Nigerians should be part of the on-going political renewal in the country by embracing membership of political groups, rather than complaining or criticising those involved. The national president of Kowa party, Umar Mustapha, said people’s bias against the political class, which made them to tag politics a dirty game, means some few have been allowed to hijack the system to lord it over others.

“KOWA party has emerged as an alternative political movement, driven by the deeply felt desire and sense of public duty of hitherto non-partisan Nigerian professionals, entrepreneurs, development practioners, faith community leaders, civil society activists, media practitioners, academics, and youth leaders to organise collectively for turning Nigeria in a new direction,” Mr. Mustapha said.

He said Nigerians must learn to demand more from their leaders, saying these people have failed a nation of strong and hardworking people.

“Nigeria is at a crossroads. The quality of life is at its lowest, and our future and that of our children are at risk,” he said.

The party leader however, said Nigerians cannot afford to shun political activities and still support the ‘one man, one vote’ campaign that the civil society is clamouring for in the country. He called on Nigerians to join political groups such as KOWA party, a people-party funded by the people.

“When few people are involved in the funding of activities of a political party, then majority of the people cannot be involved in the decision making or question how things are done. So, the people need to know that they need to take over what is theirs and contribute towards its development,” said Oluremi Sonaiya, a professor of Foreign Languages at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, and Public Relations Officer of the party.

Founded in June, 2009, the party said its developmental plans goes beyond 2011 election to include participation in the entire election, by using its political platform to contest election and also monitor the entire political process.

The National Secretary of the party, Olalekan Awogbemila, said the membership drive is for individuals interested in contributing towards the development of Nigeria - especially ordinary Nigerians on the streets, whom he said should stop relegating themselves to merely watch how things happened without prejudice to their financial status.

New progressive parties

KOWA party is one of a new group of progressive parties fighting for space ahead of next year’s election. Others include the Congress of Progressive Change (CPC) and the Social Democratic Mega Party (SDMP). Presently, the Independence Electoral Commission still has just 37 political parties listed on its websites.

Nigerians are also wary about the likely impact of the new parties, with the elections so near.

Lagos lawyer and Action Congress member, Jaiye Alabi, said: “It is an odd thing to say that some names you hear are political parties. Every day, they register new parties and you wonder if even you can ask the INEC people themselves to mention their names off hand. They can’t.”

Recently, Protem Chairman of the SDMP, Pat Utomi, also asked the ranks of progressives in Nigeria to unite and save Nigeria from the aimless drift into poverty which, he said, is increasing on a daily basis in the country.

“History would hold the progressive elements and leaders of the opposition in permanent contempt if they fail to rally and take advantage of the fact that PDP has become unelectable, as they now are largely a Poverty Distribution Party, rather than a political party,” he said.

Culled from 234Next.com