by Preamble: Nigeria’s fourth republic is 18 years old. 1999 offered promises of prosperity and freedom, but the ordinary Nigerians have been terribly disappointed. We have tried two major political parties, the PDP and the APC. The PDP was profoundly corrupt, prodigal and irresponsible with power. The APC on the other hand is confused and overwhelmed with power. Both are ‘Old wine in new bottle’ in terms of their contract with the ordinary people. There are other smaller parties, but they all appeared to have lost steam because they appear to be annexes of members of the major parties who may found them handy if schemed out of political permutations in their big parties.
If Nigeria must attain its great potentials and truly harness her God given resources and natural endowments for the greatest good of the greatest number, then our approach to governance must be surgically redefined, hence the need for a political party that truly belongs to the ordinary Nigerians that offers fairness, equity, justice, liberty and freedom to all within the context of the law and the statute books.
Manifesto:
NRP shall have only one manifesto as the fulcrum of all other manifesto items. And that shall be:
STRICT ADHERENCE TO THE RULE OF LAW: Rule of law is a precursor to good governance that safeguards the government and the people in the Social Contract.1.The government must foster an enabling environment such as security to life and property for people to thrive and attain their legitimate dreams 2. The government must be able to punish bad conduct and reward good conduct 3. The government must provide infrastructure for the good of the people 4. The government must defend the territorial integrity of the country so that people are free to move and reside in any part of the country of their choice.
- NRP’S PARTY PLATFORM
- Unity: The unity of the country based on justice, fairness and equity shall be vigorously pursued.
- Human Capital Development: a. Free and affordable, functional and qualitative education shall be embarked upon. b. The health and wellness of all citizens shall receive holistic attention. c. The government cannot provide employment for all but shall foster an enabling environment that will encourage private sector interest and promote self employment among citizens.
- Women And Children: The NRP shall as a matter of urgency and emergency, examine all the laws as they affect women and children create an environment that makes abuse, violence and violation against women and children with impunity a thing of the past.
- Family: The family is the backbone of the society albeit the world. The family has been ebbing in Nigeria and has failed to sustain spousal love, and has greatly in promoting moral values which should have impacted in the society. The reason is economic hardship and failure of governments to make life abundant for all and sundry.
- Discrimination Against the Physically Challenged: The physically challenged are no less Nigerians and their rights and privileges should be upheld and protected.
- ENVIRONMENT: The issue of environment transcends pollution of all types; water pollution, air pollution, noise pollution. Erosion, flooding, are as important as the anti- social pollution by anti social elements in the society who constitute nuisance in neighborhood, on the road and at public functions. The NRP shall confront these human challenges frontally and resolve them in the course of time.
- SPORTS: Sports is an industry on its own and is capable of creating employment if all potentials are fully tapped into. It is also a veritable source of unifying people across various diverse and interest. It also helps promote healthy living by way of its recreational values.
- INDUSTRIES, JOB CREATION AND SOCIAL WELFARE PROGRAM: Every responsible government must be able to create job and develop its country’s potentials in industrial development. There must be social welfare program for those who are truly deserving of it.
- ENERGY AND POWER: It is totally unacceptable that power is still an issue after so many years of different governments. Power generation is no longer a rocket science because other countries with our peculiarities have overcome such challenges. The NRP shall leave no stone unturned to achieve this goal.
- SECURITY: One of the core functions of any government is provision of security to life and property. Tax payers are forced to pay extras to provide for security by engaging the services of different militias. If state and local government police offer solutions to such absurdities, the NRP will be favorably disposed towards it.
- STRATEGIES TO DEVELOP THE PARTY
- (SLOGAN)The party’s slogan shall be ‘For Public Good’
- PARTY MEMBERSHIP: The membership of the party is open to all and sundry who are Nigerians and are of voting age. Juniors yet of voting age can be nominal members.
- POLITICAL OFFICE SEEKERS: The party shall have zero tolerance for fraud and misrepresentation. Towards this end therefore, all prospective political office holders must subject themselves to background checks by completing a mandatory information form with a waiver that it can be presented to law enforcements for authentication.
- AGE OF PROSPECTIVE POLITICAL AND ELECTIVE POSITIONS SEEKERS: Prospective office seekers must meet the standard age the constitution of Nigeria allows. The party shall as a matter of policy not allow aspirants older than 65 years at the time contesting for any election and such can only remain in the legislative arms of government and to seek election to the office of the president or governor after the first term.
- QUALIFICATIONS OF PROSPECTIVE ASPIRANTS: The minimum acceptable qualifications shall be ordinary national diploma to positions of local government or counties or ridings as the nomenclature can be, and into the legislative assemblies, while elective positions to the offices of the President or Prime Minister or Governor or Premier or whatever nomenclature suitable for the aforementioned offices shall be no less than Higher National Diploma or a Bachelor’s degree and above or professional certificates that equate any of such qualifications earlier stated.
- POLITICAL LANGUAGE: If there is any aspect of politics the NRP would like to create a revolution, it shall be in use of political language at interviews, campaigns, seminars, gatherings, debates and as at every other political forum where the party is represented. The party will as a matter of urgency establish a political language sandwich course for all aspirants and party representatives about knowing what to say and how to say it. Vulgar, disrespectful, hate speeches, gender biases and coarse language are totally unacceptable and could lead to expulsion of any member. We expect all our party members to discuss issues, to educate and to present facts and figures on any issues of the public interest
- DRESS MODE: NRP will appreciate modesty in dresses and in public appearances. We frown at conspicuous consumption, prodigality and profligacy. We must at all times be seen to live and demonstrate leadership in conduct and appearances.
- SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY: The NRP shall from time to time pursue matters of public interest; we should defend the rights of citizens on the basis of ‘pro bono publico’, sensitize the public and donate when feasible on indigent people with medical conditions. We shall also embark on promotion of scholarship and grants for gifted but indigent students.
- FUND RAISING FOR THE PARTY: We shall finance the party mostly through membership contributions, we may also consider a business venture that helps the economy of our country and is also profitable enough to help the cause of the party. When we do have the cause to receive donations or contributions from any member of the public or companies that are true believers, we must add a caveat that we shall not be swayed to compromise the principle of the party and the interest of the country.
- PERSONAL COMMENT OF THE CONVENER, MR. OLANREWAJU AJIBOYE: On the points raised on the Party Platform may I suggest to you all that have received this document that we should set up a committee to develop a soundly wrought program on each of the points that is not only realistic but very practical and achievable. Thanks. Olanrewaju Ajiboye
