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 Daily Independent Online.
* Monday, August 09, 2004.
ANPP’s cry for a multi-party
state
By
Adetutu Folasade-Koyi,
Abuja
Last
Wednesday, the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) carried the battle for
democracy to the very bastion of democracy itself: the National Assembly.
For sometime now, after its chairman, Chief Don Etiebet has cried himself
hoarse that he has not been ‘settled’ by the People’s Democratic Party PDP-led
government, the ANPP has exhibited just a flash of opposition to
government. That is understandable.
But
last Wednesday, the ANPP assembled some of its finest crop of men at the
National Assembly for one of its series of lectures. And the lecturer was
the first executive governor of old Abia State, Chief Ogbonnaya Onu, before Ebonyi was carved out by
the late goggled maximum military ruler in 1996. It is equally
understandable that Onu would be the lecturer, after all, he has been on
the lecture circuit as far back as when he was denied the presidential
ticket of his party in the first dispensation. Admiral Augustus Aikhomu
was also in attendance at the lecture. Conspicuously missing was the 2003 presidential
flagbearer of the party, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari. His presence,
some argued, would have brought more shine to the gathering, after all it
is not for nothing that Buhari has turned ambassador plenipotentiary for
his party, championing its cause even outside the shores of Nigeria. Nevertheless, the main message
was not lost. In an 88-page lecture, Onu called on Nigerians to resist
what, in the ANPP’s perception, is gradually becoming a one-party state.
Senate
Minority Leader Usman Al Bishir put the development into perspective.
“One-party state is dangerous. It would breed despotism; it would turn
the president into a civilian dictator. The country must remain a
multi-party state. If no one speaks up, it is dangerous for the polity.
We should not allow the country to slide into a one-party state.” Al
Bishir defended the choice of the National Assembly Complex as venue. “
The National Assembly is more representative of Nigerians. It is apt that
the lecture should be held here.”
Let
us move away from the ANPP bellyaching. Some Nigerians would readily
agree that it is not the custom of the National Assembly to be
enthusiastic where nominal issues affecting other ‘lesser’ Nigerians are
concerned. But Senator Umaru Tsauri, chairman of the Senate Committee on
Rules and Business, proved that there are exceptions to the norm. Since
last year, the National Farm Settlement and Youth Empowerment Agency Bill
had been in the incubator. After the First Reading just before the Senate
went on a six-week recess, it finally crossed the crucial Second Reading
stage last week when it was exhaustively debated and referred to the
Agriculture Committee headed by Senator Bode Olowoporoku, who by the way
is fighting the political battle of his life in Ekiti State.
If
the bill does scale through and is promulgated into law, then, the nation
is on the way to economic recovery for it seeks to re-direct the
orientation of Nigerian youths back to the land, away from the
get-rich-quick syndrome that has ravaged the nation’s psyche.
The
crux of the bill, said Tsauri, is to turn the gaze of the youth back to
the pre-oil boom years, when the farmer had a pride of place and
contributed meaningfully to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). He
stated the rationale for the bill. “ The Bill is to establish an agency
that will be responsible for the proposed farm settlements with the
purpose of attracting more people into the farming profession especially
the youth. The agency shall provide the necessary infrastructure in these
farm settlements, such as potable drinking water, electricity,
recreational facilities, schools, clinics, maintain good roads in and
around the farm settlements and above all, provide adequate storage
facility.”
The
onus, it seems, on the
Agriculture Committee is to do a good job and help re-direct agriculture
in the country, which is hoped would ultimately result in massive value
added scheme in Nigeria and generate inputs for intermediate industries,
which will, in turn, provide, increase and accelerate non-oil exports as
well as provide food for Nigerians.
Considering the fact that
President Olusegun Obasanjo is seriously considering turning cassava,
which is grown in more than 24 states of the Federation, into a wonder
crop, the committee would do well to see that they include this wonder
crop into part of the scope of the agency.
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