example of a country that has achieved tremendous progress under a one party state. But same thing cannot be said of counties like Eriteria, Cuba and others who could be said to have not done very well under the same one party system.

One party system is highly recommended to a very divisive and highly incohesive country that will require not just a political party but a patriotic and exemplary leader that will galvanize the country towards progress and development without unnecessary distractions and squabbles that is often seen in multi party system.

But one thing is certain a one party state comes with its baggages and one of them is the fear of tilting towards totalitarianism, intolerant and extreme discipline. No doubt a political system with a credible opposition will serve better as that opposition will be the checks and balances of the ruling party.

For instance the discipline in China has made it that any convicted political office holder on corruption and stealing of public funds is killed without an option of the culprit going to prison for few number of years and coming out to enjoy his loot

No wonder some Nigerians reminded chairman of the ruling APC Ganduje who said that there is nothing wrong in Nigeria being a one party system. Though he received applause from some quarters hailing his suggestion but some people also reminded him that if Nigeria were to be China practising one party system he would have been killed on account of corruption and embezzlement established against him.

Another angle to the one party system drift in Nigeria is the way and manner it is being pursued. Is it occurring naturally as what Nigerians want at this point in time or is it being forced down the throat of the people. It is in the light of this that former President Goodluck Jonathan warned that it will calimitous and disastrous if the current wave of people moving into one party is being forced and not allowed to be the natural choice of the Nigerian people.

Going into specifics now on what account will the majority of Nigerians gallivate towards one party system under the rulership of APC having tasted governance from the other political parties. Can an average Nigerian come out with all sincerity and say their lives are better now than twenty years ago when the other political party was in power.

Take it down to the man in charge as the president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Is his personality, life style, history, background and political philosophy very sound and emulative enough for Nigerians to surrender their political destiny to his hand as the revolutionary and transformational leader of the one political system. This is a president whose life is full of mysteries of incoherent place of birth, age, state of of origin, parental background. His school and academic background so hazy and fraught with alleged forgeries and inexactitudes. His sudden stupendous source of wealth shrouded in mystery as a recently known 30 day pay packet person suddenly became a multi billionaire of unquantifiable wealth. Is this the kind of person that Nigerians will look up to and say the Deng Xiaoping or Ghandi of our time is here and it is him we know and will follow to lead us to the promised land.

On the part of the party itself, is everything about APC so attractive and perfect that every Nigeria will want to join it or is the joining of the party done coercively, surreptitiously and forcefully that if you don’t join it calamity may befall you. The stories making the rounds that governors, lawmakers and politicians defecting to the party are arm twisted with threats and blackmail of EFCC coming after them after certain documents and reports of perceived corruption are shown to them . Or even a political party that one of their leaders said that once you cross over all your sins will be forgiven. Is that the political party that will serve as role model for everyone to join and have rest of mind that Nigeria is in safe hands.

What in goodness sake will Nigerians dovetail towards a party and regime that thousands of Nigerians have died of hunger and deprivations in the last two years, more thousands killed as a result of heightened insecurity of abduction, kidnapping, banditry and terrorism, a ruling party where there is steady looting and corruption going on, recklessness in government spendings, unprecedented impunity and a whole lot of evil going on now. Is that the score card for a natural drift to one party system as being seen now.

What we know is that the crave for a one party system if it actually what the country needs now should be the choice of Nigerians and definitely not through coercion and conscription as that will never work..

In as much as we allude to some of the good sides of one party system Nigerians should look at the other side of it and think soberly if that is what they want. And if it is what they want it must come naturally and smoothly. Anything short of that will eventually boomerang and will be more disastrous than even the mere contemplation of the idea in the first place.

**Austine Uche-Ejeke a public affairs analyst and publisher of Agenda Papers writes vide eaustineuche@yahoo.com