The Necessity for Political Experience in Nigeria Politics

The outrageous ridiculousness of the necessity for a political experience in contemporary Nigeria political jungle is extremely annoying, baffling and heavily on mind this morning of January 1, 2011. This, in my thinking, is an attempt to perpetuate the status quo which has blindly led Nigeria in the wilderness since 1960.
Let’s think about this for aminute: What kind of political experience is necessary to take us to the promise land? Who among all our current political leaders have such experience? And, for God’s sake, why are we still grooping in the dark for the promise land fifty years after independence?
I think there is a positive and negative side to any kind of experience. In Nigeria political context, I will liken a positive political experience to a politician from Lagos traveling to Kaduna and, rightly so, headed northward. The politician, under normal political circumstances, will of course reach his/her destination. Unfortunately, Nigeria has either never had this kind of politician – at least at the executive level – or never allow them (e.g Chief Obafemi Awolowo) to lead us to the promise land.
The negative side of experience can also be likened to a politician from the eastern part of Nigeria trying to get to Kaduna but headed west against everyone’s advice. The politician keeps praying, begging for more time, more patience and more votes in his/her delllusion that one day he/she would miraculously get to Kaduna. Most politicians in Nigeria since 1960, especially those at the executive level, are like this politician.
The two choices we have today, in my opinion, is clearly between those politicians with abundant negative political experience dated all the way back to 1960 (who by the way, have nose-led Nigeria as either military dictators; military dictator turned civilian president; corrupt vice president under military dictator turned civilian president who could not take us to the promised land as almighty dictators but somehow think that they can do so as democratic president) and politicians with vision and sense of direction. I personally will rather bet on politicians with vision and sense of direction and hope for a GOODLUCK!!!

Adesina Akanni