APC IS NOT DIFFERENT FROM PDP - WOLE SOYINKA

In an interview with the Guardian, Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka has
said that the 2015 elections offers Nigerians little choice as far as
candidates for the Presidency as the ruling Peoples Democratic Party
and the All Progressives Congress could be described as one as the
same in terms of their shortcomings in delivering dividends of
democracy to the electorate.
An excerpt from the interview is republished here:
THE year 2014 hold so much for the nation. There is the Federal
Government's National Dialogue in the midst for preparation for the
2015 general elections, which is attracting so much attention. Nigeria
is also going to be 100 years since amalgamation. What are your
expectations?
ORDINARILY a general election that comes immediately after the marking
of 100 years of the creation of Nigeria should be a landmark election.
It should be an election for reflection and to take a retrospective
look at the journey so far in our efforts to create for ourselves a
united and wealthy nation from what the colonialist Lord Lugard
enforced on us and raise a pointer to a new direction – the way
forward – for the country.
Unfortunately, with what is on ground today –– politically speaking ––
the signs are not encouraging. We are all seeing with our naked eyes
the implosion and utter lack of seriousness within the ruling Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP), which has the potential, if extra care is not
taken, of weakening if not destroy it. It appears that Nigerian
politicians are only just interested in fierce fighting for positions
not because they truly want to serve the people but for what they can
get for themselves. It is most unfortunate.
And, secondly, we now have a new opposition group, the All
Progressives for Change (APC), which offers the nation an alternative
but, to put it bluntly, is not markedly different from the ruling PDP
that has been ruling and mismanaging the country for the past almost
15 years.
Presently as it stands, the PDP is bereft of fresh ideas on how best
to move this country forward. It is now to all intents and purposes a
lame dock ruling party therefore ineffectual government. And it
certainly cannot continue like this without incurring the wrath of the
people –– and we are already seeing the signs of that. Therefore, I am
afraid to say that in my opinion the signs in the horizon for Nigeria,
politically-speaking, are not encouraging.
This is a country that presently is badly and urgently in need of and
awaiting the restoration of its glory –– lost glories you might say –
but, I don't know about you, for me, there is no one I have seen so
far among those parading themselves wanting to be president that has
convinced me enough that he understands the numerous problems and the
real urgent needs of this huge and diverse nation and what needs to be
done to uplift and bring happiness and prosperity especially to our
suffering masses and develop Nigeria. I have not seen yet that
presidential candidate that has – judging by my own standards – what
it takes to be president and leader of a country that is as diverse
and complex to govern as this our Nigeria.
Besides, what is even more worrying for me are these two parties that
we now have –– the PDP and the APC. There is not much between them for
the discerning electorate to choose from. Just as we need qualified
and well-tested good people with vision to come out to contest for the
leadership of this country –– not leaving it in the hands of recycled
and mostly failed and corrupt politicians alone –– I believe we also
need a third strong political party that is firmly rooted in the
grassroots like the PDP and APC but that is distinctly different in
ideology and vision from the PDP and the APC. A third strong party
that will offer Nigerians an alternative person preferably not in the
circle of past governors –– someone that will be a true leader with
dignitas and gravitas, that is honest and has the ability and the
capacity to unite this country and show love to its suffering people.
Someone who will be a true father of the nation.
Continue reading @Guardian