Like LAGOS, like CROSS RIVER… The Dilemma of Succession CONTINUITY in Governance, Government and Leadership in Nigeria has always been a critical issue in the development of the country. The HABIT of successive governments to do away with the initiatives started under the previous, almost always ensures that, with each new government, there was a degree of retrogression at Federal or State level. WHETHER this habit is influenced by the fact that successive governments may mean different political or leadership platforms, the waste associated with such abandonment is not only financial but also a loss in appeal and opportunities. LAGOS, with the now imminent completion of the constitutional two terms of Gov. Babatunde Raji Fashola, faces the question of whether the areas excelled in by the Governor will suffer with a different in-coming replacement. CROSS RIVER, my home state, faces a similar dilemma. A bit of a fascinating story too. LEGEND has it that three young men once sat together, motivated by a uniform desire to see the growth and development of Cross River State as their personal life ambitions. To achieve this, they made a pact to go into politics with the aim of attaining the top leadership position of Governor of Cross River State AND for the purpose of continuity AND to allow enough time to bed in the foundations for future growth and development of the state, they would work to ensure that succession will be passed from one to the other upon each person’s completion of two 4-year terms. This would make for a potential period of 24 years within which all three would have been Governor of Cross River State for 8 years each. NOW, LEGEND OR NOT and taking into consideration the issues which would come into play, as is the nature of politics in Nigeria, the succession issue has again reared its head. A FEW QUESTIONS become necessary. First is of what amount of time is truly required to bed in firm foundations for growth and development in any Nigerian state or even at national level? Secondly, if these or any other ‘triumvirate’ so colluded or conspired, could this be deemed against the tenets of democracy regardless of what their intentions are or were? Finally, how is such a ‘plan’ achievable in the face of the consistent clamour for a rotational leadership between the various interest groups of any state or indeed the country? I HAVE NEVER BEEN a supporter of the ZONING policies of any political party at any level. I personally believe that the first and most important casualty of Zoning is Meritocracy. Like Affirmative Action, whilst the theories of Zoning may have a place in equity and fairness, as practiced in Nigeria it has consistently failed to produce the best from any interest group resulting in a great loss for the ultimate beneficiaries, the people. The complexities which interest groups throw into the mix of Nigerian politics makes it difficult to predict and project for any planning purposes the potential growth and development of Nigeria and the states of the Federation. CROSS RIVER, has from Gov. Donald Duke through to the present Gov. Liyel Imoke been on an upward trajectory. The loss of what were 72 Oil Wells belonging to the state, and thereby proving a jump-off point for the financial of growth and development plans, has since forced the state t be creative in a bid to sustain itself and merely exist. This challenge has been met to some degree by the administrations of Duke and then Imoke. With the imminent completion of Gov. Imoke’s two 4-year terms, the question now is, what happens next? What happens to the progress which has been made by the last two administrations, with much still to do and a vision yet uncompleted? Has there been enough time for the vision to be realized considering that any plans as suggested by the Legend would have been a 24 year plan. TO THIS END, there is still one member of the legendary triumvirate who is yet to attain the position of Governor of Cross River State. By inference there is yet to be implemented the ‘last 8-year segment of a vision once had’. THE BIG QUESTION for Cross River State now is, who next that will continue this vision, these plans for growth and development or who will insist of finishing the 24 year vision? The Third Man? THE ASSUMPTION has to be made that the ‘triumvirate’ have been integral parts of the first 16 years of the envisioned 24. Whether they have sat in the seat of Governor or not, all have consistently played a part in the plan and the journey so far. THEREFORE the three would be the most informed, most experienced and most committed to the Masterplan. If not any of the three, who else would be so experienced, knowledgeable and committed to ensuring that this particular journey is completed? OR DOES CROSS RIVER run a risk of the retrogression mentioned earlier? Can anyone other than the Last of the Three actually articulate and complete the long term vision for which character, capacity and knowledge are critical qualities needed? HOWEVER, within the expired period of 16 years gone, the factors which make for the uniqueness of the Nigerian question are stronger today than when the vision was first articulated. The question of Who’s Turn? Our Turn? Their Turn? Are these greater than the need for the State to grow and survive? The State may have reached a point where her future is about to be greatly determined. If strictly on the need to see the vision through then there is no debate who should lead Cross River State next. Unless if such a person can be successfully cloned, brains and all. CROSS RIVER STATE now has to make up her mind on which direction the ENTIRE state will be moving with the arrival of a new administration come May 2015. MY VIEW and POSITION? I would scream what the wonderful late Magnus Magnusson used to when the bell on Mastermind interrupted him I Have Started So Ill Finish. Complete the Vision and do not sacrifice or throw the state backwards for sake of satisfying primodal interests. The Hour Cometh but will the Man Cometh? It is the choice of the people nonetheless. What do you think; though you really dont have to say anything.
Posted on: Sat, 16 Aug 2014 19:22:39 +0000