Since attaining self-rule in 1960, Nigeria has
made several attempts at enthroning virile
democracy, with some of them always ending
in a fiasco, but the fourth republic, which
began on May 29, 1999 seems to have
broken that jinx, though political observers
have contended that it is not yet uhuru due
to myriad of paradoxes, OMONU YAX-NELSON
writes.
The charismatic wartime president of the
United States of America, Abraham Lincoln, is
famously quoted to have referred to
democracy as “government of the people, by
the people, for the people”. Similarly, the
enigmatic wartime prime minister of Britain,
Winston Churchill, is also quoted to have said
on November 11, 1947 that “democracy is the
worst form of government except for all those
other forms that have been tried from time to
time…” The deduction from these is that
democracy remains the best system that
guarantees fair representation.
On the foregoing premise, Nigeria set out to
join the rest of the world as a democratic
state when it attained independence in 1960,
but three frantic attempts ended in a colossal
failure. However, in 1998, two ‘quick’ events
took place that ‘permanently’ changed
Nigeria’s historical trajectory- the sudden
death of Gen Sani Abacha on June 8 and that
of MKO Abiola on July 7.
The Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar-led military
junta ushered Nigeria into its fourth attempt
at enthroning democracy. Despite the push
and pull that have characterized the last 18
years of Nigeria’s democratic experience,
analysts believe there is much to be
celebrated. They reckon that in the 57-year
history, this is the first time the country is
able to hold out without military intervention
after five consecutive general elections in
1999, 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015
respectively, despite the dissatisfaction with
the outcome of the exercises.
To put icing on the cake, a feat, according to
political observers, was achieved during the
2015 general election when for the first time
in Nigeria’s political history, the opposition
was able to defeat the ruling party, something
hitherto thought to be a mirage.
The result of the 2015 presidential election
was described by most watchers of political
development in Nigeria as a soothing relief
for the disenchanted group who had
concluded that politically, nothing good
could come out of Nigeria.
However, just when politically conscious
Nigerians were beginning to roll out drums
and basking in the euphoria of 18 years of
unbroken democratic journey, the Chief of
Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Yusuf Buratai, took
the nation by storm with the announcement
that certain elements within the political
class were courting some soldiers for a
possible military intervention in politics.
The latest development is a sad reality of the
fact that, after 18 years of democratic
practice, our politicians have not learnt
much. Analysts say this sad development can
be explained within the stand point of the
fact that our politicians see the game of
politics as a do or die affair or an investment
that must be protected at all costs.
In his assessment of how Nigeria has fared in
the last 18 years of democratic practice, an
accomplished diplomat who served as
permanent secretary, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, Ambassador Joe Keshi, expressed
regret that not much has been achieved as
many Nigerians are still unhappy with the
state of the nation.
He said, “I think it has been an interesting
journey so far. We are not yet where we
should be but we are struggling on and
hopefully some day we will get there and in
one piece. At least we have begun the
journey, even though without adequate
preparations, which is why we are
experiencing serious challenges.
“You need to appreciate that democracy is
more than just an election and the struggle
for power, influence and wealth. It is more
than that. It is about freedom from
oppression of any kind, freedom of worship,
association and accommodating one another.
It is about justice, fair play and equity, it is
about good governance, transparency,
accountability, it’s about having strong
institutions that operate within the orbits of
the law and not beholden to one powerful
man or groups.
“It is about meeting the basic aspiration and
happiness of the people especially to the
good things of life including the security of
the people. Eighteen years after, I hope it is
not uncharitable to say that it’s been all
motion and no movement and l believe that is
the truth if we want to be honest with
ourselves, especially as the vast majority of
the people are unhappy with the state of the
nation.
“Everybody is complaining or unhappy about
one thing or the other. If it is not about the
economy which works for a few and the
increasing cost of living, non-payment of
salaries of workers and pensioners especially
in the public sector, about the state of our
education, health and justice systems, about
infrastructure, especially power and roads,
unemployment, marginalisation of some
groups in terms of appointments and
recruitment, declining moral valves, it is
about the weakness, inefficient and
ineffectiveness of our institutions making it
difficult for us to resolve any problem.
“It is about the huge unjustifiable budget the
National Assembly has allocated to itself, in
a nation short of resources to meet more
pressing problems. It is about lack of
transparency in the procurement process
despite the war against corruption.
“All these, you can attribute to the absence of
a national leadership with a national vision
and philosophy and a clearly defined and
well-articulated national objective and with
the moral force, courage and charm to
mobilize the people towards a common
destiny.
“Even where chapter 2 of the constitution has
a well- articulated, national objectives, I am
not sure our leaders care or understand the
imperatives of driving those objectives. As a
result of the vacuum created by the absence
of a national leadership with a national
vision and philosophy, the space is today
occupied by ethnic and tribal warlords and
secessionists, religious bigots, militias
fighting for one thing or the other with each
group threatening the fabric of our existence
as a nation. Indeed, 18 years into our
democratic experience, the nation is frankly
more divided than it has ever been and this is
worrisome, especially as there is no rallying
center or figure to pull us together.
“Our leaders at all levels don’t even appear to
appreciate the magnitude of the problems nor
the need for an honest national consensus
and mobilization of the people to collectively
resolve the issues. Even more tragic is that
there is no hope that the character of
leadership will change as we continue to
promote and encourage the same people who
are in so many ways responsible for our
unfortunate situation. What is more
disturbing and sad is that the media is the
one in the forefront of promoting these
leaders who have failed us in the past. We
need a new set of leaders if this country is to
seriously turn the bend and l hope 2019 will
be the year in which serious efforts will be
made to bring up new leaders that can lead
us to a better future”.
