The year 2013 would surely go down as a defining period in Nigeria’s political history. Of course, one of the major political developments that was widely greeted with cheers and jeers was the eventual merger of three political parties into the All Progressive Congress, APC on July 31, 2013. The merger parties are: the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN; Congress for Progressive Change, CPC and the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP. Political analysts described the merger as the most significant political event in 2013. In approving the merger, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC said the merging parties had fulfilled all the requirements as stipulated in the 2010 Electoral Act (as amended).
Shortly after the merger, APC embarked on aggressive campaign, even with the use blackmail and propaganda to sway other party members into its fold. Due to political crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, APC was able to woo five PDP governors in November and the following month, 37 House of Reps members, who were elected on the platform of the PDP, defected to APC, insisting that their action was as a result of the division/faction in the ruling party.
The APC, through its interim national publicity secretary, Lai Mohammed, had told those who care to listen that the birth of the party would further strengthen democracy in Nigeria. He said the emergence of the new party would give Nigerians an alternative to the ruling party. The publicity secretary stated that the registration of APC was a victory for Nigeria and for democracy, adding that it would propelled the country to the league of top democratic nations with two major political parties.
According to him, “The journey has been long and tortuous. All sorts of obstacles were thrown into our path, but we were painstaking, determined and unrelenting in our quest for a formidable platform that will allow our country to achieve her full potentials and join the league of respectable nations.
“With the approval of our merger by INEC and the emergence of APC, today marks the beginning of a new dawn for our country and her people. We thank Nigerians both here and in the Diaspora for standing by us. We thank the media for their fairness, and we commend INEC for doing the right thing.”
The review of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) by law-makers in the National Assembly was also a major political development in the country last year. However, the landmark exercise was not without some criticism from members of the public, who felt that their wishes and aspirations were dashed in the constitution amendment, especially in respect to the girl-child marriage and local government autonomy.
A cross of section Nigerians comprising of youths vanguard, civil societies, women activists, human rights advocates, women lawyers, Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC and host of others, had vented their disappointment on the stance of the Senate over its retention of under-aged marriage. This action did not only pitched the citizens against the Senate, but also brought the Red Chambers under disrepute.
The protests and criticism that trailed the constitution review exercise were as a result that what the people stood and voted for, during the peoples’ public session, were thrown overboard by some of the law-makers during the amendment exercise.
Of course, many Nigerians have not come to terms with the recent voting by the Senate in retaining the contentious clause 29 (4b). Clause 29 4(a) and (b) states that “any woman that is married in Nigeria is of full age”.
The Senate President, Senator David Mark, had explained that the Senate could not get the required two-third votes (73 senators) to vote against the girl-child marriage. He noted that it was not the original intention of the Senate to retain clause 29 (4b). He, however, regretted that the upper chamber was misled into toeing that path in the course of evolving a people-oriented constitution and promised to revisit the matter as soon as possible.
An umbrella of Concern Women of Nigeria had said that any adult, who marries and sleeps with an under-aged girl is a rapist. A woman leader, Mrs. Nike Oriola stated this when she led a team of women on a courtesy call to the leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Mulikat Akonde-Adeola. Mrs. Oriola said she could not explained a situation whereby a girl-child would be a carrying a child in her womb, saying it was not just morally wrong, but shear wickedness. The woman leader lamented that she could not imagine the agony these under-aged girls go through during childbirth, describing advocates of such act as rapist.
The election of the Nigeria Governors Forum worsen the PDP crisis as leadership of the party refused to recognise the purported victory of Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers state, who was said to have defeated Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau state by 19 to 16 votes. The crisis further divided the forum against party lines.
In response to the increasing demand of Nigerians to discuss the future of the country, the announcement of an advisory committee for the proposed national dialogue by President Goodluck Jonathan in his 53rd Independence speech came as a surprise to Nigerians. The news came at a time when Nigerians were not only becoming agitated and frustrated, but also bent on finding solution to some critical socio-political and economic issues undermining the country’s development.
