To build an alternative political party platform: the question of capacity and other matters

BY JAYE GASKIA

Image of Nigerians protesting. Taken from ynaija.com

For quite some time now, and particularly since the announcement of the decision/intention to merge by the main opposition parties into a mega party with the proposed name – All Progressives Congress [APC]; there have been quite a lot of euphoria and near jubilant excitement within the ranks of emergent politically conscious youth and young activists and active citizens radicalized principally by the January Uprising of 2012 on
the one hand; as well as barely suppressed excitement on the part of activists and active citizens, whose politically radicalization predated the January Uprising, and many of whom can rightfully be considered veterans of the anti-military, human rights and pro-democracy [including pro-democratisation or deepening of democracy struggles] – that is those activists and active citizens that were involved in

The Challenge of 2015: The Change That We Desire and the Change That Is Required

BY JAYE GASKIA 

04/03/13

Many of us want change. In fact perhaps the overwhelming majority of us desire to have such a decisive and impactful change in our polity, in the way we are governed, in the processes of governance, in the dynamics of our national economy, and in the nature of social cohesion among our peoples.

The overwhelming majority of us are equally tired, frustrated and at our wits’ end with the way and manner that those who have and continue to govern us have governed and continue to govern us since flag independence. We have been locked into a downward spiral development wise that quite literally makes every past regime seem to be better than the current one with respect to the general well fare of our peoples and the well being of our national economy. 

True the economy is witnessing

It's about citizenship

Nigeria has become an object of ridicule and pity. Many Nigerians, even though envied by other nationals, are unaware of what lies in them. Their power.

This feeling of powerlessness and lack of belief in themselves is waning by the day. Right from the January Uprising of 2012, we began to realise the power that lies in our collective will.

Muslims protected Christians while the latter prayed in churches; Christians stood guard over Muslims while prayers went on in mosques. It happened in Minna, Kano, Kaduna and many other places. It's been happening in Lagos. But those who profit from division never want those stories told.

We are telling these victorious tales because we've got the right to tell it. It is our story. It is one of the values added to our citizenship.

We started reclaiming our citizenship many years ago until Abacha died and we thought we had gotten into sane times. Before January 2012, we started the process again. We met in groups. We talked on social media and in newspapers, and on radio and on TV, in the market, in molues and achabas. 'Unsilenceable', we became.

Then the government dared us by increasing the price of fuel. They asked us to make more sacrifices than we had made already. They bought jets with our money while we went without food. They increased school fees and left the schools run down, while sending their children out of the country. They lived as citizens while we lived as slaves. But they live on borrowed citizenship of foreign countries, not our Nigeria. In our Nigeria, they own the houses and determine how much we pay as rent. They ensure their children are born 'abroad' so that they can 'enjoy' dual citizenship. Do nationals of other countries rush their pregnant women to our country so as to seek Nigerian citizenship? No. It's our borrowed citizens who do!

So, we are taking back what belongs to us. We shall treat Nigeria right, we its real citizens. Join the party that will let you be its voice. You matter because you are a Nigerian.

Popular power for social justice