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Shadow Government
Damn our “leaders” if they like it, damn them if they don’t, the people have spoken. Enough
of power vacuum, near constitutional crisis, and over heating of the polity all due to the fact
that the ruling party (PDP) does not trust the Vice President (Jonathan Goodluck) to formally
act as President until President Yar’Adua recovers from his illness. There is no choice other
than to respect the wishes of the Nigerian people, power belongs to the people. Cracks
have clearly emerged with the Executive Council of the Federation and the National
Assembly due to the pressure from the people. Shadow government will be such that should
coordinate massive public pressure (people’s power) to counter bad governance.
This was an idea I recommended in my Christmas message to Nigerians. It simply means
forming a government in waiting by the opposition parties. But in the Nigerian case, the
shadow government should be formed by opposition parties and representatives from the
following; Political Groups, Non Governmental Organization, Civil Groups, Community
Groups, Faith Organizations (churches, mosques, etc), Retired Civil Servants, Opinion
Leaders, Academic Staff Union of Universities, Labour Unions/Leaders, Students Union
Leaders, Non Academic Staff Union of Universities, National Association of Academic
Technologists, Nigerian Medical Association, Bankers, Nigerian Bar Association, Members of
the Nigerian Press, Nigerian Union of Journalists, Cultural Groups and any other groups,
corporate groups or individuals that might wish to join.
Shadow government/cabinet is in operation in the United Kingdom where opposition parties
have shadow cabinet members in all the existing ministries, For example Secretary of
Defense (Minister of Defense) by the ruling party (Labour Party) has a shadow Secretary of
Defense by the opposition parties (Conservative Party, Liberal Democrats etc). The British
opposition parties are alive and strong, they provide tough checks and balances on the
ruling party (Labour Party).
There will be nothing wrong to domesticate this method (shadow government) and apply it to
the presidential system of government that we are practicing in Nigeria . It can be our own
home grown democratic system. I have heard past Nigerian leaders talk about home grown
democracy. This can be one of it. However, political theories of previous centuries
(presidential system, unitary system, federal system, feudal system, theocratic system etc)
can be adjusted, amended or combined together to fit in the Nigeria of 21st century, so long
as it enhances good governance.
The essence of shadow government in Nigeria is to create a formidable opposition to the
government in power. Opposition parties/groups are an important part of every democracy.
In nearby Ghana , the opposition party (National Democratic Congress of Ghana) won the
ruling party. In both Zimbabwe and Kenya , power is being shared between the opposition
parties and the ruling parties. During the Babangida and Abacha era, National Democratic
Coalition (NADECO) formed a credible opposition to the military. They fought gallantly till the
country was returned to civil rule. Presently our opposition parties/groups need a shadow
government/cabinet structure hence my suggestion.
My other reason for recommending so many groups to join the shadow government is
because, I agree totally with what former French President Charles de Gaulle said, “Politics
is too serious a business to be left for politicians alone”. Shadow government will be able to
critically examine every government policy and come up a better alternative for the Nigerian
people. Where money is to be spent on projects, the shadow government should be able
highlight how and who can do such projects better and at a lesser cost to the Nigerian tax
payers. Shadow government will provide a training ground for future leaders. The benefits
will be enormous to the Nigerian public.
My suggestion of a shadow system of government is such that, we will have shadow
president, shadow vice president, shadow cabinet members, comprising of shadow minister
of education, shadow minister of health, shadow external affairs minister, shadow minister of
agriculture, shadow minister of finance etc. The same method (shadow government/cabinet)
should be created or formed in 36 states of the federation and the 774 local government
areas in Nigeria . In the case of states, there should be shadow governors, shadow deputy
governors, shadow commissioners. Whereas, in the case of local government councils,
there should be shadow supervisory councilors in all departments.
Since we have a bi-cameral legislature (The Senate and House of Representatives) at the
federal level, it will be in order, to have one shadow senator from each senatorial zone and a
shadow House of Representative member from each federal constituency of the federation.
Same should apply to the states and local government areas.
Appointment or Selection Processes: Appointments or selection methods should be strictly
by merit and through transparent processes. There will be no issue of putting round pegs in
square holes, like what the past and present governments have been doing. I will suggest
Option A4 system for selection process. I will also suggest that professional groups should
be allocated to relevant shadow ministries, for example if medical personnel’s decides to join
the shadow government, they should be assigned to the shadow ministry of health under a
shadow minister of health.
Shadow government can commence now and terminate by May 2011 when the tenure of this
present government will end. However there should be a transition plan for the shadow
government that will start from May 2011. Politicians and people interested in this project
can start working out the remaining modalities. Campaigning for different positions should
also start. Nigerians in Diaspora can participate actively in the appointment, selection, and
the shadow government itself. They can take part from wherever they might be. I will also
use this medium to urge the various pro Nigerian groups in Diaspora to come together
irrespective of their organizational differences. There are a lot they can achieve by coming
together. Joining or co-starting a shadow government will be a good starting point.
The shadow government can start online or partially base online. President Obama, Hillary
Clinton, John McCain relied heavily in online strategies during their campaign. During the
last French presidential election, the two top contenders (Nicolas Sarkozy and Segolene
Royal) generated the highest level of net activism. In Australia , their Prime Minister (Kevin
Rudd) has continued to use online presence to keep electorates aware of his government’s
activities.
Finally, I wish also to appeal to Nigerians to participate and join the fight against global
warming. Turn off your electrical appliances/lights when not in use. Plant a tree or sponsor
one to plant on your behalf. Government and companies should send less paper work and
do more email, telephone, and sms. May God bless Nigeria .
