Ideological Implosion

[Chidi Anthony Opara]

The incoming Nigeria's ruling party is a convergence of strange ideological bedfellows; Tinubu, Buhari, Obasanjo, Babangida, Atiku, et al. There is definitely going to be an ideological implosion.

CAO.

[Ibukunolu A Babajide]

If PDP did not implode ACN too will survive!

IBK

On 1 Apr 2015 11:06, "Chidi Anthony Opara" <chidi...@gmail.com> wrote:

The incoming Nigeria's ruling party is a convergence of strange ideological bedfellows; Tinubu, Buhari, Obasanjo, Babangida, Atiku, et al. There is definitely going to be an ideological implosion.

CAO.

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[Samuel Zalanga]

Among American evangelicals for instance: there are evangelicals of the Left, Right and Center and within each group there are sub-groups. From a platonic point of view, there is tension between appetitive desires, the spirit and the mind / reason. It is  about balance, otherwise even among sane human beings there is tension. Reminds me of the book "A Team of Rivals" which describes Lincoln cabinet.

Samuel

On Wed, Apr 1, 2015 at 3:07 AM, Chidi Anthony Opara <chidi...@gmail.com> wrote:

The incoming Nigeria's ruling party is a convergence of strange ideological bedfellows; Tinubu, Buhari, Obasanjo, Babangida, Atiku, et al. There is definitely going to be an ideological implosion.

CAO.

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Samuel Zalanga
Department of Anthropology, Sociology & Reconciliation Studies
Bethel University, 3900 Bethel Drive #24
Saint Paul, MN 55112.
Office Phone: 651-638-6023

[Chidi Anthony Opara]

Samuel,

The evangelicals you mentioned operate autonomously, while the incoming Nigerian ruling party will have to operate as a group. The only thing that bound the facilitators was the desire to grab power and now that the power have been grabbed, the exercise of the power within ideological context would be problematic. The name of the coalition suggests that they are progressives, but what are the progressive credentials of Atiku and Buhari? They do not even pretend to be progressives.

CAO.

[olugbenga Ojo]

Thank you my brother. Nice response !!!!

[Ibukunolu A Babajide]

CAO,

In a presidential system of government like ours managing ideological differences is the main work of the President. That was why a disparate group of thieves called the PDP lasted 16 odd years in power at the centre.

What is missing but is now growing is civil society to put pressure on the government and endure it delivers on its promises.

Cheers.

IBK

[Chidi Anthony Opara]

IBK,
I rather see the PDP as a mass of rightists. I agree with you that it is the job of the President to manage ideological differences, and that is limited to his cabinet and the Presidency. What about the party in which he has only some influence, but not control?

Do you for instance believe Buhari when he said that he was going to fight corruption, with Tinubu's and Atiku's men (in strategic positions in the party) breathing down his neck? He would only do that if he isolates them and that would mean more troubles (implosion). The chalice is poisoned my brother.

CAO.

[Ibukunolu A Babajide]

CAO,

Buhari's chalice is less poisoned than the ones OBJ took in 1999 or Yar Ardua in 2007 or Jona in 2009.

That is why the masses should not leave governance in the hands of the corrupt politicians alone. BTW you equate corrupt individuals in APC with ideology. That comparison is flawed.

The deal with the APC thieves, is you brought me in with the proceeds of corruption but I  will allow you to keep the balance if you promise to steal no more!

When they see the ferocity he attacks other non APC thieves they will behave themselves immediately.

Cheers.

IBK

[Ayo Obe]

So, you know the ideologies of Obasanjo and Babangida?  I can't pretend that I do.  In any case, they are not members of the incoming party, and whatever influence they may have (or think they have - probably better to let the world imagine you have it than to actually try to exercise it and be exposed as a pretender) there are enough thinkers and activists of the next generation in APC to drive any ideology issues.

Obasanjo certainly left the PDP and what with his criticism of Jonathan, APC barely restrained itself from offering him a membership card.  But as with so much else, it was as much a case of people being driven away from the PDP or rather from President Jonathan (in Babangida's case, it was either go along with the Jonathan narrative about the state of the Army that he, Buhari and Obasanjo had allowed it to sink to, or publicly bale out), as it is a case of people deciding to throw their lot in with APC.

