Nigerian Youths Reject Rotational Presidency

Last week the New Nigeria Youth Movement met in Ghana to deliberate on recent events in Nigeria. The meeting venue was deliberately kept secret to avoid 'disruption' akin to the last one billed for Port Harcourt. I could not make the trip but joined them on telephone conferencing. We had earlier adopted new security measures because we are not sure of whom our opposition is: Whether it is the Old Nigeria cabal or the new ruling clique bent on establishing sectional control.

The New Nigeria Youth Movement voted unanimously to allow this writer return as spokesman for another term. This was an exceptional decision considering that I was past the age limit. To validate this appointment a minor constitutional amendment was effected to allow Nigerians up to age 50 years to be members.

We deliberated on the following topics:
1 Review of Shadow Parliament decisions in New York

2 The New cabinet of acting President Jonathan
3 Review of statements from America on Rotational Presidency and also' Division call' from Libya's President Ghadafi

4 The Way forward for the Nigerian Revolution.
The body congratulated organizers of the New York Shadow Parliament for their progressive resolutions and expressed support for the issues raised. However she frowned at attempts by fifth columnists to truncate and distort the original Assembly concept by refusing to endorse a continuity body. Without a shadow cabinet arising from the deliberations the whole idea has no life and would suit only appointment seekers as well as political office jobbers instead of providing Nigerians an alternative body to help rebuild a new Nigeria. “They want us to heap our hopes on those who are even in themselves hopeless thereby extending the misery index of Nigerians for another span”. For this reason the New York effort will no longer represent the New Nigeria as earlier taunted. To this end the body decided to set up another Assembly. Suggestions of New York, London or Ghana were bandied by members and a sub committee was set up to decide and report to the body by April .The new Shadow Assembly will draw merited representatives of Nigeria Abroad Associations all over the World including from Nigeria to deliberate without fear or favor on the crucial issues that would lead to liberation of Nigeria. She therefore calls on all well meaning Nigerians to come together and move fast to realize what is good for Nigeria without looking up to the present government already heavily enslaved by party strings and tainted by those bad practices that gave Nigeria a bad name. On concessions already being made by the new administration, they cautioned that Nigerians should not ever give the government a quarter or these concessions will evaporate into thin air.

The new ruling junta cannot claim better political credibility than their mentors except they implement the tenets of the Nigerian revolution and that will surely also keep them out of power. So overlook their politically motivated reforms unless these are systemic and structural. However members applauded the Senate for deciding to approve independent candidacy for President but frowned at their approval of only limited and myopic changes for immediate electoral gains in the constitution. It is like robbing Peter to pay Paul because independent candidacy or voting rights for Nigerians abroad under today's draconian laws will not work. As expected Nigerians are only being taken for a ride unless we go ahead to dictate the pace without minding our own gains or position but remaining non partisan for the sake of generations yet unborn.

The recent call by President Ghadafi that Nigeria be split into two was rejected. It was viewed as unnecessary so long as the new generations of Nigerians are learning to work together in a new Nigeria framework spearheaded by this movement. Any other framework will only vindicate Ghadafi. As soon as we look up to the old Nigeria for succor then such solutions will continue to resonate.

On America supporting rotational Presidency in Nigeria, the body dismissed the position as untenable and ill advised. Rotational Presidency brought Nigeria the last instability and international disgrace of leadership mediocrity and corruption which this generation of Nigerians will not allow it to happen again. Democracy is the basis of the ongoing Nigeria revolution that Nigeria can be better governed and we believe it is also the fruit of President Obama's Africa policy so how can America turn around to support undemocratic means of succession in Nigeria thereby perpetuating corruption and impunity in the name of stability? Is it better to have peace and stability of the graveyard or have we given up hope for a forward looking Nigeria? These were some of the questions raised by members who insisted on working for a merit driven Nigerian society no matter who stands on the way.

The body maintained its stand that nothing sustainable can arise from the new cabinet of President Jonathan as long as the political system remains unchanged and sustained by a wrong value system. It is all about individual calculations and any one who dares to take a deep will have himself or herself to blame sooner or later. On the other hand if the new cabinet will work for unselfish constitutional reform then they may further the desirable cause of the revolution for their own good.

On the way forward, the body assured Nigerians that progress is being made already as the major players like Save Nigeria Group[SNG], ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, Civil society groups, Nigerians Abroad and others are now coordinating efforts to build a consistent agenda in this regard despite infiltrations and opposition from the junta. If Nigerians must avoid disappointment they must join hands to build a formidable body capable of leading Nigeria to the Promised Land.

Mr. Nworisara, a former student activist, aspired to be President of Nigeria in 1992


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Articles by Nwokedi Nworisara