GNU Parley

GNU Parley: Labour And Civil Society As Watchdogs

Chudi Ikwueze, Ph.D.

Going by the nefarious skills displayed in the last elections by mainly PDP politicians who now occupy most of Nigeria’s seats of power, there is no doubt whatsoever that these people would go whatever distance to legitimize the stolen mandates as well as cover up atrocities committed over the last eight years. And so, if they are not challenged, the ongoing four-party parley for Government of National Unity (GNU) will be used to achieve those. The occupying PDP government is just looking for ways to convince the three parties to withdraw the cases at various tribunals in exchange for few lucrative government positions. If anyone is in doubt, why do we hear and read about how lucrative government positions are shared rather than what specific solutions have been reached regarding burning national issues that threaten the corporate existence of Nigeria?

Equally unsettling about the parley is this realization that it is not only an attempt to just legitimize the stolen mandates and cover atrocities, for two reasons. First it is invariably intended to create intra-party discord within the three opposition parties invited to the parley. Second, by inviting just three parties, it was meant to infuse inter-party disunity between other un-invited opposition parties/groups and the invited three political parties. So Nigerians should be concerned, if adequate care is not taken, we might end up with a political system devoid of any opposition parties.

Nigerians ought not to accept this apparent grand ploy to immobilize any forms of opposition, legitimize the stolen mandates and sweep under the carpet the atrocities committed against Nigerians under this guise of parley for GNU. Somehow the political class should be made to understand that the nature and magnitude, as well as the consequent destabilizing effects of what transpired in the last eight years, in the name of democracy, cannot be fixed just by offering government positions to few individuals. This is especially true, as keen observers are aware that most of the issues at stake would most likely be solved only by non-political means.

For example, most of the last elections frauds as well as issues related to the looted treasuries are pending at various courts, EFCC and/or ICPC. And so, the political class must refrain henceforth from projecting this image of “we can solve all problems alone”. The situation in the Niger Delta area where past government policies of economic deprivation and marginalization have resulted in emergence of ethnic militias is just an instance of such issues that can only be resolved by broad participation of stakeholders, beyond the political class.

Literally, Nigeria’s political system has been hijacked by anti-true federalism elements and their allies. That is the reason why solutions to burning national issues might not come through the political class given that most of them are beneficiaries of this untrue federalism. The political class must however begin to recognize that each day the issues in question go unresolved, they set the country inadvertently farther and farther away from ever moving forward. Millions of Nigerians are trapped in avoidable poverty and the number will increase unless the direction this country is going is reversed.

First and foremost, government therefore must come to terms with the fact that none of the burning issues requiring urgent attention can be solved just by appointing few men to government positions. For instance, the appointment of Jonathan Goodluck to the position of Vice President of Nigeria was meant to appease the ethnic militias in the Niger Delta but that might not be enough to bring long lasting peace if the people of the area are left impoverished as hitherto.

Such strategies whereby men and women from an aggrieved area are given government positions to pacify them would not work in the Niger Delta or any parts of Nigeria any longer. Nigerians are much more educated today than decades back. Those making decisions in government must recognize this fact, and begin to seek solutions to Nigeria’s numerous challenges that take this fact into account when solving national issues. To continue to fake ignorance of this fact would only prolong prevailing anguish for millions of our compatriots.

And so, the strategy by which lucrative government positions or bribes are offered to few men and women from aggrieved constituencies, alone, will no longer appease people, period. Consequently, the political class must come to terms with the fact that they cannot solve most national issues by past approaches such as using security agencies to brutalize their opponents. They should begin to consult widely with other stakeholders in society so that, together, the country can be moved forward.

That is why the occupying government under the guise of GNU ought to invite notable stakeholders in society other than the three political parties to participate at the parley. The parley should not be just for four political parties or the political class for that matter. After all Nigeria’s burning issues do not only affect just political parties but mostly ordinary Nigerians whose common treasury was looted, rights disenfranchised and God’s given resources plundered. And so, these issues cannot be fixed just by distributing government positions to few politicians from aggrieved sections of society in the name of GNU.

Without further delay, Nigerians must insist specifically that government and the political class invite organized labour, civil society and professional groups such as NBA to participate in the ongoing parley. If invited, these groups would act as watchdogs on government regarding key burning issues that affect the well-being of Nigerians.

As watchdogs, their participation would therefore be a guarantee that GNU would not become PDP’s ploy to cover the stolen mandates in exchange for offering lucrative government positions to few men and women of the political class. Besides, given that labor-civil society could mobilize Nigerians at a moment’s notice against government should it reneged on any agreements reached, their participation would be a deterrent on government not to abandon agreements reached. By inviting labour and other stakeholders there would be guarantee that government would not easily renege on any agreements reached, without risking a backlash by ways of nation wide strikes or boycotts.

We were witnesses to how effective groups such as NBA and NLC could be, when it comes to mobilizing members/Nigerians for nation-wide boycotts or strikes. Just imagine the impact it would have on quality of governance should government be made aware that the groups would mobilize Nigerians for a nation-wide strikes or boycotts whenever it reneged on agreements reached at such parley for GNU. If the groups would decide to work together by harnessing and coordinating their activities against adverse government actions or inactions; together, they could make government work for Nigerians.

The three opposition parties at the ongoing parley for GNU have no ways to enforce agreements reached should PDP-led government reneged. That is the more compelling reason Nigerians should insist that labour, civil society, professional groups as well as un-invited political groups be invited to participate at the ongoing parley for GNU.