By Christian Aburime
Someone once said that life is “inherently risky and that there is only one big risk we should avoid at all cost, and that is the risk of doing nothing”
A Philosopher had also said, “That if you do not participate in the process of electing your leaders, you end up being ruled by less capable men.” And the only thing you can do when situations like this occur, is to whine and lament the calamity that follows.
The fore-going succinctly brings to focus elite apathy towards politics or participatory democracy in the land which has been accepted as the norm by the society.
To address this challenge, the ‘Soludo Promoters Forum’ (SPF), was pioneered by a group of well-meaning individuals.
So, on Saturday, 22 August, 2020; Nkpologwu, one of the 14 communities in Aguata Local Government Area in Anambra state, made history as the first community to witness the official launch of the Soludo Promoters Forum. The launch of the SPF in the community attracted the leading lights within the host community and the entire local government
The event recorded one of the most successful gatherings of opinion leaders ever seen in recent time. Academics, businessmen, political players and professionals in various fields of endeavour made the roll call.
According to Professor Romanus Ezeokonkwo, the chief Convener, and one of the brains behind SPF, the key objective of the forum is to discourage elite apathy to politics by encouraging their active participation in participatory democracy.
While addressing the gathering, he advised that the elite must rise and do things differently this time around, insisting that they cannot be on-lookers any longer. He reminded them that their collective destinies are in their own hands and therefore must take the bull by the horns.
This bold assertion became the message every participant took home. The need for the elite to come out from their cocoon and be part of the democratic process of electing political leaders as the central message sank deep in the minds of the participants.
He summed it thus; “as professionals, how we behave during the forthcoming election (Anambra 2021 Governorship election) will either make or mar the next administration. If we sit on the fence, the wrong people will continue the trend but if we rise to the occasion, we will get better result”.
One of the facilitators of the SPF, Joe Anatune took up the matter from Ezeokonkwo, stressing the need for the elite to be fully involved in electing those who will govern them. He said as professionals and experts in various fields of human endeavour, there is the absolute need for them to be involved in the political activities of the state by ensuring that the most qualified candidates assume political offices
While further addressing the audience, Anatune stated; “one of the low points of Nigerian politics is the apathy of elite. But now, the stakes are too high not to be involved.”
He equally told them that their collective destinies and that of their children can no longer be gambled with, hence the need to be active participants in electing their leaders
Professor Chukwuma Soludo while expressing his gratitude via the phone to the Conveners/Facilitators and the guests at the event, re-echoed the need for the elite to embrace politics by getting involved in democratic processes.
Soludo said: “This day August 22, 2020 will be treasured in my heart as it was the day my colleagues in my local government throw their weight behind me to go ahead and vie for the governorship of Anambra state”
He added that though, he is yet to declare officially to contest the 2021 governorship election in the state, his ultimate desire is “to see an Anambra state that is self-sufficient, whose potentials are fully tapped and whose citizens and inhabitants are gainfully employed.”
He added that it is not a vision he can achieve alone; stressing that he needs all the people including the Professionals who are well trained in various fields of endeavour to passionately and selflessly work with him towards actualising the vision
As the momentum gathers towards the 2021 Governorship election in Anambra state, both the Convener and the Facilitators of the Soludo Promoters Forum have indeed done well by stirring the awareness and sensitization level for the elite to change their mindsets of political apathy, and join the call for full and active participation in democratic processes with the people.
The call was indeed loud enough in Nkpologwu, and no doubt, the elite have equally heeded it.
Aburime wrote from Ewu, Edo State
