Change Agents In An Emerging Democratic Process (3)

The Role Of Change Agents

From the forgoing summary (1)(2), it is clear that the Nigerian political environment has always been hostile to radical, revolutionary change. The situation has been compounded by the three decade of fascist military rules which as liquidated the ranks of forces of change in favor of the oppressed and exploited majority. The core issue is the economic system which is capitalist, neocolonial and hopelessly dependent on foreign interest. The economic survives primarily on the export of crude oil without any value added. It is a pipeline economic in which the oil and gas are mined and transported via pipelines to export terminals to support industrial prosperity of foreign nations.
The money earned from the oil is spent on imported manufactured goods and services. The consequence of this arrangement is that there is huge populations of unemployed people and those who earn have low incomes. This is one of the reasons why poverty is pervasive and deadly diseases are prevalent. The weak industrial base and poor infrastructure further undermines the capacity of government to provide for the basic needs of the vast majority of the people. What can an elected political party achieve in this circumstance? 

Forward To A Permanent Revolution In Osun

These questions have implication in the role of change agents. The political parties permitted by the military and their civil inheritors are unable to offer a radical break from the status quo. At the federal level, there is the ideal of a transformation agenda but this does not envisage a fundamental change of the structure of the economic to support an equitable distribution of wealth. Given the poverty of ideology that afflicts all the electoral parties, much depends on the position of leaders of governments. At the federal level the people look forward to the president and his ministers to fulfill the expectations of their election mandates. The same situation applies at the states and local government levels. Yet very few of the people occupying these positions of power can be associated any clear ideology or vision to emancipate Nigeria and its economic from the stranglehold of local and international finance interest. Being an oil- corrupt political system, the root to leadership is made difficult and expensive. Some authority would define Nigeria as a natural- resource dependent one.

As change agents, political leaders have to be charismatic; they have to be philosopher-kings. Chief Awolowo’s generation of nationalist exemplified this brand of political leaders. They were also astute organizers who established formidable party structures. They were great thinker who committed their vision and programs to written work to guide their followers. Their political party have relatively long period of gestationand maturation and this allowed for the training of party cadres and dedicated aides and members. The post 1999 phase of parties in Nigeria has provides adequate time for this tradition to grow. Thus far, the parties are better known for winning elections than for the ideal of governance they stand for. This situation has overshadowed the charisma of the various party leaders.

Governors and head of governments must design a programs of cadre training in which the advance guards of the parties can be schooled in the principle and manifestoes of the parties. In the communist parties such as those in China most members were required to undergo rigorous training, including passing examinations and tests in order to qualify for membership. The communist party of China still does this; that probably explain why no more than 100 million belong to the party out of a population of one billion adult. In Nigeria, membership of a party is loose; most people show interest only during elections or distribution of opportunities.

For a party to sustain a regime of radical change there is imperative need to grow a critical mass of leaders and followers who are fanatical believe in the programs that distinguish the party from others. As Kal Marx once observed, the educators and the educated, Leadership layers at the national, state, council and ward levels must have regular political and ideological workshops and seminars to equip them with intellectual resources and organizational discipline to serve as the vanguard of responsible governance.

Both the legislative and executive arms of much party in government must undergo the rigorous education and orientation recommended here. It is undemocratic for elected officers and politicians to assume that they are above the requirement for regular education and self- improvement. If party cadres and legislators undertake high level training either in Nigeria or abroad, it is important for them to domesticate the knowledge by organizing local workshop to share the knowledge and skill acquired. This is the surest way to avoid developing cast aristocrats within the party which can alienate the rank and file.

It is assumed that once a political party wins an election, it has to govern and be responsible to, the entire citizenry, including those in the so-called opposition parties. This situation poses a challenge to a party that claim to be pursuing a radical, egalitarian agenda. How does one reach the non-members of a party in power? This poser relates to how to engage public servant and other section of the masses as partners in the governance project. All categories of public servant must be reached through periodic education on the programs of the party and their relevant for promoting democratic culture. Permanent secretaries, director, head of agencies and departments are strategic partners in the business of rendering responsible administration. It is the burden duty of the leadership to demonstrate the superior quality of the party’s goals. Big employers of labour and proprietor of private’s enterprises should be mobilized to support the agenda being implemented.

Under the headship of CAN, state of osun has made a breakthrough in clearly that they are being prepared to be vanguard of change agents. Yet there are thousands of youth people and children in the school who have to be given this education-for-life experience. Short manuals on Omoluwabi ethics and ideology should be produce in English and Yoruba for this purpose.