GBENGA OLAWEPO-HASHIM

One of the greatest setback that befell politics in the past 32 years in Nigeria is the practice of electing people into offices without any definite political programme, principles and set of values as it was in the First and 2nd Republic.

In the First republic, there were clear political guidelines, philosophy and roadmap that disintinguished most political actors forming the basis for electorates to make informed Political choices. Most people did not become leaders simply because they felt like stepping to public office as a new title for vain or egoistic pursuits. That brand of elevated politics made for rapid development of the country at the end of colonial rule.

As a result of the now absence of ideological and value driven politics, some crooks, empty and ignorant people have assumed political offices at various levels. Mundane and negative issues such as tribal cleavages, thuggery, money, evil oaths of loyalty administered by power brokers have become the main drivers of political contest since electorates cannot establish pragmatic differences between most contenders. A regime of political packaging of those who have helped themselves with the public funds have been imposed on the nation, common thieves are coronated as heroes and Political leaders and a society that has acquiesce to this perfidy comes back quickly to complain of lack of Performance at different level of governance.

Politics of no ideology, no value, no character no principle has impoverished the people, divided the nation and created hopelessness and apathy.

It’s time to return to politics of ideology to save our dear nation. Electorates have to be presented with clear choice based on roadmap for social and economic development. The scrutiny and examination of the histories, values antecedent of contestants must form one of the basis for political leadership recruitment. That was the way politics delivered value in the first republic and that is the way politics delivers in advance nations.

We are “CORE PROGRESSIVES” our ideological platform is to bridge the gap between the extremely rich and the poor, restore transparency and accountability in governance, return the country to a path of ethical practices of modest lifestyle especially of officers of government. We stand for rapid social development through provision of access to education to all Nigerian children, universal health care delivery, and full employment.

We believe in devolution of powers to the subnational governments in the nation (State and Local Government) away from over centralization. We are devotees of true Federalism.