Tt is transformation time in Nigeria. It is time for change. This is the message ringing round the whole country in the last one year. It is an inspiring song reverberating over the 36 states of the federation.The Independent National Electoral Commission captured the message and the melody of this music. Its Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, appeared to have laid the foundations of a new beginning by the 2011 elections.But INECs role in the building of a future Nigeria is transientelectoral machine job of one day or one week or one month and it is over. INECs men and machines cannot perform the greater post-election functions of building a new Nigeria.The more enduring, the more creative, curative and corrective aspects of rebuilding Nigeria are really in the hands of its people, parties and leaders. But the greater part of this immortal mission of building a new Nigeria is in the hands of its leaders.In fact, the peoples search for a new Nigerian nation is a search for a new messiah with new messianic missions and hopes for the building of a greater Nigeria.The peoples eloquent music is not one of bread and butter for the masses. This is too mundane and common for the promise and prosperity of the new incoming Promised Land which will be the immortal heritage of the present and future Nigeria.Within the last 51 years of Nigerias Independence, its hallowed ground of politics and nation building, have been gradually desecrated by the philistinesapostles of the mundane and multi-billionaire power calculators have gradually taken over the Nigeria political space. Moneyless messiah-like leaders have been conquered, discouraged and driven away from the political market of multi-millionaires and multi-billionaires.As an organisation seeking the capture of power and government, political parties have central roles in planning the use of power and government for change and development in the political and economic systems of the nation. They have the power of articulation of the social will and the national Interest as they relate to the immortal destiny and development of the Nation-state..As the parties compete for the capture of power and government, conflict and chaos have proved inevitable in the history of Nigeria. Such conflict and chaos had in the past threatened the corporate existence and survival of Nigeria.As the parties compete for power, let them compete within the rules of the game. Let them compete under the rule of fair and free election. The Machiavellian power game of fair is foul and foul is fair, of power by all means, just or unjust, righteous or unrighteous, cannot sustain the rules of the power game in any nation engaged in the pursuit of freedom, unity, peace, progress and prosperity.The politics of money adoration and position adoration can never build a new Nigeria. This kind of politics will succeed only in crucifying Nigeria and on the cross of Gold. That kind of politics would blind Nigerias eyes from seeing the "Vision Paradiso" of the new nation.The total leadership and elite class of the nation possess the unified genius that is needed for the pursuit of a greater Nigeria. They possess the unified inspiration and aspiration for the pursuit of a great new Nigeria, well positioned among the nations of the earth. Modern models of development, superior modernisation models and super technologies, their creation and their pursuit are locked up intact in the spirit and minds of the total elites and leaders of Nigeria.Prof. Opeyemi Ola is an ex-member of the House of Representatives (1979-1983)
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