That Peace May Prevail

As the ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP, and the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, as well as other less influential political parties in Nigeria seem to be gearing up for the general elections next year and the governorship poll in Ekiti State on Saturday, we advocate a vigorous war of ideas. But those ideas must be geared toward peace and development.

Instead of inciting the people to kill one another over selfish ambition, let the politicians come up with ideas that will rescue Nigeria from the brink of disintegration. The battle field for their conflict should not be the streets or the campaign grounds, but rather the people’s hearts and minds.

The weapons deployed by the politicians should not be guns, axes, machetes, cudgels or the like, but conventional mass media such as television, newspapers, the internet as well as other means of communication to show how different and original their ideas are from what the other camps offer. After all, none of the political parties would like to lead a dead population in the event that they engage in violence that lead to fatalities.

This warning is pertinent because over the past few weeks in Ekiti State and in many other states, there have been attempts by political party leaders from all sides to incite their followers, instil fear and turn campaign grounds into bloody battlefields. While the political debates have been lacking in ideas and originality, sadly, the leaders’ inciting words have been increasing in intensity.

Why heat up the polity when the country is battling a bloody insurgency in the North-east, kidnappers in the South-east, militants in the Niger Delta as well as other dangerous elements all over the country? This is even made worse by gargantuan corruption, growing inequality, skyrocketing unemployment and the collapse of virtually all other sectors of the economy such as healthcare and education system.

As the most populous African country with the biggest economy and the continent’s top oil producer, many Nigerians are wondering why they should be jobless or be going to bed with empty stomachs in the midst of plenty. These problems and challenges can only be solved with vigorous ideas and not with street fights as many politicians make their followers to believe.

Nigeria needs at the moment a strong leadership with clear and original ideas that can help us build strong institutions, eradicate official corruption, reduce poverty and hunger, and sincerely begin the process of infrastructure development. The country needs leaders who will reconcile the various ethnic nationalities and who will have the courage to share the country’s wealth in a fair and equitable manner.

We need leaders with clean records whose actions speak louder than their words and who can show us clearly how they intend to achieve what they claim they would like to do. They must show us clearly why they must be given a second chance or be allowed to replace the failed politicians that have been warming the seats and doing nothing. We call on all political parties to embrace peace and eschew violence. Let the PDP, the APC and other political parties win on the platforms of ideas and not through intimidation, rigging or violence.