There are few good men on the Nigerian political terrain and two of those men appear to be heading against an uphill task to make good what seems a lost battle. It started with Nuhu Ribadu then Patrick Utomi joined in, unfortunately these men may never attain what they have in mind—be the next president of the Nigerian republic for one simple reason: they are politically naive.
No doubt, Nuhu and Patrick are decent men, with a clear visions of where and what Nigeria should be. They are decent, but the task of winning elections in their motherland requires way more than that.
The successful, election-winning, Nigerian politician must be shrewd and have the control of grassroots electorate. He must be able to build coalitions across board, tough, and well tutored in the nitty-gritty of the cut-throat business of Nigerian politics. These men are not, unfortunately.
Neither has any significant record building coalitions or dealing at the grassroots, nationally. They are unknown qualities politically; I have to say, unfortunately. To make the matter worse, the political pedestals they hope to stand on for the elections are weak—Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and Social Democratic Mega Party (SDMP) lack national coverage and not tightly fused.
Nigeria history tells us no ‘newbie’—what Ribadu and Utomi are, politically—has been able to move against the odds and wrestle political power from, or contest successfully against, formidable foes in the presidential elections. At the state level there are two instances in recent time: Adam Oshiomole (Edo State) and Segun Mimiko (Ondo State); and both men have strong political grassroots connections. Oshiomole was a national labor leader and an astute organizer. Mimiko has 15 years of politicking under his belt before he became governor and he’s the quintessential grassroots politician.
Ribadu or Utomi have none of these attributes. Ribadu is not even a card-carrying member of the ACN yet!
I would love to see either Ribadu or Utomi become president one day, but what they are doing is trying to score a knock-out victory without throwing a punch! They must earn their slots, politically. They need to roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty by learning to operate from within the political system, even if they so much hate it. This is the only way they would understand and appreciate the magnitude of the problem of governance—or lack thereof.
Ribadu and Utomi can showcase their brilliance and impeccable qualities to other politicians and the electorate at the grassroots, if they would operate in a capacity less glamorous as the presidency. This would offer them the opportunity of political baptism and credibility, which they lack but need to win elections.
The Nigerian political water is murky and filled with sharks and barracudas that could disorganize the best agenda of any decent but politically naive man. That is why Nigeria needs politically sophisticated men—with the qualities of Ribadu and Utomi—who would step up and build a well-oiled political machine on which the greatness of our nation would manifest.
all beautiful words, based on the assumption that the PDP! will manage to pull out a ‘fair’ election.
Dreams! as of today…
September 24, 2010 at 8:23 am
Utomi is becoming a perennial contender for the president, just like is brother Buhari.
I can understand why Ribadu, but Utomi…haven’t tried and failed in the last election, I was hoping to see a different tactics from him…
September 24, 2010 at 4:01 pm
Check this out: 2011: Tension In ACN Over Buhari, Ribadu http://www.tribune.com.ng/sat/index.php/news/2177-2011-tension-in-acn-over-buhari-ribadu.html
There appears to be palpable tension in Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) as both General Muhammadu Buhari and former chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, are set to contest the presidential ticket of the party, ahead of 2011 poll.
Malam Ribadu had last Friday in Abuja declared his presidential ambition, while addressing newsmen and followed it early this week with the announcement that he was going to contest on the party’s platform.
In a swift move, however, General Buhari’s party, Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) re-opened merger talks with ACN last Thursday in Lagos, in its bid to realise the General’s presidential ambition in 2011.
The CPC team was led by the party’s deputy chairman, Board of Trustees (BOT), Alhaji Sule Hamman while ACN National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, led the party’s team.
September 24, 2010 at 9:09 pm
The punditry is right on target and follows expected analysis. That is precisely the reason Nigerian has remained a toddler at 50. So, Ribadu must enter this political tunnel of training for several years so that when he exited it he will be thoroughly immersed in the muddy water of Nigeria politicking, compromised to his last cell and stone dead to the idealism that is propelling his candidacy in the first instance. I beg to defer.
Political terrain in any country, including the developed countries is a cut throat business that is full of sharks that will devour even the most determined individual. I do not see Nigeria as an exception. Do we have certain traits that are particular to our country, yes but that is true of any other country as well.
The questions that one need to ask are; Does Ribadu has the credential –administrative capability, determination, honesty, tolerance, broad mindedness and, commitment- to be the president of Nigerian? I think most people will say yes. Is he prepared to do the hard work, including recruiting the hands that will sell his candidacy at the grass root that the author of this article considered to be so daunting he has to go to Nigeria Political Prep School for? I personally do not know the answer to this question. Has his antecedences created a mushroom of goodwill that can serve as resource to accomplish his goal if appropriately tapped? I think most people will also say yes.
The way I see it, the most important factor in achieving any goal is articulating it to yourself and convincing yourself that you truly want it, assuming the person is qualified. All these other things can be added to it once he made up his mind in an unequivocal way. Having said this, declaring to contest for the presidency as an aspirational goal and making a deliberate, well crafted run that could result in been the president are two different things and, the candidate and his handlers are the only ones who knows what his intentions are.
Kola
October 20, 2010 at 11:06 am