On Thursday 12th day of March 2020, the bill to amend academic qualification for all political offices passed Second Reading in the House of Senate. Before now it was an evidence of having sat for WAEC or its equivalent that qualifies one to contest for any political office in Nigeria. Hence, this provision has enabled people who did not even have primary school certificate to be elected into various elective positions in Nigeria. And the aftermath is reflected in the quality of leadership we have in Nigeria.
Therefore, when this bill passes into rigours and scrutiny and eventually got signed by the President, it becomes an Act of Parliament. Hence, it would become effective and a standard of Rules of Engagement for Political Aspirants.
Nigerians who passed through various academic institutions welcome this noble move with euphoria. This is not because it is a panacea to the lingering problem of Nigeria. But it will enthrone some sanity in our polity. Because a nation cannot develop above its quality of leadership. Hence, having semi-literate people as leaders or people with smattering education would not give the needed sinews to take Nigeria out of the doldrums. Machiavelli said in his book entiled "the Prince" that for a leader to take advice from men, he must have a basic knowledge in all aspects of the nation otherwise the leader will despise their advice. So deducting from above, if Nigerian is under the leadership of well groomed citizens this country will definitely take its projected position in comity of nations.
But the truth is that Nigerians must be ready to support and defend this bill if it is threatened by those who benefit from status quo ante. Undoubtedly, this bill has the potency to change Nigeria. However, those who will be disqualified when this bill is passed into law may not allow this bill to scale through. Obviously, it is natural that no one willingly surrenders their source of income or earning to another without putting up a fight to retain same.
Conclusion. Emergence of well educated citizens in elective positions if enthroned would definitely reduce the rate of degeneration in our value system. Going back to the memory lane when Azikiwe, Awolowo, Abubakar Tafawa Belewa, Mazi Mbonu Ojike, M. I. Okpara, Aminu Kano, Waziri Ibrahim, Adegbenro and recently Musa Yaradua and Goodluck Jonathan will reveal to us that these men were leaders who never abuse the power they had. But today the leaders we have parade themselves as lords. Hence, we have demagogues and charlatans as leaders.
Finally, let Nigerians be on alert and ensure that this golden opportunity for social and political re-engineering does not slip off our hands. Hence, we must ensure that citizens with smattering education are not voted into elective positions. The harm they caused this nation will take time to remove. And we must begin now till we get there.
And we must be ready to disregard their subterfuge bcs tommorow, they will come out to brandish a qualifying certificate which they bought with their stolen wealth before us. So we must reject that certificate if they flaunt any before us.
Read and be ready to contribute your quota to enthrone a new Nigeria where merit can no longer be sacrificed for mediocrity.
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