On Wed, Apr 1, 2015 at 9:07 AM, Chidi Anthony Opara <chidi...@gmail.com> wrote:

The incoming Nigeria's ruling party is a convergence of strange ideological bedfellows; Tinubu, Buhari, Obasanjo, Babangida, Atiku, et al. There is definitely going to be an ideological implosion.

CAO.

--

[Chidi Anthony Opara]

Ayo Obe,
What about the Ideologies of Tinubu and Atiku, influential party members whose concepts of corruption are in sharp contrast to that of Buhari?

IBK,
I was not equating "the thieves in APC" with Ideology, I presented another dimension of the troubles of the incoming ruling party.

CAO.

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[Samuel Zalanga]

The corruption issue is a major one. But as for the difference, the book "

Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln

​"

​

which describes Lincoln cabinet might shed light on how that can work even though the political cultures are different. 

Here is a description of the book form amazon.com:

Amazon.com Review

The life and times of Abraham Lincoln have been analyzed and dissected in countless books. Do we need another Lincoln biography? In

​ ​

Team of Rivals, esteemed historian Doris Kearns Goodwin proves that we do. Though she can't help but cover some familiar territory, her perspective is focused enough to offer fresh insights into Lincoln's leadership style and his deep understanding of human behavior and motivation. Goodwin makes the case for Lincoln's political genius by examining his relationships with three men he selected for his cabinet, all of whom were opponents for the Republican nomination in 1860: William H. Seward, Salmon P. Chase, and Edward Bates. These men, all accomplished, nationally known, and presidential, originally disdained Lincoln for his backwoods upbringing and lack of experience, and were shocked and humiliated at losing to this relatively obscure Illinois lawyer. Yet Lincoln not only convinced them to join his administration--Seward as secretary of state, Chase as secretary of the treasury, and Bates as attorney general--he ultimately gained their admiration and respect as well. How he soothed egos, turned rivals into allies, and dealt with many challenges to his leadership, all for the sake of the greater good, is largely what Goodwin's fine book is about. Had he not possessed the wisdom and confidence to select and work with the best people, she argues, he could not have led the nation through one of its darkest periods.

Ten years in the making, this engaging work reveals why "Lincoln's road to success was longer, more tortuous, and far less likely" than the other men, and why, when opportunity beckoned, Lincoln was "the best prepared to answer the call." This multiple biography further provides valuable background and insights into the contributions and talents of Seward, Chase, and Bates. Lincoln may have been "the indispensable ingredient of the Civil War," but these three men were invaluable to Lincoln and they played key roles in keeping the nation intact. --Shawn Carkonen 

[Ibukunolu A Babajide]

Dear CAO and Ayo,

Let us be clear in the words we use. OBJ, Atiku, IBB, or BAT and their ilk have no ideology but are opportunists who gained unrestrained access to the Nigerian treasury.

The question is then what are they doing with their looted funds. IBB foisted OBJ on Nigeria to pave the way for himself but Atiku foiled that plan and tried to replace OBJ. So the ambition of the three fell flat. Only BAT used his own wealth to change the dynamics of national politics by sponsoring Buhari who did not amass wealth to the exalted position of President.

The use of the word ideology muddies the water and distorts the discussion.

Cheers.

IBK

[Chidi Anthony Opara]

Thanks Samuel. At that time, the binding factor was the survival of the union, so all concerned patriots were ready to sacrifice individual differences. Such political culture does not yet exist in Nigeria.

CAO.

[Chidi Anthony Opara]

Another dimension to the troubles of the incoming ruling party is that Buhari and APC in desperation, made too many promises, many of which would not be fulfilled in the light of the very limited financial resources of the country.

CAO.

[Chidi Anthony Opara]

IBK,
If these fellows who facilitated the so called change you and your friends are now celebrating do not have Ideology(ies), on what premises was the so called change engineered? You may looking at Ideology from a very narrow angle. Anyway, I have no problems with dropping the Ideology dimension.

