June 06, 2003
A Mandate and an Opposition
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The inauguration of President Olusegun Obasanjo and the 36 state Governors last Thursday marked the high point in the transition process. The president and 25 state governors had their mandate renewed at the just concluded polls, while 11 other incumbent state governors were rejected and replaced at the same polls.
Aside from electoral mal-practices and irregularities complained of in a few states, the result of the polls could be said to be a fair representation of the expression of the people’s will. Though there have been a lot of criticisms trailing the result of the polls, particularly from the parties that lost out at the elections. This in turn has given rise to calls for cancellation of the polls results, mass protests and setting-up of interim government of national unity as a viable alternative.
The disagreement with the poll results has led to the emergence of an organized opposition under the aegis of Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) made up of a good number of registered political parties who participated at the April/May 2003 polls. The CNPP has described the May 29 inauguration as a celebration of fraud and likened it to events that characterized the 1964 and 1983 general elections. Those republics eventually collapsed.
Whilst awaiting the outcome of the law suits seeking to nullify the elections instituted by some CNPP members who opted to go to court for redress, Nigeria needs to move forward. It is important that the opposition begin to work on positioning themselves as a credible alternative to the ruling party.
President Obasanjo in his inaugural speech previewed his administration’s policy and direction in the next four years. This could undoubtedly serve as a strategic launching pad for the opposition group to warm themselves into the hearts of the Nigerian people. Government policies should be appraised, bringing to fore their shortcomings and proposing better and workable alternatives. Unpopular policies, in particular, should be subjected to critical analysis, with a view to rubbishing them and registering the people’s disapproval. This indeed is one path through which an opposition party can displace the party in power.
The role of the opposition in governance is indeed crucial; it is thus pertinent that the opposition group begins to view issues from this perspective. Beyond electoral contest, a party in opposition ought to position itself as a watchdog of the government, and plan to displace the party in power at the subsequent electoral contest.
CRP therefore calls on the parties in opposition to begin to engage the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government on policy issues. The proposed increase in the pump price of fuel is one unpopular policy at this point in time, and it behoves the opposition group to engage the government on a robust and healthy debate on same bearing in mind the welfare of the people as an ultimate goal.
Copyright© 2005 Constitutional Rights Project (CRP). All rights reserved.
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