Chinedu Vincent Akuta, An activist and leader of “Support Option A4 Group” Leicester-UK
akutachinedu@yahoo.com
Damn our “leaders” if they like it, damn them if they don’t, the people have spoken. Enough
of power vacuum, near constitutional crisis, and over heating of the polity all due to the fact
that the ruling party (PDP) does not trust the Vice President (Jonathan Goodluck) to formally
act as President until President Yar’Adua recovers from his illness. There is no choice other
than to respect the wishes of the Nigerian people, power belongs to the people. Cracks
have clearly emerged with the Executive Council of the Federation and the National
Assembly due to the pressure from the people. Shadow government will be such that should
coordinate massive public pressure (people’s power) to counter bad governance.
This was an idea I recommended in my Christmas message to Nigerians. It simply means
forming a government in waiting by the opposition parties. But in the Nigerian case, the
shadow government should be formed by opposition parties and representatives from the
following; Political Groups, Non Governmental Organization, Civil Groups, Community
Groups, Faith Organizations (churches, mosques, etc), Retired Civil Servants, Opinion
Leaders, Academic Staff Union of Universities, Labour Unions/Leaders, Students Union
Leaders, Non Academic Staff Union of Universities, National Association of Academic
Technologists, Nigerian Medical Association, Bankers, Nigerian Bar Association, Members of
the Nigerian Press, Nigerian Union of Journalists, Cultural Groups and any other groups,
corporate groups or individuals that might wish to join.
Shadow government/cabinet is in operation in the United Kingdom where opposition parties
have shadow cabinet members in all the existing ministries, For example Secretary of
Defense (Minister of Defense) by the ruling party (Labour Party) has a shadow Secretary of
Defense by the opposition parties (Conservative Party, Liberal Democrats etc). The British
opposition parties are alive and strong, they provide tough checks and balances on the
ruling party (Labour Party).
There will be nothing wrong to domesticate this method (shadow government) and apply it to
the presidential system of government that we are practicing in Nigeria . It can be our own
home grown democratic system. I have heard past Nigerian leaders talk about home grown
democracy. This can be one of it. However, political theories of previous centuries
(presidential system, unitary system, federal system, feudal system, theocratic system etc)
can be adjusted, amended or combined together to fit in the Nigeria of 21st century, so long
as it enhances good governance.
The essence of shadow government in Nigeria is to create a formidable opposition to the
government in power. Opposition parties/groups are an important part of every democracy.
In nearby Ghana , the opposition party (National Democratic Congress of Ghana) won the
ruling party. In both Zimbabwe and Kenya , power is being shared between the opposition
parties and the ruling parties. During the Babangida and Abacha era, National Democratic
Coalition (NADECO) formed a credible opposition to the military. They fought gallantly till the
country was returned to civil rule. Presently our opposition parties/groups need a shadow
government/cabinet structure hence my suggestion.
My other reason for recommending so many groups to join the shadow government is
because, I agree totally with what former French President Charles de Gaulle said, “Politics
is too serious a business to be left for politicians alone”. Shadow government will be able to
critically examine every government policy and come up a better alternative for the Nigerian
people. Where money is to be spent on projects, the shadow government should be able
highlight how and who can do such projects better and at a lesser cost to the Nigerian tax
payers. Shadow government will provide a training ground for future leaders. The benefits
will be enormous to the Nigerian public.
My suggestion of a shadow system of government is such that, we will have shadow
president, shadow vice president, shadow cabinet members, comprising of shadow minister
of education, shadow minister of health, shadow external affairs minister, shadow minister of
agriculture, shadow minister of finance etc. The same method (shadow government/cabinet)
should be created or formed in 36 states of the federation and the 774 local government
areas in Nigeria . In the case of states, there should be shadow governors, shadow deputy
governors, shadow commissioners. Whereas, in the case of local government councils,
there should be shadow supervisory councilors in all departments.
Since we have a bi-cameral legislature (The Senate and House of Representatives) at the
federal level, it will be in order, to have one shadow senator from each senatorial zone and a
shadow House of Representative member from each federal constituency of the federation.
Same should apply to the states and local government areas.
Appointment or Selection Processes: Appointments or selection methods should be strictly
by merit and through transparent processes. There will be no issue of putting round pegs in
square holes, like what the past and present governments have been doing. I will suggest
Option A4 system for selection process. I will also suggest that professional groups should
be allocated to relevant shadow ministries, for example if medical personnel’s decides to join
the shadow government, they should be assigned to the shadow ministry of health under a
shadow minister of health.
Shadow government can commence now and terminate by May 2011 when the tenure of this
present government will end. However there should be a transition plan for the shadow
government that will start from May 2011. Politicians and people interested in this project
can start working out the remaining modalities. Campaigning for different positions should
also start. Nigerians in Diaspora can participate actively in the appointment, selection, and
the shadow government itself. They can take part from wherever they might be. I will also
use this medium to urge the various pro Nigerian groups in Diaspora to come together
irrespective of their organizational differences. There are a lot they can achieve by coming
together. Joining or co-starting a shadow government will be a good starting point.
The shadow government can start online or partially base online. President Obama, Hillary
Clinton, John McCain relied heavily in online strategies during their campaign. During the
last French presidential election, the two top contenders (Nicolas Sarkozy and Segolene
Royal) generated the highest level of net activism. In Australia , their Prime Minister (Kevin
Rudd) has continued to use online presence to keep electorates aware of his government’s
activities.
Finally, I wish also to appeal to Nigerians to participate and join the fight against global
warming. Turn off your electrical appliances/lights when not in use. Plant a tree or sponsor
one to plant on your behalf. Government and companies should send less paper work and
do more email, telephone, and sms. May God bless Nigeria .
Chinedu Vincent Akuta, An activist and leader of “Support Option A4 Group” Leicester-UK
akutachinedu@yahoo.com