RALPHS NWOSU: Hero Of Democracy, Sets The Stage For New Nigeria

By James Okoroma

When Contemporary Nigerian Political history will be written, one man whose name will appear in gold, is Ralphs Okey Nwosu.

Nwosu is the founder of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), a nascent Political Party which has now been adopted for future elections by Nigeria’s opposition Politicians .

Those who know the history of ADC and Nwosu’s trajectory, would admit that he expended energy, resources and time to establish the Party with the aim of making it serve as a Leadership recruitment Platform for Leaders who would sustain the greatness of Nigeria and Africa through effective Leadership.

Nwosu’s leadership Vision is rooted in Pan-Africanism. Afrocentricism is an integral component of his Vision which aims at raising global Leaders of African extraction.

Also, the Vision of ADC , from inception, has been intertwined with the Founder’s mission which is to”consolidate Nigeria’s democracy beyond (flawed) elections, political rhetorics and theatrics”. Nwosu’s Philosophy of leadership is anchored on his belief that the fortunes of Nigeria and Africa can be redirected through purposeful leadership. This is despite the shortcomings of Africa’s leaders.

It was Mahatma Ghandi, who once said that the first step to Leadership, should be “intellectual”. In other words, a leader must be of sound intellect to be able to govern well. Plato, one of the fathers of Modern Political Thoughts, was of the view that those who should rule, must be the Philosopher Kings who have been thoroughly educated. Plato maintains that ‘the best should rule the rest’.

Nwosu’s concern, has been how to raise the best to rule the rest. Such Leaders must have what he calls the ‘ADC DNA’. The DNA has the components of resilience, honesty , patriotism, discipline and courage.
The desire to raise a new crop of leaders, informs the establishment of the ADC Global Campus which is the educational arm of ADC .

The Leaders nurtured by Nwosu, are inculcated with Leadership Principles to enable them provide effective governance at all levels. This is a clear indication that Nwosu is determined to address the leadership crisis in Nigeria .

The Mission of ADC, is to “re-engineer a Political Party System that is free from domination by wheeler-dealer Political elite, Moneybags and godfathers through transparency and accountability; as well as propagate inclusion and diversity of values for women, the Youth, Diaspora Network and persons with disabilities “.

From 2005, Nwosu mobilised committed Nigerian Patriots across religious and ethnic lines to build a Political Party that could be compared with South Africa’s African National Congress (ANC). His stoic attributes which put him in the class of the Spartans, sustained him throughout the trying years of ADC.

Through Nwosu’s leadership acumen, the ADC spread its tentacles across Nigeria and emerged as the only Political Party with a clearly-defined ideology. This was the characteristic that make the Party attractive to members of the Political Class.

Today, the ADC has become the Platform for driving change in Nigeria. It represents a Stage set for national rebirth.

In Nwosu’s challenging years, his close association with Nigeria’s former President of Senate, late Dr. Chuba Okadigbo remained a source of strength as he meandered through the murky waters of Nigerian Politics. His decision to establish ADC was largely informed by the need to provide a Platform for Leaders who would place the interest of the people above personal aggrandizement.

Without conditionalities, Nwosu surrendered the Party he nurtured from infancy with everything in him to opposition Politicians who seek change of a Government that has devalued the lives of the people through flawed economic Policies.

He has handed over the reigns of Power in the Party to a former President of Senate, Senator David Mark.
While in the Senate, Mark provided stability in the national Assembly and in the entire Nation in moments of great national challenge. He steered the ship of state away from storm with the Doctrine of Necessity when late President Umaru Yara’Adua died and there was a vacuum in leadership. Though Yara’Adua did not transmit power to his Vice, Good luck Jonathan, the Doctrine of Necessity made it possible for Jonathan to assume Power without any form of friction in national leadership.

Nwosu has shown us the light for us to find the way. His selflessness, patriotism, honesty and courage are virtues which must be embraced by all those who seek national rebirth through focused leadership.

Opposition Politicians owe Nwosu a moral responsibility: they must not make him regret the sacrifice he has made in National interest. They also owe him a duty to deploy ADC as a Vehicle to advance the cause of the common man.
Nwosu is now ranked among the fathers of modern Nigeria for the uncommon sacrifice he has made for the good of the present and future generations of Nigerians.
His place in history is assured.

Okoroma, a Professor, writes from Owerri, Imo State.