As usual, many welcomed the idea while few others say it will be another waste of time and resources. Prior to the announcement, some eminent Nigerians had called for a national conference as a way of addressing the numerous challenges confronting the country. Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, Professor Ben Nwabueze and the late nationalist, Chief Anthony Enahoro, were among Nigerians that championed the campaign for a sovereign national conference.
Basically, the proposed national dialogue seeks to ensure that issues militating against Nigeria and indeed Nigerians are address and put to rest. The 13-member advisory committee led by Senator Femi Okurounmu had concluded it public hearing after touring the six geo-political zones to sample the views, opinions and suggestions of all the stakeholders.
Political analysts said the proposed national dialogue is unique in many ways in that it will launch the country into its centenary celebration by 2014. They also hinted that it came at a time the National Assembly was on the verge of rounding off the amendment to the 1999 Constitution. Unlike the 2005 National Political Reform Conference, the proposed national dialogue was preceded by an advisory committee that will come up with a framework and recommendations as to the form, structure and mechanism it will take.
On November 16, 2013 all attention shifted to Anambra state for the much awaited gubernatorial election. The initial election was, however, marred with some hiccups in Idemili North where the INEC official was accused of compromise. The election, which was later won by the candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Willy Obiano, after a supplementary election, pledged to justify the confidence repose in him by people of the state. He also called on his political opponents to join him in building the state.
Before the election, APGA also suffered serious crisis as a group loyal to the governor of the state, Mr Peter Obi tried to unseat the national chairman of the party, Chief Victor Umeh. Chief Umeh survived the onslaught as the various groups ended up in the reconciliatory table ahead of the election.
Some political parties were also de-registered by INEC. The decision was later nullified by a federal high court after the aggrieved party went to court. INEC chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega explained that the commission de-registered some political parties in the country to avoid confusion during elections. He said the commission was empowered by the Electoral Act to de-register any political party which did not win any elective position. On the news of this, the commission registered two new political parties – the Peoples Democratic Movement, PDM and the Independent Democrat.
It was also a year of letter writing as former President Olusegun Obasanjo wrote a letter to President Goodluck Jonathan accusing him of being the cause of the PDP crisis. On his part, Jonathan later responded and absorbed himself of the various allegations.
The 2014 Appropriation Bill was finally laid before the Senate and House of Reps on December 19, 2013 by the Minister of Finance and Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on behalf of the President, who was unable to appear for the budget presentation on two occasions for obvious reasons. On October 23, President Goodluck Jonathan had written both chambers of the National Assembly requesting some slot to appear before a joint session on November 12 to present the budget. However, the presentation could not hold because of the non harmonisation of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF and Financial Strategy Paper, FSP before the presentation.
Perhaps, it is right to say that 2013 was indeed a year of some major attendant political upheavals that made the country’s political atmosphere electric. While the ruling party was enmeshed in leadership crisis, the opposition party was busy in its criticism and bickering over trivial issues. There were also lots of cross carpeting by politicians ahead of 2015. By and large, what Nigerians want to see in 2014 is vibrant politicking devoid of hatred and rancour. The ruling party should also match words with action in improving the socio-economic and political well-being of the citizens. There is need for a strong opposition party and certainly not the type that engages unnecessary squabbles all the time. In 2014, politicians should play politics with some maturity and decency.
Lo and behold, the dream of strengthening the country’s democracy fell short of expectation given the intrigues, political gimmicks and corrupt tendencies that defined Nigeria’s politics in 2013.
Nevertheless, despite all the political brouhaha ahead of 2015, what is needed at the moment is for our political elite to learn from their mistakes and have a change of attitude. The interest of the country should always be sacrosanct regardless of party affiliation. The change we crave for will only come when politicians have a positive mind set towards political office. Besides, the prayers and support of all Nigerians is crucial at this challenging time.