CAO.

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[Samuel Zalanga]

Thank you very much for meaningfully developing interest in this. I am happy that you brought this issue up. The purpose of such a reference is not that it is a kind of  formula as in math. In any case, Thomas Piketty makes it clear that there is no one single blueprint for development etc. Each nation will have to figure its path. 

So the kind of discussion I will like to have based on what you said which I appreciate is then to say: why is it that in Nigeria we do not have that kind of consensus and how can we create it? Can we change the country without having such a consensus?  When the discussion moves in this direction, it is not about anyone of us but rather about looking at concrete evidence and trying to develop something out of it.

 If there was consensus n the US then, it was there not because it was naturally there; ending a civil in and of itself is not enough reason, unless there is a fundamental value system that united them and restrained their personal ambition. As Lincoln said in his debate with Douglass, one of the major threat to American politics was men of ambition n the pursuit of power.  Without some restrain, they can destroy a country. Such persons can forget about the common good in pursuit of their own ambition. Why don't we have that in Nigeria and how can we create it? Did we have it at one point or not? 

 These are the kinds of pieces of things that lay the foundation of a thorough strategy for making Nigeria move forward than some general talk. GEJ by conceding defeat, surely against some members of his party, has elevated national interest beyond his immediate personal ambition and  that of his party. Without that, all the news now will be about the number of deaths in Nigeria. 

But from the reports I have read the deaths recorded are caused by excessive and reckless jubilation by APC members. At least GEJ's decision truly calmed down the nation. So by looking at what was discussed in the book, we can get ourselves into the trenches of looking at evidence and contexts to see how we can move forward. This is not the only book that is relevant, but the point is competition can be good if it is disciplined and guided by certain fundamental values that set the parameters of  how far people can go in pursuing their personal ambitions.

Samuel

[Bode]

I am tired of saying something does not exist or apply to Africa. Create it, argue for it. Lay out the possibilities and alternative.

[Bode]

if ideology means interests and how those interests inform the philosophy and policies of government, of course, they have ideology. It may not be well defined or even named, self consciously. Again, it is our responsibility to recognize, debate, and contest the governing ideas and interests of the State. 

[Ameh Dennis Akoh]

It's already evident from Buhari's post-election victory interview on BBC Africa interview. He said the people should not expect miracles, e.g. that if the federal government could not for about six years rout out BH from 14 LGAs what can he do, blah blah blah...talk don dey change oo
Ameh

[Bode]

FOR BUHARI:

The real reason BH could not be routed we all know is because the Nigerian Army was not willing to fight that particular fight for obvious reasons. Jonathan knows this. This is why Jonathan took the failed step of trying to “settle” Boko Haram instead of a military action. Nigeria is a very complex society and Buhari should know that every move he makes is being closely read. If it is ever perceived that he secretly shares the same sentiments and sympathies of the Army that is still largely dominated by Northerners, and thus is unwillingness or unable to embrace the dispassionate duty of governing the most diverse country in Africa; he would effectively have revived the North/South antagonisms that would severely undermine all his other efforts in every other area. He would be viewed primarily from the prism of that ancient divide in which everyone is back into their own corner. He has to be seen to have risen above ethnic, religious, and regional allegiances. That was the strength of Babangida, why he was able to stay in power for almost a decade. It is Buhari’s only path to success. Otherwise, everything he does will become ethnicized and politicized. He, as a matter of utmost urgency and necessity, has to rise above politics in order to succeed. This is the real test of his maturity and will!

Bode Ibironke

[Ibukunolu A Babajide]

CAO,

In all political contests promises are made but when you run a transparent government people will see that you are genuine.

You accuse me of using ideology narrowly and I accuse you of using change narrowly too. The first change is with you and I. We can not leave governance in the hands of politicians alone. They will steal us blind. We must engage and demand accountability.

The second change is ensuring that ONLY patriotic people govern and reintroduction of merit. You and I must change our attitudes and look forward to building a country we can all be proud and not a sectional government. We must start from Local Government to state and lastly federal government.

