An Article on
Nigerians and Dividends of Democracy
By
Isu Smart Eluu
I
can argue it to eternity that the current system the government of Nigeria is
practicing is not a democracy. Counting from the Third
Republic I mean 1999, Nigeria’s
‘acclaimed democracy’ is now 13 years old. And if at this period, Nigeria
independence, which is 51 years, can be said to be in its infancy. I cannot
imagine what adjective will satisfactorily qualify the Nigerian 13 year’s old
democracy. Perhaps, it will be described as a democracy yet to be ejaculated
into the uterus of it mother. I will be sad if the masses can claim that,
throughout these periods, they have got the much touted dividends of democracy.
I think I have no reason to be sad because the fact is, as at today, the masses
cannot claim to have enjoyed any dividends of democracy. The idea of democracy is traced back to the
ancient Greece
which practiced direct democracy in which ‘the whole citizen body formed the
legislature’ because ‘then representative democracy system was unknown. For the
sake of clarity, the word ‘democracy’ itself is the combination of the two
Greek words; ‘demos’ which means ‘people’ and ‘kratein’ meaning ‘rule’. After
the fall of the Greek city-states 2000 years back, that buried democracy was
exhumed by Abraham Lincoln, the former President of the United State of
America, in his famous Gettysburg address delivered in November 19,
1863, at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, when he said ‘ it is rather for us to be
here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored
dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full
measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have
died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and
that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish
from the earth’. This idea of his became the most popular definition of
democracy.
If
you will be patient enough to hear me to the last, you will understand. It is
posited that there are five basic rudiments without which no country can claim
to be practicing democracy. These are; equality, sovereignty of the people,
respect for human life, the rule of law and liberty of the individual. I do not
mean to burden, but can you help me highlight any one of these elements that
exists in Nigeria.
Count them, how many? It is no more a democracy when the political repression
turned politics into warfare and a ‘do or die affair’ thereby undermining issue
of development of the state. It is no more a democracy either when the leaders
disconnected themselves from the citizen and even detaches public policy from
social and basic needs of the citizens. Neither is it a democracy when the
constant economic coercion of the citizens has made them become estranged from
the state and the government is seen as a force to be feared nor is it a
democracy when the leaders cherish enormous waste of human resources and concentrate
on amassing wealth for their great grand children yet to be born at the expense
of the citizenry. At this juncture too, I will not like to trouble you, but let
me ask you in a manner you will understand, which one of these does not exist
in Nigeria?
Shh! Keep the answer to yourself I do not need it.
One
of the cardinals of democracy is free and fair election. This is the platform
through which the citizens elect those who will represent them. But take the
memory lane backward, how many office holders can you assuredly say that won
the Election of 2003,2007 and 2011 respectively based only on the votes casted
for them by the electorates? How many Governors were later brought in by the
intervention of the Nigerian Election Petition Tribunals? If you do not
remember any others, at least you can remember Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the
Governor of Osun State, Ayo Fayemi, the Governor of Ekiti State, Adams
Oshiomolo, the Governor of Edo State, Olusegun Mimiko, the Governor of Edo
State, and a host of others. Now, if you cannot remember all these cases, were
you aware when the former President Umar Musa Yar’dua publicly admitted that
the election that brought him into office was mercifully rigged? And do you
still believe that there is free and fair election in Nigeria (Democracy)?
That
one apart, the next is the issue of welfare of citizens and their fundamental
Human rights. Can you alone, without the influence of anybody, decide when and
when not to meet the counsellor of your area; the chairman of your local
government; the governor of your state not to talk of Mr. Mighty President at
the dungeon in Aso Rock, in Abuja? Besides, do you know the number of people
that sustained injury while exercising their rights to protest against the
removal of subsidy? If you do not know, one citizen Opobiyi was reported dead
on 5th January, 2012 in Ilorin
Kwara State
consequent to the protest on removal of subsidy. Did you read the Nation News
Paper and what the police said was the cause of his death? Did you believe it?
Once more, on 9th January, 2012 one Ademola Adesin Tobi aged 28 was shot dead
in Lagos by a
member of Nigeria Police Force, while playing football. On the same spot, one
Samuel Egbuyor, 23, Abubakar Alimi, 24 and Joy Monday, 20 were all wounded. Do
you know whether some people still died somewhere? Is this democracy?
Since
my Secondary school days I have learnt that in democratic system majority
carries the vote. And if I may ask, do you know the number of Nigerians
clamouring for the removal of subsidy? Do you know the number of those
insisting that subsidy should not be removed? Do you know that their conditions
are not the same? Is this still a democracy? Okay if you feel you do not understand the
above questions; let me ask you in manner you will understand. You too, look
steadily around you then fix the ‘Nigerian Democracy’ into the context any
definition of democracy you know - any compatibility? Is Nigerian Democracy a
government of the people? Do you have a say at all? Is it still of a government
by the people when the Big Brothers in election rigging have not given it a
quit? Is the government for the people- you and I? Count from one to three, how
many times have you gotten the dividend of democracy?
To
my mind, Nigerians, myself inclusive, need a definition for the type of system
of government we are practicing. But I am afraid we may have to wake the past
political thinkers and theorists from their graves or probably conjure their
spirit for this purpose. If I have read the current situations of things in Nigeria in a
book, I would not hesitate to tag it to be a fallacy. But what can I say now
when all these are happening before my very eye? My dear reader(s), please,
once more help me answer this last question. I know this cannot be democracy.
