Coalition for Nigeria Movement: Same as APC and PDP! by Buchi Obichie (OPINION)

macfranc007 February 09, 2018 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Nigerian newspapers 24/7 Buchi Obichie

Editors’ Note: The writer, Buchi Obichie, is of the opinion that OBJ’s Coalition for Nigeria Movement is no different from other political groups, as it is made up of the same old crop of politicians who have not really brought about any concrete change in the nation. She calls for a true ‘new’ movement made up of fresh, young minds who are ready and equipped to bring about real change.

My late grandmother had a particular culinary habit that I didn’t quite like. Whenever she cooked a pot of stew, if there were any left-over’s at the time for a new pot to be made, instead of keeping the old one aside (or throwing it away), she would mix it in with the new pot. Consequently, it robbed those eating the meal of a new flavor because it ended up tasting just like the earlier pot of stew!

In my grandmother’s defense, she usually argued that she didn’t like to waste food; but then, I still think she could have left the old batch aside as it was, packed up in the fridge, instead of mixing it with the new one.

In the same vein, just as I am not a fan of mixing old food with a new batch, I am also not ecstatic about this so-called ‘new’ political movement known as the Coalition for Nigeria Movement (CNM).

With great fanfare, the movement spearheaded by former President Olusegun Obasanjo was finally launched in Abuja and Ogun state. However, there is not much about this ‘new’ political group that tickles my fancy. As far as I’m concerned, it’s the same old wine…just in a new bottle.

As I saw pictures of Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Donald Duke at the Yar’Adua Center; and OBJ at the NUJ secretariat in Ogun state, a part of me was silently screaming, “When would these people just go away”?

You see, to me, the CNM is not different from the APC, PDP or other political groups which are filled with the same individuals who have held this nation captive from time immemorial. When it comes to political parties in Nigeria, there is nothing new…at least, so far.

Nigeria’s political landscape is really filled with the same ‘political prostitutes’ who switch alliances and allegiances as they see fit, for their own self-aggrandizement! When politicians get aggrieved with their party, they shift ground and move elsewhere, or create a new group. Isn’t that how the APC was formed?

Unlike in saner democracies, politicians here do not join parties because they believe in, and are committed to its ideals. They join parties as a way to achieve wealth, power, unending comfort; and nowadays, they switch parties to evade the law and get soft-landings after committing crimes…it’s just the sad truth!

So, at the end of the day, what you get, are the same recycled individuals who haven’t made any positive contribution to this entity called Nigeria!

In all fairness, some of them may start out with good intentions; but as we have seen - and continue to see - they usually get corrupted by the trappings of power because at their core, there is no real strength of character and conviction to do right!

A truly ‘new’ political party to me would be made up of fresh, young sharp minds with a hunger, determination, tenacity and clear strategies to move the nation forward.

Nigeria is made up of young, bright technocrats who can bring their knowledge and mental intelligence, in line with the times, into the political landscape.

But would these individuals be given a chance? Probably not. Not as long as these ‘old war heroes’ refuse to give way!

These young people do not even possess the financial and political capital to maneuver their way in this jungle of Nigerian politics. Their best shot would be to go under the wings of ‘political godfathers’ who would demand 100 percent allegiance and refuse to give them the leeway to put their own policies into action!

So the CNM says it is not a political party - for now - and OBJ has threatened to quit, if the organization becomes one. But come on, who are we kidding? It’s only a matter of time?

I mean, even Oyinlola pointed out that going by the constitution, people can only be voted in to govern, on the platform of a political party. So, going by logic, to achieve anything tangible, the CNM would eventually need to transform itself into a party.

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So, again, we are stuck with a political movement, soon-to-become a party, that is the same as every other party out there!

Nigeria does need a true ‘new’ political movement made up of young minds desirous of ‘true change’. We are not asking the old breed to die away, but to step aside and give way for new hands. Of course, we would need the advice of ‘elders’ from time-to-time; but it should not be ‘imposed’ upon us!

Like my grandmother’s pot of stew, there is nothing ‘new’ about the CNM; just as there was nothing ‘new’ about the APC in 2015, and nothing ‘new’ about the PDP in 1999!

This opinion piece was written by Buchi Obichie.

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent the editorial policy of NAIJ.com.

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