A group known as Generation for Change African Initiative (GFCAI) acting as a progressive and paradigm-shift change agent Civil Society Organisation has chosen to speak to salient national issues at a time it described this critical juncture of Nigeria’s history.
Speaking at his maiden press briefing in Abuja on Friday, December 14, Comrade Alex Ameh Ogbu, the convener of GFCAI said they have “discovered that, the provisions of the constitution as well as the structures it has set up maintain many of the deadly problems plaguing the country”.
“GFCAI observes that the present system cannot solve the fundamental crises in the nation or delivers dividends of democracy to the people as it recommends steps toward addressing the issues, such as reverting to reports of past national conferences or convening another dialogue. That perhaps will avert the looming revolution that will be determined by the toiling poor Nigerians who have lived through years of military dictatorship succeeded by civilian rascality and abuse of power by political elites adept in waving ethno religious symbols during election instead of issue based electioneering campaign.
“GFCAI states without equivocation that Nigeria’s political elites are the greatest threat to democracy by their deliberate exploitation of the national fault lines. The much taunted multi party system is nothing but theoretical existentiality whiles two -party system is the practicality on ground. This has been evident in the evolution of political party democracy in Nigeria since the second republic. (Ruling party and opposition party, the rest is inconsequential).
“Thus, the two prominent political parties are projected by the bourgeois media enterprise to assume a larger than life size. This conspiracy tends to emasculate alternative voices, ideas and visions as the purported inclusion through opening up of the political space is defeated by power of domination exercised by the two giants. GFCAI upcoming symposium “Changing the Narratives in an Evolving Democracy will speak more to these issues soon.
“As advocate of youth freedom and rights protection, GFCAI extends this call to Nigerian youth across all divides to eschew dirty jobs for greedy unscrupulous politicians. They must see 2019 elections beyond “Not Too Young to Run” as history beckons on them to protect their future today.
“The youths of every society are the leaders of tomorrow, the tomorrow starts today. Do the right thing today to secure the hope of your leadership tomorrow. Your generation owes the patriotic duty to do this noble act for generations after you.
“You have alternatives today in your choices of political parties and candidates with pragmatic leadership qualities for Nigeria in this 21st century. Especially, considering the constellation of left leaning and socialist political parties debuting on the Nigeria’s political arena. The world is watching in great expectation on the roles of these political parties in the political equation beyond 2019. The Nigerian Left had missed opportunities in the past and now to mobilized different tendencies around a grand coalition or common front to defeat the bourgeois politicians.
“It is such alternative coalition; of left leaning political parties, social movements and organized labour unions that can provide theoretical consciousness and leadership to the working class, students and the masses to seek alternative with their votes.
“It is against this background that GFCAI puts out this clarion call to Nigerians. Let the people who seek for your votes tell you what they can do with your votes. Ask them questions about many things that have gone worse in the country. Let them know that your votes give you the right and power to hold them accountable when they get into elective offices.
- Your vote is your power!
- Do not sale your vote!
- If you sale your vote; you sale your voice!
“Please! Help make Nigeria great again with your vote by voting right,” Comrade Ogbu concluded.
