Modest Thoughts with Ayuba, Yilgak’ha
Democracy is broad but at the centre of it are issues of leadership recruitment, the rule of law which emphasises equality and fundamental human rights. Therefore, one cannot be wrong to see democracy in terms of freedom of choice based on the dictates of law and the superiority of majority decision.
This discourse focuses on democracy in relations to constitutionalism, adherence to rules as it affects leadership selection. Of all that matters in a democracy, periodic election is key. However, electoral processes are best consummated through strict adherence to regulatory provisions. That is why a country’s Constitution and Electoral Act are very important ground norms.
Today being June 12, Democracy is celebrated in Nigeria. Before now, the day was observed on May 29 until former President Muhammadu Buhari changed it in 2018. Since then, the day has become a big day for National celebration as far as the history of democracy of democracy in the country is concerned.
The commemoration of the Day of Democracy is a period for sober reflection with MKO Abiola of blessed memory at the centre of it. At a glance, it can be said that the fallout of the annulment of the supposedly freest and fairest election which produced the Late Chief as winner led to the spontaneous reaction from pro-democracy groups, especially, the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO). The national reaction led to the historic “stepping aside” of the then “Military President” Ibrahim Badamasi Babagida (IBB) and the emergence of Earnest Shenekon’s led “Interim National Government” (ING) and the eventual resignation of ‘the man in the Mirror’.
This was followed by the returned of military government under late General Abacha who almost metamorphosed into a democratic president until death snatched him out of the Seat of Power, the Aso Rock Villa before Abdulsalami took over and led the country back to democratic rule on May 29, 1999 with former President Olusegun Mathew Aremu Obasanjo kang charge for 8 years.
As can be seen, the period between 1993 when the presidential election was annulled and the returned of democracy on May 1999, a lot happened and in quick succession too. The period was turbulent with so many twists and turns in the political space. During the time, new political nomenclature like the ING or phrase like stepping aside surfaced in the country before the invention and invocation of “Doctrine of Necessity” which later followed under the transition era of former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan from Acting President to President, following the demise of the then President Umaru Yar’ Adua of blessed memory on 5th May, 2010. This history is very important as a way of appreciating the journey that led to the birth of the Fourth Republic/current democratic dispensation.
Since the return of democracy in 1999, May 29 has become handing over and taking over date except for State with off-season elections due to election tribunals’ rulings on governorship polls in those States. Be it May 29 or June 12, the fundamental question that begs for prompt answer is whether or not Democracy Day should be celebrated in Nigeria at all? This question is germane in view of the socio-economic and political contradictions currently facing the country and its citizens. Irrespective of what anybody can say, the reality is that most Nigerians are not smiling under this democracy. Since 2019, Nigeria became the poverty capital of the world after overtaking India. The country is battling multidimensional poverty with over 63% of the citizens living in abject poverty occasioned by unemployment, insecurity, policy failures, corruption, terminal diseases, climate change, etc.
This idea that ‘the worst democracy is better that best military regime’ has become a fairy tale. Democracy, they say, is work in progress but it is grossly not working in Nigeria. The political culture of the country seems to be in favour coercion if anything is to work at all. Under democracy, for instance, Nigeria can hardly be restructured even though the need for that is glaring.
How can a country have states where majority of them cannot pay, at least, N62,000 minimum wage that is not even enough to buy a bag of rice for its toiling citizens? How can a country which cannot afford a decent living minimum wage build spatial accommodations for its public officials (elective and appointive) with fat allowances to them? What a visible case of inequality perpetrated in high places? Government officials need decent houses to function, no doubt about it but the times are hard to warrant any luxury for them now except if the narrative from government that resources are grossly scarce is false or a mere excuse.
Democracy is supposed to be an inclusive system. Being an inclusive system, democracy should deconstruct inequality, equate opportunities and make human systems more responsive to the needs of all. Democracy is a civilised and honourable system of politics that serves as harbinger of hope for liberty and freedom. In other words, democracy is about the rule of law that concerns the trinity of superiority of the law, equality before the law and Fundamental Human Rights (FHRs) like the right to life; the right to freedom of association and the right to freedom of choice. Democracy is about good governance which is centred on transparency and accountability. Anything outside these ideological frequencies is tantamount to tyranny and will not be desirable in the system.
