Nelson Ekujumi
July 29, 2015 – It’s an indisputable fact that the existence of a virile, vibrant, focused, constructive and resourceful opposition is essential to the sustenance of a democracy because of its tenets which recognizes that while the majority will have their way, the minority must have their say. This position is buttressed by the fact that variety is the spice of life, since we all cannot sleep and think in one direction, so says a Yoruba adage.
Unfortunately, this critical aspect that is needed to stabilize and engender our democracy is in danger of going into extinction if we go by the recent embarrassing and infantile tantrums by the opposition party both at the centre and in Lagos state. Or is it a case of, birds of the same feather, flock together at the centre and in Lagos state?
While noting the importance of criticism to the growth and development of any society, it is imperative that such criticisms must be factual, constructive and evidenced based rather than being motivated by the need to be seen as talking, just for the fun of it without substance and focus.
Early in the week, the opposition party in Lagos state engaged in infantile tantrums at a time when there are serious issues on the front burner by criticizing the Akinwunmi Ambode led government for obtaining in their words, a N39.4 billion world bank loan, when the truth and honest fact of the matter is that, the loan in question was initiated and finalized by the immediate past administration of ex governor Babatunde Fashola.
For the education of all, including the opposition party, it is important to emphasize that governance is serious business which has to do with the existence of human beings .Therefore, all actions for and against the actions and activities of government must attract seriousness and focus rather than this childish and clownish tantrums being displayed publicly.
In the light of the seriousness which issues of governance deserves, one would have expected the opposition party to have been properly schooled in the tenets of democracy based on due process and rule of law, bearing in mind the fact that, no government can obtain loan, talk less of a foreign loan, a world bank loan for that matter, without the approval of the legislature and other approving instruments at the federal level. Since assuming office on May 29, 2015, one is unaware of the Akinwunmi Ambode government approaching the Lagos state house of assembly for such.
Also, one would have expected that a serious and focused opposition party which is desirous of being alive to its democratic responsibility of keeping the government in power on its toes and portraying itself as a serious and virile opposition, to have done its home work properly before exposing itself to public ridicule by its claim which is damaging to our democracy.
Therefore, it is important for the opposition party at this point in time, to go for refresher courses and trainings to update its knowledge of issues and redirect their focus to the seriousness which governance deserves rather than its penchant for infantile tantrums, if our democracy is not to be impaired by the absence of a constructive, focused, serious and virile opposition. A word is enough for the wise.
Nelson Ekujimi is a Public Affairs Analyst.
NB: Views expressed in this article are purely those of the author and has nothing to do with the medium
