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The South West is Losing its Soul

Daily Champion (Lagos)
OPINION
December 14, 2004
Posted to the web December 14, 2004

By Biodun Sonowo
Lagos
IT was during the Second Republic (1979-83) that the devious term, "mainstream
of Nigerian politics" entered the political lexicon. The term was used almost
exclusively in relation to South Western Nigeria and its perceived insular
politics.
The term "mainstream" has resurfaced with resounding loudness in the mis-named
Fourth Republic (1999-?) and for the first time in Nigeria's political history,
those who have always said that south westerners should join the "mainstream"
of Nigerian politics have scored a hollow victory.
That "victory" came with the 2003 general elections when the party holding
power at the centre, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), swept five out of the
six states, in the south west geo-political zone.
What do they mean by "mainstream of Nigerian politics"? Reading their lips and
their dubious theses, what the apostles have always sought is most likely that
the six South Western states should come under the control of the same party
that concurrently wields power at the federal level.
The simplistic interpretation, going by the permutations of its proponents,
will guarantee generous federal patronage, siting of, and funding of projects
in the south west. There twin corollary to the "mainstream" proposition is that
south westerners, accustomed to the role of arrowhead of opposition under all
successive civilian dispensations and even under military rule, will for once,
call the shots and vacate the opposition benches for others.
The mainstreamers had always recalled that after a strong bid for control at
the centre in 1959, the South-West-based Action Group (AG) party had to content
itself with opposition and its leader, Chief Obafemi Awolowo was official
leader of the opposition in the federal parliament until his arrest and
incarceration in 1962.
In 1979-83, a similar bid by the reborn AG, now Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN),
left the party only in control of the then five South Western states in the 19-
state structure and another round of opposition for the party representing
south west aspirations.
By the reckoning of "mainstream" advocates, that was a disadvantage. Besides,
the various military regimes (1966-79, 1983-99) were Northern-led and influence
and power tended to flow from and to the North. The mainstreamers argue that
for the south west to reap the full benefit of membership of the Nigerian
Commonwealth then, it must belong to the party that controls the centre.
Were Nigeria to be a country where the known rules of logic and social
scientific calculations work, the mainstream argument would have been a
beautiful piece of political analysis. Alas, Nigeria, not being a normal or
politically predictable environment, the mainstream advocates, so sorry, have
exerted their energies and eloquence in the formulation of worthless
postulations.
If ever evidence was needed of the futility of the "mainstream" argument, the
PDP "landslide" and its still unfolding aftermath is glaring for all to see. In
the first place, the electoral victory of the party is still hotly debated as
to its fairness and many still swear that it does not reflect the aspirations
of the people.
Do the people of the South West love, respect or trust the PDP? By the
electoral result in the sham local government elections held in March, Yes, by
the reality on the ground and the grand fraud that characterised that charade,
a very big NO.
Thus, a vital element in the relations between the people of the south west and
the party dragging them into the "mainstream of Nigerian politics" - Trust, is
signally lacking.
Secondly, what have been the benefits of the "mainstream" these past 19 months?
Precious little and the fiction of the political party that controls the centre
directing projects and patronage to a "mainstream" geo-political zone has
become apparent.
Indeed, if it was true that the "mainstream" guarantees greater opportunity for
development, then Northern Nigeria, which has held unbroken power since
independence would not be the wasteland. that it is today. Nor would the south
south still be complaining of marginalisation since it has always aligned with
the party at the centre.
What does the South East have to show for her alliance with the Northern-led
party before 1964? Or for her alliance with the "mainstream" party in 1979-83
and the presence of Alex Ekwueme, one of its own, as Vice President to the
Northern mainstream presidency?
In contrast, between 1954 and 1959, when the then three regions were largely
autonomous, the West led in all Human Development Indices (HDI). This continued
even in 1959 to 1966 while it was officially in opposition, achieving many
firsts, providing free education at primary school level.
Between 1979-83, ruling the then five South Western states and in vigorous
opposition to the mainstream, Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ondo and old Bendel states led
in social and economic programmes. In many respects, these states, were far
ahead of the "mainstream" states - free education up to university level,
compulsory up to secondary school. Free health care services, housing
programmes, new towns development programmes. Not even the vigorous politics of
Abubakar Rimi in old Kano could match the hectic pace of their "opposition" in
popular programmes.
In contrast, those said to be in the "mainstream" were more often than not,
centres of mediocrity and incompetence, decay and decadence. Did they attract
hefty federal presence? There is no evidence to that effect.
Today, the wretchedness of the "mainstream" train is palpable. The people of
the South West are being dearly pauperised. Free secondary and subsidised
tertiary education have been rolled back by those who would have them in the
mainstream. Healthcare services, for long subsidised while in opposition, is
now priced beyond reach.
Being the most industrialised of the six geo-political zones, the incoherent
and anti-people economic policies of the ruling mainstream party at the centre
has deepend mass unemployment, banditry, swelled the ranks of "area boys" and a
large army of malcontents.
The "mainstream" phenomenon has what ought to have been the added advantage of
a south westerner at the helm at the centre. In almost six years, the
expressway linking Lagos and Abeokuta, his home town and approved years before
he became president, is yet to be constructed.
Purges in the public service, already undertaken and about to be undertaken
will have maximum impact on south westerners. Reason being that the seat of
power was in Lagos for so many years and therefore, was a magnet for south
western job seekers at all levels. The states which could have absorbed them
and those graduating from the schools, are spending, not creating wealth.
In the end, those who always argued for the mainstream have no understanding of
democracy and of federalism. A polity is governed by rules, by laws and by the
constitution. A geo-political zone whose people vote against the party at the
centre is only doing so on account of its convictions and of the diversity of
the polity. It does not thereby leave it out of the "mainstream".
Moreover, the law guarantees even distribution of projects and amenities at
every level, federal, state and local and has in-built checks and balances. The
argument of "mainstream" is therefore shallow, deceptive and of no positive
value. As long as the south west held on to the party whose political ideology
was anchored on welfarism and development of human capital, it did better than
all the five other geo-political zones.
Now that it is in the directionless, soul wrenching and ideologically-barren
"mainstream", it has become of the six geo-political zones, wretched, with a
confused people, leaderless, rudderless, poor and bereft of hope and principled
leadership.

   

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