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Like Nuhu Ribadu Like Christiano Ronaldo: Why Nigeria Is a Case Study in Absurdity (Part One)

By Darasimi Oshodi

Could it have ever occurred to Hillary Clinton to defect from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party when she lost her presidential bid to Barack Obama? I am almost certain it couldn’t because theirs is a rational society where decisions are taken based on principles. So, former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, recently defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC), the party that emerged from the merger among some political parties including the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) which fielded him as its presidential candidate in the last presidential election in Nigeria and some Nigerians are still reacting to his action. While the legality of Ribadu’s action is not in question, I am not totally sure about the morality.

When a senior colleague asked me what my take on the defection was, I told him I had come to a point where I didn’t allow anything to surprise me about Nigeria’s politics. Yes, I don’t allow anything to surprise me again in this nation just like I cannot be surprised by developments in the football transfer market. The day David Beckham left Manchester United – despite the circumstances that surrounded his exit – was the day I ceased to allow myself to be surprised by football transfers. So as a fan of Arsenal FC, I was not surprised when the legendary Thierry Henry left Arsenal for FC Barcelona or when the hugely talented Cesc Fabregas left the club, also for Barcelona. But I must confess that though I still have huge respects for Henry, it is not the same about Fabregas. I still admire Cesc though because of his undeniable talent but within me, I am wishing that he does not ‘click’ at Chelsea FC. Continue reading “Like Nuhu Ribadu Like Christiano Ronaldo: Why Nigeria Is a Case Study in Absurdity (Part One)”

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The 2011 Polls in Nigeria and The Opposition’s Lack of Seriousness

Nigerians go to the poll in April 2011 to elect a new President

The political firmament in Nigeria looks bright, with flurry of political activities as the Nigerian people seem set for the polls once again come April 2011.

It may be recalled that the People’s Democratic Party [PDP] has been in power since the advent of civilian rule in May 29 1999. The nearly 12-year rule by the PDP under various leaderships, Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Yaradua and Goodluck Jonathan, presents mixed feelings to the multitude of Nigerians depending on where one stands.

However, there seems to be a general consensus among several observers of the Nigerian political scene, and that is the disenchantment with the PDP and its policies. The Political party also seems to be disenchanted with itself as most people fear the party that prides itself as the largest political party in Africa seems set to self implode. The reasons for these may be deduced from the bitter and acrimonious presidential and gubernatorial primaries the party went through recently. Aside from these, other sundry reasons which find roots in the way the party was formed and run since its inception place it in a very precarious situation as it approaches the forthcoming elections.

As for the opposition political parties in Nigeria, two political parties stand out from the pack and they are the only political parties which could give the ruling party a run for its money. They are the Action Congress of Nigeria [ACN] and the Congress for Progressive Change [CPC]. However, what the reality on the ground posits for these two political parties is that unless they form a strategic alliance, it may be difficult for them to wrestle power from the ruling PDP party. This reason for this assertion is attributed to the sectional spread of these two political parties. Hence real politics suggests that they form a workable coalition to battle the PDP. Unfortunately, however, the leadership of these political parties has been so far unable to solve this political arithmetic of forging a sustainable alliance.

Time is running out as the opposition political parties continue to look clueless while the ruling party has hit the campaign trail. Will the opposition parties be able to pull the carpet from the PDP’s feet? Only the April 2011 can tell.

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