In some parts of the world, particularly, Africa and Middle East, democracy is cultivated and nurtured carelessly. Most countries within places ignore the fact that democracy and its cherishable dividends (fruits) do not come by wishing thinking but practical commitment to its lofty ideals.
In Nigeria, for instance, the reality of lawlessness, corruption and inequality and, the careless manner in which these contradictions are fought is a pointer that the country’s democracy has not matured yet. In other words, the existence of lawlessness, institutional corruption and inequality have indicted Nigeria’s democratic credentials even after 25 years of unbroken experience with the system.
The primary responsibility of government is to ensure that the stability, security and welfare of the citizenry is promptly and sustainably attained. No nation strives and develops in an atmosphere of chaos and abject poverty. One of the potent ways through which a country can achieve good governance is for its citizens to respect and faithfully follow the dictates of extant laws and sound rules of behaviour (ethics). In other words, constitutionalism, that is strict adherence to rules must take precedence over lawlessness. Through rules, roles are assigned to institutions and individuals in the polity (society).
When system rules and processes are violated, there are fatal consequences. This lesson is so loud a book titled, “People Like Us” written by Dominick Dunne, a master storyteller.
In that book, the author told his readers about the story of the struggles of a certain Renthal Family whose ambition was to win acceptance in an elite society characterised by Knowledge, wealth and ultimately power. The main characters Elias and Ruby Renthal who left Cincinnati to build business empires in New York, United Staes of America as well as Baily.
Elias and Ruby can be likened to two politicians or two political parties contesting for an election. Gus Bailey was a journalist whose primary responsibility was to observe and report the cataclysms (catastrophic power plays) that determine who get what amongst members of the ruling class. By schedule of duty, he can be likened to an Electoral Umpire who ought to be independent and neutral in the discharge of his functions.
One of the most outstanding features of the people in “People Like Us” was that they operated their society based on detailed rules that were not followed to the latter. Gus Bailey moved from his observatory, reporting or supervisory roles to be a power player himself. This means there was a shift in role and the world of the society referred to in the book never remained the same.
Shifting roles can be described as situations whereby a person or group of people abandoned their roles for other roles. It can also be seen as an unwelcomed deviation from a well-established or acceptable ideological orientation or tradition.
In a democracy, periodic election is a tradition which takes care leadership recruitment in the polity. The credibility of the leadership selection process is the basic determinant of the functionality and strength of the democratic system. Therefore, the conduct of free, fair and credible election becomes a pivotal goal in every responsible democracy.
In an ideal electoral system, citizens/stakeholders play distinct roles. These roles include that of electoral observers (civil society), news reporters (journalists), electoral umpires (Independent Electoral Commission), impartial judges (tribunal judges), partisan politicians (contestants) and electorates. If, however, an impartial arbiter (observers, journalists, INEC or tribunal judges), directly or indirectly, meddled into political ding dongs or vice versa, then, there will be real problem.
The electoral processes will be badly compromised with its attendant negative consequences. This is squarely the bane of Nigerian’s democracy within the context of its leadership recruitment process.
Gus Bailey, the observer, enjoyed the trust of the political actors he was reporting but, having being armed with their secret strategies, he decided to be a player as well. Morally, his action was wrong but a typical politician will tell you there is no morality in the game of politics.
The Gus’ scenario has become a recurrent decimal in Nigeria’s democratic enterprise or practice. The country’s political system cannot be trusted because our rules of engagements have been betrayed in many ways than one and frequently too. There are always reasons to suspect the sincerity of the moves of every political players and those superintending over our electoral processes.
Nigeria celebrated its 25th Democracy Day yesterday.
The celebration was the Silver Jubilee of the country’s democracy. It can be said that so much effort has been invested in Nigeria’s democracy but so much is still left undone. With discipline and dedication to the ideals of democracy, the next 25 years will be eventful for the common good. Happy Democracy Day Nigerians!
