Salihu Tanko Yakasai: Viable political parties remain the root of change in Nigeria (Y! Politico)

by Salihu Tanko Yakasai

Tanko Yakasai

Looking at the leadership of our political parties nowadays, one can easily see that it has been left in the hands of stooges, thugs, illiterates and “boys” of some political godfathers that will use them for their dirty jobs.

There have been lots of debates as to where change should come from. Some say bottom-up approach, that is to say from the grassroots, while others believe it should be from the head down to the tail. Some believe change should begin from government officials while others believe it should be from civil servants. There are even those who suggested it should come from us, individually. All these could be right, but I have a different point of view.

We are in a democratic dispensation, and from every indication we will continue to be for a very long time to come. Political parties are primarily the avenue used in producing those who will contest for elections; that is in primary elections within the party before they participate in general elections and become the leaders of the people. That is the procedure. That is the legitimate system that the constitution has stipulated for us to follow. If this is the case, then we have no choice but for good people of sound character and principles to ‘invade’ these political parties so as to kick-start the process of change from there.

In the days of NEPU, NPC, NPN, NCNC and the Action Group (AG), you will find out that party leaders are people of integrity; people that are well respected in their communities; people who command so much power that aspirants obey them. These had lead to each of these political parties producing quality candidates to contest in general elections, based on merit, and subsequently producing better leaders from the local government level up to the national level. This makes governance, generally, a lot more better and qualitative than what we have today.

Looking at the leadership of our political parties nowadays, one can easily see that it has been left in the hands of stooges, thugs, illiterates and ‘boys’ of political godfathers who will use them for their dirty jobs. That is why you can hardly see credible people being presented as candidates in this Republic. They have bastardized the process so much so that men of sound character are afraid to stand elections, simply because they can’t stand to be humiliated by these so-called leaders currently in charge of our political parties.

The formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has presented a perfect opportunity for us to inject change in our parties by participating in congresses which will elect party leaders, from the ward level to the states and national. It is the time to make sure that we stand firm and not to allow hoodlums become party leaders who will end up being in charge of electing those that will represent us in the 2015 general elections. The time is now, and the time is ripe!

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Tanko Yakasai is a proud husband and father of two. He is a broadcaster with Freedom Radio, Kano. Yakasai believes in the unity and development of Nigeria, which paved his way into community activities through NGOs in transforming our society for the better. He is a registered member of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).

 

Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija.

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