Change is for all of us and not government alone!

Cheers.

IBK

[Ayo Obe]

You referred to ideological differences in the APC and that was what I was referring to.  I don't know that Tinubu and Atiku have an "ideology" about corruption.

[Chidi Anthony Opara]

IBk,
I am surprised that you who have been  following my efforts(you said so in another forum), would be advising me to start being active in the affairs of my country. I would forgive the Bodes of this world if they say that, but not you. You are hereby fined a keg of palm wine and five tubers of yam, to be paid before the next Eke market day.

CAO.

[K. Gozie Ifesinachukwu]

"We can not leave governance in the hands of politicians alone. They will steal us blind. We must engage and demand accountability."---IBK

But this is in essence what Ikhide has been saying all along--maybe too bluntly. Yes, he wanted PDP to win, because from the way I interpret his writings, the ultimate bankruptcy of PDP governance gets the country to real change faster. I did not agree with him, but that does not mean he wants Nigeria to fail. Wishing you the best.

Gozie

[Chidi Anthony Opara]

Ayo Obe,
My references were multi dimensional. The surprise is that you suddenly seem to know so little. Nothing spoil, I also have no problems with that.

CAO.

[Samuel Zalanga]

I have been so interested in the concept of "ideology" right from my undergraduate days. Interestingly, I got into a debate with someone in my school who relied on a conservative definition of "ideology," but I rely on the social science encyclopedia explanation for a broad understanding of the concept and other related concepts like that for broad, thorough and systematic understanding, 

But when I was an undergraduate, there was a debate in one philosophy of education class I took. And one of the participants said it is impossible to teach without ideology. Why? Because even saying you have "no ideology" is itself an ideology if  that "no ideology" becomes a systematic idea that shapes the worldview, thinking and behavior of a person.

 From this perspective, you may have good or bad ideology, coherent and incoherent ones, comprehensive or or minimal, etc, but you cannot live without an ideology. This way of thinking opens room for a much broader discussion in terms of understanding society and cultures. Thank you very much.

Samuel

[Ayo Obe]

I know so little because I don't know something that you know and think that I too ought to know?  As you say, "nothing spoil".

[Ibukunolu A Babajide]

CAO,

Temper justice with mercy. I am in London and half the yam tubers here are spoilt. DHL  will not carry raw food and if they do it will cost a leg and an arm and will not reach you by the next Eke market day.

As for the keg of palm wine you will only drink Saccharine and water.

You are a great patriot my brother. I plead for your forgiveness.

Cheers.

IBK

[Moses Ochonu]

That was my reading of Ikhide's position as well. He has basically been saying that instead of getting pretend change in APC, which may in fact prolong our ordeal in the hands of the current political class in both the APC and the PDP while delaying the prospect of real change by claiming a false progressive mantra, let PDP, the unabashed, unpretentiously bad party continue and make the case for or hasten the possibility of real change. It's a valid but cynical position, one that most people would disagree with because, for one thing, it can easily be countered by the argument that incremental change is more realistic than the so-called real change, and that APC's victory is not meant to be substantive change but rather serves as a transitional moment from the present rot and as a platform for the struggle for the kind of change we all desire. Both positions are valid and posterity will vindicate or discredit them.

Sent from my iPad

[Bode]

In other words, let us keep the status quo of absolute waste in place until a miracle of real change occurs, though we have no idea how it will occur and who will make it happen? A messianic change? Systemic contradiction? Sounds disingenuous to me! Ikhide is not a marxist. He is in this instance very reactionary. I could be wrong, but Ikhide comes across as being sympathetic towards Jonathan because he is from the South, and from what they call a minority group! He is not alone.

[Okechukwu Ukaga]

Moses and Gozie, may your days be long. I have been meaning to observe as much. It seems to me that the  truth and useful insight in Ihkide's contribution on this issue is being overlooked eithet because they are wrapped in Ikhide's blunt style of communication and / or because others see this issue via a binary "either or" frame of you are either for the current domestic political class in Africa not matter how corrupt and ineffective they are or you are for colonialism.  That is a false frame.
OU