A nonpolitical pressure group, The Renaissance Movement (Atunbi) has called for a paradigm shift in the political leadership recruitment process in the country, saying, it must not be business as usual for thieving political office holders.
The Movement said with its over 452, 000 members across Oyo state and collaboration with 43 different sociopolitical groups, it will prevent those it described as ‘opportunistic individuals and organizations’ from coming back to power by proxy, but would develop the necessary organisational forms and programmatic platform that will take on the established selectorates and defeat them through democratic means.
Members in attendance from the 33 local government areas of the state include, trade groups, artisans, market men and women groups, union of pensioners, student union bodies, professional groups, among others.
Addressing thousands of the members of the Movement at the NUJ Press Centre, Iyaganku, Ibadan on Saturday, Renaissance Movement Facilitator, Comrade Ibrahim Bolomope reiterated that although the group “is not a political party but rather a political pressure group that is interested in identifying, presenting and sponsoring competent members within the groups rainbow coalition for elective political posts through democratic process.”
He said “If no one is left to speak for us, we must speak for ourselves and act by ourselves. The Renaissance Movement Atunbi is therefore a product of necessity.
“It is formed principally to engage and challenge the leadership recruitment process of our political system. The gatekeepers who also doubles as the selectorates for decades have held the political system in the jugular.
“As 2019 approaches, there should be a paradigm shift in the political leadership recruitment process. It cannot be business as usual. For business not to be as usual, we need to do the unusual. The intervention of Atunbi is to take back to the people through effective mobilisation and sensitisation of the good people of Oyo state in particular and Nigeria in general.
“Our mission therefore is to help recruit a new generation of leaders with minimal margin of error for the purpose of enthroning a government that is not only responsive but also responsible to the yearnings and aspirations of the majority of the citizenry within the twin context of transparency and accountability using the instrumentality of participatory democracy.
“Most political groups and organisations in Oyo state in particular and Nigeria in general, over time have unconsciously neglected the power equation necessary for the emergence and sustenance of a citizenry friendly government.
“No doubt, all political groups are in total disarray and lacking in rigour of presentation and logic of articulation to take on the selectorates. It is evident that there is the total collapse or disappearance of elite political consensus. There is also lack of moral intellectual capacity for competitive political engagement and the complete breakdown of fraternal political allegiance to the powers that be in the state.”
In their various remarks on behalf of their separate groups, the different leaders express their readiness to take the bull by the horns and not allow them to be played around by selfish politicians as the 2019 general elections draws closer.
Dr. Tunde Amusat, a leading voice in the movement said many politicians and political office holders have enmarshed themselves in the loots of corruption to the extent that they can no longer feel the pulse of the electorate.
Recounting his ordeal in the hands of his kidnappers where he was released recently, Dr. Amusat called for the creation of community policing if the menace of crimes and criminality must be reduced to the barest minimal.