First Republic election has gave room for the fully participation of Nigerians in electoral processes, since then we have been carrying our own cross by determine who rule us, whereas there was military ruling mix-up. The statement “Nigeria deserve the best” is fully loaded, we deserve the best in competency, credibility, transformative, leader with vision, strength and full of innovative mind. I believe serious political party that intended to win the next general election will present a best candidate Nigeria deserve.
The statement made by the Oyo State Governor and regional opposition leader, Engineer Seyi Makinde and published by national dailies, where he addressed the national leader of ruling party All Progressive Congress, former Governor of Lagos State and Presidential aspirant under APC Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu during a condolence visit to the state government. Makinde commend Tinubu on his condolence visit over the recent deaths of prominent leaders in Oyo State and expressed his view on 2023 presidential election
Makinde said “Let me use this opportunity to wish you well in your political quest to govern this country. We want the best for this country and only the best is good enough at this particular time” what got people attention on Makinde’s statement was “…only the best is good enough for Nigeria now”. Gov. Seyi Makinde has become a factor in Nigeria politics especially South Western region to the extent that anything he says carry weight
For a country to be regarded as developed or developing nation there must be good human development index, security of life and property, accessible economy and better social amenities. Present situation of this country is audible for the deaf and visible to the blind, purpose of this write-up is not for the extry of any adminstration since independent but to express my concern on Makinde’s statement, Nigeria deserve the best
Late Sir John Robert Seeley, an English liberal historian and political essayist on the relationship between history and politics he said “Politics without history has no root, and history without politics has no fruit” Nigeria political settings can be easily traced back to 1919. According to Wikipedia “Elective democracy had been introduced in Nigeria in May 1919, when the Townships Ordinance gave the right to vote for three members of Lagos Town Council to some men. The first elections to the council were held on 29 March 1920. In 1922 a new constitution (known as the Clifford Constitution after Governor Hugh Clifford) was promulgated, which introduced four elected seats to the Legislative Council, three for Lagos and one for Calabar”. Although majority was restricted to practice their franchise because of the criteria that electorate and candidates must met, importantly, only Lagos and Calabar the four elected seats was allocated to (three for Lagos and one for Calabar respectively).
However, after the independent of October 1, 1960, the nation retained the British monarch Queen Elizabeth II, as titular head of state until the adoption of a new Constitution in 1963, that declared the nation a republic. The country was split into three geopolitical regions Western Region, Eastern Region and Northern Region and its political parties took on the identities and ideologies of each region, Eastern region was later added. The first Republic of Nigeria was ruled by different leaders representing their regions as premiers in a federation during this period. Leaders include Ahmadu Bello Northern region, Obafemi Awolowo Western region, Michael Okpara Eastern region and Dennis Osadebay Mid-Western Nigeria.
Parliamentary elections were held on 12 December 1959. The result was a victory for the Northern People’s Congress, which won 134 of the 312 seats in the House of Representatives, despite the Action Group winning more votes. It formed a coalition with five other parties and two independents, holding a total of 148 seats. In the end of the alignment of political parties, Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa of the Northern People’s Congress elected as the first Prime Minister, Dr. Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe of NCNC was named President and Chief Obafemi Awolowo of Action Group stood as Opposition leader.
First Republic election has gave room for the fully participation of Nigerians in electoral processes, since then we have been carrying our own cross by determine who rule us, whereas there was military ruling mix-up. The statement “Nigeria deserve the best” is fully loaded, we deserve the best in competency, credibility, transformative, leader with vision, strength and full of innovative mind. I believe serious political party that intended to win the next general election will present a best candidate Nigeria deserve.
Alabi Quadri Adetunji
tunjialabi13@gmail.com