And you may not agree with me, but if I may ask, do you consider this to be an
ideal democracy? If the answer is yes, why? And if no, then what is your own
definition of the system of government Nigeria is practicing?
Democracy
Democracy is defined as “rule by the people”. After
prolonged military rule in Nigeria
and the subsequent return to democratic rule in 1999, the Nigerian people hoped
for a life much better than during the military rule. Fortunately, for
democratic rule in Nigeria
, political activities on the international scene have favoured- and are still
favouring – the major source of income to the government which is oil. Prices
of oil have been soaring higher and higher and in return, billions of dollars
have been flowing into the government coffers.
Democratic governments and legitimate systems all over the
world concerns centre around providing welfare and basic necessities that will
make life easier and prepare its citizens for the challenge of nation building.
Some countries, even though not endowed with natural resources, have used their
initiatives to guarantee that lives of their citizens are at least comfortable
and satisfactory. But with democratic rule in Nigeria from 1999 to date, will the
Nigerian people testify to any meaningful change that has brought about any
positive change in their lives? Have they reaped any meaningful dividends of
democracy? Is their will at the polls true reflection of their leaders and
representatives? Are their leaders and representatives performance anything to
hail up about? And have they held the trust invested on them sincerely?
Answering these questions will help us to annalyse recent reports which show
that despite Nigeria’s
plentiful resources and oil wealth, Nigeria is now considered one of
the 20 poorest countries in the world, with over
70 per cent of its population classified as poor, with 35 per cent living in
absolute poverty. Also reports indicate that 59,000 women die during or soon
after childbirth every year, the second highest in the world after India
.
Only very few Nigerians could testify that democratic rule
from 1999 to date has direct positive impact on their lives. Among the very few
are the politicians themselves, their families and cronies, business monguls
and, consultants who have connections with politicians, professionals and
academics given appointments to hold public offices and those that get tokens
as defenders and promoters of politicians and public office holders.
The Nigerian people who don’t have connections with
politicians are continuing to live in hardship and uncertain future. Poverty ,
maternal deaths, unemployment , insecurity, underpayment ,corruption , rigging
of elections, lack of electricity, good drinking water
and roads e.t.c seem to be their own portion of dividends of democracy .In some
cases one notices absolute carelessness about the lives of citizens that work
without salaries for several months in places partially or completely sold out
by government. Cases of pensioners dieing on delayed payment queues are many.
Dividends of democracy are visible on politicians, public
office holders and families and cronies of politicians. Flashy cars , exotic
mansions and shopping malls, trip to foreign countries, expensive dresses and ornaments,
fat bank accounts, established businesses e.t.c are some of the dividends of
democracy that all can testify that those in the shade of governance do enjoy. Masses are not envying politicians and their
cronies for the life of comfort they are enjoying , rather they are demanding
for what is supposed to be done to them to at least make life easier for them.
They are also still confused as to which type of economic
system we are operating as we are underpayed and at the same time the
government keeps removing all subsidies that cushion the life of poor Nigerians
against harder and brutish way of life.
Politicians have confused Nigerians with the type of
economic system government is operating. In all we are aware of, that in all
systems, capitalist, socialist, monarchy, theocracy, military e.t.c such
governments are dedicated and concerned with providing the necessary mechanism
that will afford their citizens a life full of opportunities, as they invest
heavily in agriculture, education , health and deal decisively with all
issues of corruption.
Been a subservient nation through accepting and implementing
policies of foreign countries and their institutions will keep on retarding our
development and inflicting more hardship on our people. Such policies have been
in use under various names for years but they have not changed the lot of
Nigerian people. Our governments have to look inward to formulate economic policies that will tally with our way of life.
Corruption, which is the core impediment
to our growth and development, has to be tackled aggressively under a willed
and purposeful leadership. Until corruption is
fought to a standstill, those politicians that have pillage and plunder
treasuries under their trust and are freely moving about enjoying and
partying their loot, and even scheming for higher political
offices will be emulated by would-be occupiers of elective offices and
public office holders.
Nigerian leaders have to work extra hard to win back the
confidence of the Nigerian people that democratic governance is all about
service to the people not service to themselves. That the real dividends of
democracy should be felt by all Nigerians irrespective of tribe, religion,
region political differences and social status through enabling the atmosphere
to be condusive such that all can eat three times a day, can obtain employment
without having any connections , can be attended to in hospitals and provided
with drugs, that salaries are enough and Nigerians can now start having the habit
of life saving, that all Nigerians can move freely without fear of criminals
e.t.c . Until some of these and others are within reach to the Nigerian people
that the real dividends of democracy will be elusive.
President Umaru Musa Yar’adua‘s government should add
gear and redouble its efforts in implementing its seven point agenda which in
theory centres around the basic necessities of the Nigerian people. As far as
he accepts to be the Nigerian President, the Nigerian people will continue to
demand for what is supposed to be given to them especially his campaign
promises which undertook to place Nigeria among developed economies
by the year 2020. And if he err or foot drag, the Nigerian people will not be
silent to demand for what is supposed to be done. The march to the land of dividends of
democracy will be long unless and until there are free and fair elections where
their votes count and the leadership is willful, firmed , purposeful and
dedicated in sincerely and honestly leading the nation to greatness . A nation
that corruption is dealt with as capital offence, then only can the Nigerian
people truely feel the impact of dividends of democracy.
Yours faithfully,
Smart
08109860953
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