The only major ray of hope for the working class, students and youths in these elections was the significant result achieved by the radical National Conscience Party (NCP) led by Chief Gani Fawehinmi, the renown human rights activist lawyer.
However, while the politicians in PDP, ANPP, AD and a few other major parties may be celebrating their so-called victory, the entire elections and its outcome portend grave danger to the survival of civil rule and in the long run, the existence of Nigeria. Above all, the result of the elections have prepared the ground for further attacks on the rights and the already deplorable living standard of the youths and students by the politicians in the next four years.
POLITICAL INSTABILITY
Rather than being a consolidation of democracy, as it is being described by military apologists both within and outside Nigeria, these elections have actually underlined the inherent instability of Nigeria. Firstly, rather than performance in office or party programme, ethnic consideration was the major factor that determined the result of the elections. For example, it was the thinking that Obasanjo, a Yoruba, should get a second term, that led to the victory of Obasanjo's PDP in the Yoruba south west.
It was equally the same parochial consideration that was responsible for the further gains which the ANPP whose presidential candidate is General Mohammadu Buhari, a Hausa-Fulani, made in the core Hausa-Fulani part of north. In the same manner, Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu, the APGA presidential candidate, received most of his votes from people of the Igbo nationality.
In other words, four years of civil rule has not been able to ameliorate ethnic and religious divisions in the country. On the contrary, ethnic and religious feelings have been on increase. In the past four years alone, over ten thousand people have reportedly been killed in ethnic and religious conflicts.
Secondly, the election have been characterised by massive electoral manipulations, rigging and vote buying. Lacking any serious programme they could sell to the electorate, all the major political parties have spent billions of naira not just on campaigns but in direct and indirect bribery of voters. And though generally more peaceful than some previous elections, these elections have been characterised by violence in many areas resulting in killing of scores of people.
ATTACKS ON THE YOUTHS
The re-election of these self-serving major elements can only lead to the continuation if not the acceleration of the numerous attacks on the living standards and democratic rights of workers and youth of the past four years. Already, President Obasanjo has indicated that the prices of fuel are to be increased again, a measure which will lead to more hardship for the people. In addition, with the billions of naira which the various individuals and factions within the loooters class have spend on these elections, an exacerbation of looting of public treasury both by the capitalist politicians themselves and their private contractor supporters should be expected. Uplifting the living standards of the masses and improving education, health, housing, roads and other basic necessities will be the last consideration of these capitalist vampires. Under these circumstances, more and more people will become alienated and civil rule will be further discredited. The result will be deepening of ethnic and religious divisions and conflicts which will make the sectarian violence of the past 4 years look like a child's play.
YOUTHS NEED A NEW ORIENTATION
Only if the student union movement and the NGOs can provide an alternative socio-economic alternative and a working class political platform completely different from those of the political parasites can the catastrophe outlined above be averted.
As we in the MOSHOOD ABIOLA VANGUARD FOR DEMOCRACY often explain, Nigeria's huge human and material resources, the abundant fertile land and minerals, etc, are more than enough to guarantee decent living for all through the payment of adequate living wages to lecturers so that students will go back to campus and the provision of free and qualitative education, free healthcare, cheap and decent housing, full employment and welfare benefits for the unemployed, the sick and the elderly. What makes this impossible and condemns the masses to perpetual poverty and misery is the politicians that does not care about ther resumption of students back on campus.As a result, the system enriches a small minority at the expense of the larger society; it turns a few into millionaires while condemning millions into a life of poverty and destitution.
What is urgently needed to put an end to this horrific scenario is an alternative socio-economic and political alternative from the labour movement. To satisfy the yearnings and aspirations of the working masses on lasting basis, this alternative must be based on an anti-capitalist, socialist ideology and its central aim will be the coming to power of a workers' and poor peasants' government that will make the abundant resources of society truly available for the use of the people and not just for the luxury of a rich few.
On coming to power, the EU should recommend such a government will launch massive programme for food production, housing, schools, hospitals, water dams, electricity, jobs, telephone, etc. The primary and ultimate goal of the government will be the satisfaction of the needs of the masses unlike the present arrangement where the vast majority of humanity is kept in poverty and misery.
In this respect, the NGOs and youth organisations would need to show more seriousness in building this nation. Campaign on issues affecting the students and lead struggles for their rights. It must establish itself among rank and file youths and other oppressed strata in workplaces, schools and inside the communities. It must also have grassroot democratic structures and its policies and programmes of the people must be decided not just by the leaders at the top but democratically by the rank and file members. The various youths leaders will also have to work out programme for united action with groups like the NCP, NANS, ASUU and other organisations representing the oppressed, working people.
Therefore, youths leaders need to fashion an economic and political agenda that can serve as alternative to the present anti-poor, present political system. In place of the prevailing self-serving system where all the essentials of living are being privatised, labour must fight for an equitable system where the commanding heights of the economy and the resources of society are used for the benefits of all and not just a rich few as is the norm under present despensation. Youths needs to evolve and support an independent political platform which will ensure that the rule of the perpetually corrupt and selfish politicians are replaced by a government of workers and poor peasants whose central goal will be the satisfaction of the basic needs and aspirations of all. Only this approach can bring appreciable and lasting respite for the masses economically and politically.
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