#145/Litre: The Time to Redefine APC’s Change
Around this time last year when there was sudden change in the way and manner events unfolded in the country after the emergence of President Mohammadu Buhari of the All Progressive Congress (APC), I wrote an article titled “APC, What Manner of Change?” Though, the piece was written after the APC won the federal government, with that, it is quite very relevant to the situation of things today.
In the piece, the question: what manner of ‘change’ is the APC prophesying was asked. The reason why the question was asked was no more than the fact that the writer of the piece needs serious answer, so as to clear away the cobwebs obstructing the view of Nigerians to the true nature and intention of the political party – APC.
The All Progressive Congress, APC, is a party formed by the coalition of different political party which deployed ‘Change’ as its slogan. It is the truth that the country, Nigeria, needs change. However, it need be emphasized that there are ‘change’ and there are ‘change’.
During the election season, many Nigerians did not take their time to inquire what the APC ‘Change’ really meant – since the party itself did not give its clear definition. Some critics may say it is in their constitution or manifestoes, but, the reality is that, this nation needs not the paper documentation of promises and ideas but how far they can get realized and implemented effectively.
When one looks closely, the slogan ‘Change’ seem to be a brand used by the APC to hoodwink and lure Nigerians voting them into power. Whether this is true or not, the administration of President Buhari will give answer to the question. Let me hasten to reiterate here that: there are ‘change’ and there are ‘change’. To be factual, we have many meaning attached to the term ‘change’, and before we conclude or generalize the one the APC is prophesying , we need not look at the words spoken or written by the members or the party itself but the outward actions displayed by the party and its agents. The term ‘change’, on the one hand, may mean a change in the set of persons or political party ruling the country – in the same way; it means the sheer desire to simply change the ruling party in the country. On the other hand, it may also mean a change in and to the ‘state of the nation’.
Looking at the first manner of change, it is crystal clear that it will never do any good to this country; if that is the change the APC is talking of. If the change the APC is talking of is to just contest election and win the control of governmental machinery, definitely, such ‘change’ will be very inimical to the health of this very sick nation when those in possession of power are not ready for governance. At least, the election have been conducted and a set of individuals have been replaced with the former ones, that on its own is a type of change – but it seem Nigerians are not interested in this type.
On the other hand, there is the ‘real’ change. The change here does not only constitute the change in government officials but the rejuvenation of the key aspects of the economy – state of the nation. Apart from the two above too, there are other species of change: change for better and change for worse? When we talk of change, it does not necessarily mean change from a bad state to a good one. And this is where Nigerians are mixing it up, thereby making them believing, too-much, that APC’s ‘Change’ is a change for better. We need not generalize the kind of ‘Change’ until it is manifested by their actions and inactions. APC have failed to explain to Nigerians whether the ‘Change’ being talked about is for better or for worse, but now, it is the duty of we, Nigerians, to do the explanation for ourselves.
Look, the writer of this piece will not give the answer to the question of the definition what APC’s ‘Change’ means. However, the Latin saying of rep ipsa loquitor (the thing speaks for itself), will suffice at this juncture. I will not give a definition of APC’s Change, but with the present state of the economy, the “guess-definition” which will be given, even by the least informed Nigerian is as good as both yours as mine.
The truth is: things are not going well in this country. Price of goods and services have being skyrocketing between every seconds, salaries are not paid, people are dying, people are groaning, in fact, the economy seem to be drowning. One tends to ask, what manner of ‘Change’ is this? Just last week, the fuel pump price have been increased to #145 without any good and convincing reasons.
Though, the promise made by the APC was to reduce the fuel pump price to #45, it now seem to be like a magic how ‘1’ have been glued to the back of the 45 – Sorry, is that the change? Of course, it is – change for worse?
Let me tell you, in case the present government is unaware, the mercies are suffering. And since the mercies, who voted for the said ‘Change’, are the highest voters in the election that brought the APC in, it will be then an ungrateful act if the government is not giving the ‘expected’ and promised change. Thus, things need be done. For one not to count the ‘change’ as that from bad to worse and not to accuse the government of not ready for governance, there is need to ease this hardship by keeping to virtually all, though impossible, electoral promises, particularly, the fuel pump price. And you know, this fuel pump price is the fulcrum of our economy. It is affecting – negatively- virtually every aspects of the economy.
In conclusion, there is the need for the federal government to make changes to the fuel price and other urgent national issues. Things are going very bad in this country and if the APC wants Nigerians to believe that the ‘Change’ meant is not for worse, there is serious need for them to make redefinition of their ‘change’, so as to save the country from this ‘peculiar mess’ because for now, it seem we are in the Hobbesian State of Nature.
Festus Ogun ( [email protected] ) is a 200 level law undergraduate of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State.