Bearing any last minute changes a “bill” for the recognition of an independent candidacy will be transmitted to Mr president for his “assent”. In my thought, if the “bill” is finally “signed” into law it will largely “checkmate” the “excesses” of “governors” and “moneybags” politicians who often denied “credible” candidates “tickets”in order to pave ways for their “anointed” ones no matter their weaknesses. In our modern day politics, we have had enough cases where “credible”, “competent”, and “popular” candidates loss primary elections due to lack of “money” or “godfather” or state governor’s anointment.
In my thought, allowing independent candidacy will checkmate the “impunity” of our powerful forces in our electoral process. It is my hope and prayer that Mr president signs the “bill” into law in order to provide an alternative platform to “poor”, “credible”, “competent”, and “popular” candidates that may be denied platforms in our various political parties.
In our present day highly manipulated “system” “majority” of Nigerians are only “onlookers” in all the political parties “conventions”, “congresses” and “primary elections” for elections of candidates either as party leaders or, delegates and or, candidates for elections. Our opinion does not largely matter.The opinion that matters the most is the opinion of the “tiny minority” “movers” and “shakers” of ours politics.
We are largely at the mercy of our powerful states governors in both the two major political parties and moneybags politicians in smaller political parties who do not have power because of their firm control of party officials and delegates in their respective parties. Parties conventions, and congresses are usually pre- determined by states governors and moneybags politicians.
In our present day democracy it is now even beyond just “influencing” delegates with money alone, but it has moved to the next stage of “delegates” being handpicked in a pre- determined manner and are often being subsequently teleguided for the emergence of an “anointed” candidate. In all our political parties “no one” becomes a “delegate” on his own , but a “delegate” is often being brought in to represent a certain political Interest in his or her political party. It may interest us to note that “delegates” are often being “handpicked” in advanced by certain political Interests in order to be “teleguided”during parties primaries. Even in cases where a direct primary election is adopted all manners of violence are employed for the emergence of an anointed candidate.
As long as party offices are rented by state governors, party officials are sponsored in like manner will never it right. It is a fact all party activities are usually being financed by governors from their respective state treasuries not from their personal resources.This method enable the governors control all party structures in their respective states. In political parties without political power moneybags politicians play the role of state governors in party finance hence control all party structures of their respective political parties.
For us to get it right we must all be involved in political party finance irrespective of our economic status so that we can have a say in the decision making process otherwise we should just forget about having candidates of our choices as flag bearers in the general elections. We must device a means where all and sundry irrespective of his or her economic status will contribute to party finance. In advanced democracies where political parties are ” Ideologically based” not only the “elected” and “appointed” party members, but also the ordinary party members willingly contribute their “monthly dues” for the running of their parties affairs. In our case, their are instances of defaults even by both “elected” and “appointed” party members let alone the “ordinary” party members.
As electorate we must mobilize individual resources to campaign for our respective candidates of choice not the present practice of expecting “money” or “gifts” from the candidates before we support them. Our individual attitude to electoral finance will continue to make state governors and or moneybags politicians to continue to dominate the political scene unless and until we are willing to retrace our steps. In my thought, we can only get it right if we are able to address our political parties finance model. For the time being “He who pays the piper dictates the tune”.
Permit me to “comment” the National Assembly ( The Senate and the Reps) and the 36 states Houses of Assembly for “approving” independent candidacy in presidential, governorship, national and state assemblies and local government councils
elections in our constitution. The Chairman of National Assembly having satisfied the constitutional amendment requirements directed the “Clark” to send “bill”to Mr. president for his “assent” before it finally becomes a law.
May God bless Nigeria!