On the behavior of the political class and its
effect on politics in Nigeria, Keshi said, “First,
we have political parties and politicians who
have no ideology or abut united by the desire
for power, influence and wealth which is why
you find politicians decamping at will to the
ruling party.
“There is no discipline or internal democracy
and we know the parties exist mostly during
elections or when they are deep in crisis often
times over leadership. Unlike in other climes,
they depend on largess from federal and state
governments as there is no financial burden
imposed on members like membership fees
and annual dues.
“Our politicians in the last 18 years have
become richer while the people whose
interests they claim to represent have become
poorer. Our politicians do nothing else but
mock us. They are selfish and self-centered.
They lack the maturity, discipline and
knowledge of democratic governance nor do
they understand what development is all
about. If they do, 18 years is enough to have
transformed the nation or set it on the path
of irreversible progress. We would have
become a productive nation. But no, as long
as there is oil money, we are stuck in our bad
ways and as we have seen, it makes no
difference which party is in power.”
The ambassador described the latest coup
rumour as a mere distraction. “As you can
see, it took away every other issue from the
headlines. Some of us are learning from
President Trump. However, if the army chief
is serious, he should reduce the military
engagement with civilians by ensuring that
the military keeps to its core mandate. Today
our military is very exposed and engaged in
activities that are within the purview of other
agencies. Never in the history of this country
have we so exposed and stretched the
military like we are doing today. They should
only be called out to assist other agencies
not take over some of their responsibilities”.
Politically, the behaviors of the political
actors have remained a constant cause for
concern. Like it has been since the first
republic in 1960, political parties are riddled
with one crisis too many.
Despite the nearly two decades of democratic
practice, indications from the two leading
political parties, the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) which ruled the country until it
was defeated in 2015, is at the moment on
‘life support’.
Also, the All Progressives Congress (APC),
which was formed by a coalition of political
parties in 2013, and was able to defeat the
ruling PDP has been maintaining peace of the
graveyard, since it took power in 2015.
In advanced democracies, democratic culture
is entrenched through the instrumentality of
political party ideologies. But in our clime,
political observers say, there is lack or
absence of clear cut party ideologies.
Political scholars have severally described
the character of political parties in Nigeria as
a mockery of an ideal democratic system.
This, they say, portends political immaturity
and might be an attraction for the military
class.
Ideally, the political class of a politician is
known by the party he or she belongs to.
That is far from being the case in Nigeria as
one can hardly distinguish between political
parties. This makes it more convenient for
politicians and elected representatives of the
people to defect from the party on which
platform they were voted to where their greed
and avarice will be satisfied.
Most remarkably, a close assessment of the
first, second, third republics shows no
significant difference in the attitudes and
conducts of the political class. As a time-
tested saying goes, ‘those who don’t learn
from history repeat historical mistakes.” That
is the dilemma of political system.
Economically, analysts say the fourth
republic, which began in 1999, has not
delivered on the mandate of democracy,
which is better life for citizens. Commentators
have adduced discordant reasons for the
economic doldrums in which Nigeria is
currently enmeshed.
Many attribute Nigeria’s democratic paradox
of increasing poverty to the greed and
recklessness of the ruling elite. In the face of
astronomical earnings from crude oil and
other collectable taxes, the majority of
Nigerians continue to slide into abject
poverty.
According to recent statistics from the
National Bureau of
statistics on poverty index in Nigeria, poverty
in Nigeria is rising with almost 100 million
people living on less than $1 a day, despite
strong growth in one of Africa’s largest
economy.
The percentage of Nigerians living in absolute
poverty – those who can afford only the bare
essentials of food, shelter and clothing – rose
to 60.9 per cent in 2010, compared with 54.7
per cent in 2004, the agency said.
Although Nigeria’s economy is projected to
continue growing, poverty is likely to get
worse as the gap between the rich and the
poor continues to widen.
“It remains a paradox that despite the fact
that the Nigerian economy is growing, the
proportion of Nigerians living in poverty is
increasing every year”, Statistician General
Yemi, Kale told reporters recently in Abuja.
“NBS estimates that this trend may have
increased further in 2011 if the potential
positive impacts of several anti-poverty and
employment generation intervention programs
are not taken into account”, Kale added.
Corruption is rife in Nigeria and for decades
politicians have focused on milking cash from
crude oil exports, which average more than 2
million barrels per day, rather than
developing infrastructure and creating jobs
for locals.
Despite holding the world’s seventh largest
gas reserves, which could be used to generate
power, Nigeria only produces enough
electricity to power a medium-sized European
city.
More than half of the country’s 160 million
inhabitants live without electricity, while the
rest have to rely on expensive generators run
on diesel supplies controlled by a small and
powerful cartel of importers.
The recently released Chatham House report
on corruption in Nigeria also leaves a sour
taste in the mouth. While politicians live in
opulence, the people that voted them wallop
in abject deprivation. The Nigerian National
Assembly, which comprises 365 members of
the House of Representative and 109
senators, has been dubbed wasteful with
allocation swollen to about N150 billion
yearly.
At both chambers of the legislative arm,
important state matters are left unattended
while trivial issues and ones that concern the
legislature’s allowances and general welfare
take precedent.
On the way to get it right once and for all,
observers say political leaders must summon
the needed political will to implement the
submitted work of the Senator Ken Nnamani-
led electoral reform panel when it is
completed.
They need to be properly organised,
structured and be a true reflection of the
people’s interest. There must be entrenched
internal democracy and the cost of collecting
forms to contest an election must be
drastically reduced almost to nothing.
Members must contribute to the running of
the party financially to reduce the influence of
godfathers. Above all they must be anchored
on some core principles and philosophy. They
must fight to improve the lives of the people
and stop the noise they
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