2027: Alternative Above Criticism., Perspective Questions for the Coalition

By Elempe Dele

For the uninitiated, it will be a wholesale wrong to think I am dismissing the Coalition that has metamophosized into African Democratic Congress, ADC, with the sole aim of dislodging President Tinubu even when I have reservations about the hazy convocation.

In any democracy, criticism plays very important roles. It is an informal tool to hold those who are in leadership position in government accountable.

It is used to ferment public discourse on vital issues which can promote reforms and policy implementation. It is also necessary to check the possibility of abuse of power and nudge governments to respond to public needs.

However, the strength of the opposition is not reposed on how effectively it can criticize the party in power and government, it ought to go beyond that usual inertia. How much ideas is the opposition offering? What are the alternative plans to that which the government has adopted that seems to the opposition ineffective?

What other approach will be more people-oriented? How has the opposition been thorough in analysing and appraising critical issues and policies of government?

These are very important political behaviour the opposition must display beyond mere criticism. Sadly, we have not seen that with the Coalition beyond highfalutin rhetorics.

Yes, the Coalition cannot be built with stones of criticisms alone by perpetually attacking the government of President Tinubu. It looks like actions of anger, vendetta, vengeance and bitterness. Yes, we must encourage constructive criticism at all times as it cannot be undermined in democracy, however, it becomes problematic when such criticisms end without solutions to the problem identified. Since 1960, the opposition has always been criticizing governments in power, the most profound being against President Godluck Jonathan, which saw him toppled from office democratically.

However, the voters failed to scrutinize the opposition as to know what are the alternatives. Did the administrative of President Buhari faired better? Today, the people are tired of these sorts of criticisms that lacks clear definition of purpose and path.

The noise of the opposition is frightening yet again, but the brilliance, the pragmatic feature and alternative solution is lacking. And this must be a concern. It is not enough to grab power, what to do with it is most important in terms of solution to challenges.

The people want to see in black and white the genuine proposals as alternative solution by the Coalition because the orbital spin by those who want to grab power has never done the people any good.

The people need specific actionable solutions to reviving our economy, on how to effectively tackle insecurity, on bridging the infrastructural deficit and on improving quality public education. Our general challenges must be addressed with specific action plans.

Media sloganeering is not enough to resolve these thematic issues, but clear cut plans. The vacuity of criticisms just to grab power is tiring, the people want leadership competence from even the opposition now called Coalition or ADC.

I am not certain the people will vote based the volume criticisms the government is facing and will continue to face until the 2027 general elections, what will spur the people to vote ADC or any of its opposition sibling will be how much alternatives they are bringing to the table. Nigerians are outgrowing rhetoricians, they are asking for solutions.

The people are asking that beyond the usual criticisms, which is easy, what are the specific plans. What are the realistic approach to problems and challenges the State is faced with?

Does the Coalition have a blueprint that is implementable in hand? How does the ‘rescuing Nigeria’ mantra translate to nation-building? What are the plans to combat the fragile relationships that exist between the peoples with diverse cultures, history, politics and opinions? Are there different policies the Coalition is ready to share with Nigerians to see the potential effectiveness?

The people would want to review their White Papers, Policy Documents and Economic Revival Plans and anything that is convincing.

Its high time we stopped the rhetorics laced with usual criticisms, it is time for alternative governance review. We need to hear thoughts on capacity building, team work, leadership, prudency, accountability, corruption and mismanagement.

This government must be confronted with empirical solution-driven alternatives. It is not enough to come out to tell the people we want to save democracy, what are exactly the structures to do so assuming democracy actually needs saving?

One of the reservations from the people concerning members who convocated the Coalition is about impact. In their political involvements as experience politicians, what impact has each of them made?

We are talking about ex this ex that. What are their enduring legacies while in government?

If those who have been in government for over three decades but left recently, what exactly are they rescuing, what difference can they make in their old ages?

I am not discounting the Coalition, but as a pendulum swings or a bridge takes people to and fro, we also are bound to interrogate those who are coalescing as to take power.