I believe in the formation of a radical, spirited and peoples' centered political movement in Nigeria. A movement that is specifically designed to salvage Nigeria. A movement that puts Nigeria above other considerations. A movement that will break the chains of corruption, ethnicity, unemployment and bad governance in Nigeria. A movement that will confront the enemies of Nigeria. A movement that will not be infested with the cancerous tumours of the APC and the PDP.
The movement should transform into a political party or adopt one of the existing political parties and sponsor a candidate to confront President Buhari and whoever the PDP presents in 2019. A movement that will have the progressive elements within the civil society, labour, students and working people. The movement should have a well articulated manifesto to salvage the country.
I believe that the recently formed National Intervention Movement should be tested. Let the NIM be given an opportunity. Volunteers should be recruited immediately across all the 774 local government areas and the FCT to move from home to home, street to street and spread the message and manifesto of the movement. We should not discard the Red Card Movement simply because we dislike some of its pioneers. Angel will not come from heaven to sanitise Nigeria.
History has shown that there is no substantial difference between the two leading political parties in Nigeria. Anybody can join either party any day. None of the parties is rooted in ideology. They are just vehicles for attaining personal electoral ambitions.
Look at President Buhari, he came in with so much hope and goodwill. I cried the day Buhari won the presidential election, It was tears of joy. I was of the view that a new dawn had finally arrived. The imminency of change was in the offing.
Given how corrupt, incompetent and useless the Jonathan regime was, we were ready to vote any other person but Jonathan. Those who are telling us that we made a mistake voting out Jonathan are deluded. There is no basis for regrets. We have not forgotten the perilous character of that administration.
The fact that Buhari has largely wasted the goodwill that brought him to power does not mean that Jonathan was a better option. People should stop making irrational comparisons. If you are still bittered by the outcome of the 2015 presidential election, I wish you a quicker recuperation.
The beauty of democracy lies in the ability of the electorates to choose who should lead them at a given time. For some of us, it is Nigeria first. We will never be intimidated by the blackmail of those who think that they love and know Buhari more than Aisha Buhari, his wife.
In 2019, ethnic, religious and political leanings must not take precedence over national interest. If you support Buhari simply because he is from your ethnic or religious group, you are a failure to your generation. If you support him just because of your affiliation with APC, you are a disgrace to humanity. Let your support be premised on Buhari's "achievements".
Tell us the actual achievements of this government in the areas of security, job creation, infrastructure and other developmental goals.
Something drastic needs to happen in our political landscape. I believe that we can have a Third Force. I believe that the Destiny of Nigeria is not circumscribed to the PDP and the APC. I am confident that we can have a different platform. A movement is imperative at this point. Young people must wake up from slumber.
I am aware that this will not be easy. This is the same country that did not give Gani Fawehinmi a fair chance when he contested for the presidency. This is the same country that people vote for money. The same country of ethnic bigots and religious extremists.
But we must continue to fight. The movement should be tested. Let everyone answer his father's name. We should choose where we stand.
History beckons.
Email: inibehe.effiong@gmail.com
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