EDITORIAL: The Quest For Fifteen Minutes Of Notoriety!
Andy Warhol is widely credited with the famous phrase, “In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes.” The American pop idol must have had moments like Nigeria’s recent bizarre Interlude in mind when he made that observation.
In the past few weeks, several individuals have seemingly emerged in search of their own “15 minutes of fame.” Names like Nafiu Gombe and Dumebi Kachikwu who give birth to hard scant public resonance have entered the public sphere as actors in a drama filled with complex plots and excesses. These development is likely to deepen as concern grows over attempts to steer Nigeria towards what many fear could become a one-party state.
It is now becoming increasingly curious and the country must be prepared for outcomes that, hopefully, will strengthen the foundations of democracy at this critical juncture. The key objective should be to turn this crisis into an opportunity for democratic advancement and consolidation. In other words, those who may believe they are undermining democracy could, in fact, end up strengthening it.
Public opinion clearly leans toward preserving and strengthening Nigeria’s democracy. This was demonstrated with the massive turn out at the pro-democracy rally called at very short notice by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) a view days ago. This impressive turn out cannot be attributed to just a mobilization skill of a political party alone it has everything to do with the general aversion to reposition of despotism.
Across the nation The mood is best gauged in discussions in public transport systems, in recreational facilities, barbing and hairdressing salons, eateries and wherever two or three people are gathered: the current mood across the spectrum is that all is not well.
In the conventional wisdom the answer to the question “Are you better of today than were?” Is a resounding NO! The level of disaffection within the system is both obvious and widespread. There is a clear cost-of-living crisis, declining living standards, and growing frustration with the security situation. It is evident that the ruling party, informed by its own internal assessments, understands that public sentiment is not in its favor.
In Nigeria, across these spaces, disaffection is pronounced and unmistakably the ruling party is acutely aware of this reality, which explains why various measures are being pursued to manage the situation.
The meetings that have started and on-going among all shades of the pro-democracy forces must be encouraged and intensified. We encourage all attempts to Rally the republic around the banner of a pro-people democracy. The attempt to establish an authoritarian state in a Multi-etnic Nation is bound to fail.
Multi ethnic societies are best developed in an atmosphere of devolution of powers to the communities and should be based on mutually shared benefits.
What we are seeing emanating from the so called ruling party is a classic case of what in the Greek mythology is known as Hubris. This feeling of omnipotence always prelude a great fall. The present mis-ruling caucus is bound to implode under the weight of its own internal contradictions. That is their own destiny.
Leaving that aside, those who march in defense of democracy must see it as their historic mission which they must not betray, is to rally the republic under the banner of democracy.
