THE NIGERIAN ELECTORATE NEED TO WAKE UP

Over the years, people (myself inclusive) have associated themselves with the popular act of chanting the encomium of democracy in Nigeria. We thought it is and will be as pragmatic as the very father of it - Abraham Lincoln theorized. However, my little political arithmetic following the ups and downs of the imminent election has forced me to say NO! NO! NO!, what we practice in Nigeria is not even in the near neighborhood of democracy, talk nothing of democracy itself. My humble advice at this crucial point in time is that the chanting of such encomium should be brought to an abrupt end for it is no longer sounding melodious. This is for no other reason other than the fact that the dividends of democracy have been rendered cosmetic. The tenets, ethics and ethos of democracy have been treated with levity and reckless abandon –telling tales of “impunity in the high places”.  

Strictly speaking, if what we witnessed during this past six (6) years of Jonathan administration is what democracies all over the universe experience, then it is high time anarchy went for infant baptism or vice versa, either way will serve our purpose. Before taking you on a brief memory lane, it may interest you to know that aside the countless number of lives lost during this regime, more than nineteen thousand (19000) persons were displaced and rendered homeless – bye products of insurgency in the country. This is an administration which inter alia promised us adequate security, efficient transportation system, building of a standard refinery and so on. I would however leave it open for you to adjudge whether such promises were fulfilled, yet “Mr. president” wants to go back on a second tenure.

A questionable question at this juncture may go this way – Of what relevance is the forthcoming election to the following persons: 1. A man who lost his only child or four (4) of his children to the abduction of Chibok girls? 2. A woman who lost her husband in the Kano Market bombing? 3. A child that lost his parents in one or two of such occasions and or a family that was displaced as a result of such unrest. Such individuals abound and they are no less bonafide citizens of the country. In essence, one cannot fathom their lot until one is actually made (God forbid) to be in their shoes. Consequent upon this, it may not be a hyperbole to assert that the imminent election to them is but a fairy tale – for the government has dashed their hopes.

 I have always believed that it is a cardinal duty of government and governance to provide for security and if it falls short of that, it cannot escape culpability. These believe is however anchored on the Chapter Two of the 1999 Nigeria Constitution (2011 as amended) which provides for the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy. To be precise, Section 14(2)(b) postulates that; the “security and welfare” of the people shall be the “primary” purpose of government (emphasis is mine). So, if the government fails in this aspect, then one should encounter no difficulty at all to opine in strong and lucid terms that such government has ultimately failed. Permit me therefore at this juncture to re-emphasize that MR GEJ failed us and as such, no thanks to a failed president.

On the other hand, it appears that a great many Nigerians need change. When I say change , I mean an alternative government. However, it is regrettable that we do not have a very efficacious and formidable political armada in Nigeria now in form of an opposition party. For me, I am yet to be convinced; in fact I am afraid as to whether the so called APC is a pressure group, anomic group, a band of power hungry gladiators or a political party properly so called. My fear stems from a number of variables; 1. I have plied almost all the highways of social networks – running to and fro multiples of sites in search of the ideology of this party, all to no avail. So if you have seen it, kindly forward it to me. 2. Given the fact that not less than 87% of the current members of APC defected from PDP (with the exception a microscopic minority), one may not therefore be wrong in holding that it is just a band of elitist group that has come for no reason other than to continue to masturbate themselves in the corridors of power. In view of this APC can be likened to the case of an old wine in a new wine-skin. 3. Much like what was obtainable in 1946, APC is more or less regional in practice and that being the case is capable of developing us backwards. 4. Have you bordered to look at the slogans of these two parties – PDP & APC? Then get the gist- the former uses “transformation” whereas the latter uses “change”. It is very sad that my little inquiry so far have left me with no clear difference as appertains to these two terms. Merriam Webster Online Dictionary says: TRANSFORMATION – A complete or major “change” in someone’s or something’s appearance, form etc. CHANGE- To undergo “transformation”, transition or substitution. The Word Web Dictionary/Thesaurus did not equally help matters for it defined the former as a qualitative change while the latter was defined as the process of causing transformation and neither did our very own ubiquitous Advanced Learners Dictionary Of English come to their rescue. In essence, the nuts and bolts of the above exercise is indicative of the fact that in so far as the both parties use the same slogan, then it is either that they are playing on the intelligence of the masses or that one of the parties lacks vision/mission or better still that one of the parties is the brain- child of the other.

In furtherance, a cursory look at the then administration of the current APC presidential aspirant revealed many sad events which among other things include the indiscriminate imprisonment of our illustrious sons & leaders – the likes of Ambrose Alli, Pa Adekunle Ajason, Jim Ifeanyi Nwobodo (One-time Governor, old Anambra state) and Sir. Ifeanyi Alex Ekwueme (one-time vice president of Nigeria) notable for inter alia spear heading the building of the hitherto celebrated UNN Library Complex. As if he has not done enough harm and regardless of his age, it becomes a puzzle in my mind as to what GMB is still looking for in the political scene. The same applies to GEJ because, never was bloodshed known in the annals of Nigeria history than in his tenure. Following from this, one can safely gather that in a nutshell, the imminent election can be described as a contest between a failed president and a former military dictator.

What is now the position of the electorates?

Notwithstanding the political dusts already projected into the atmosphere and which seems to have beclouded many Nigerians, I think it is incumbent here to assert that it is not arguable at any length as to whether the electorate has any special power to that effect. The precise provision of S.14(2)(a) of 1999 constitution of Nigeria as amended makes it clear that sovereignty belongs to the people from whom the government derives its power. However, the electorate unlike what should be obtained in a democratic dispensation, have thrown that right to the birds. In short, that provision is of no much importance to an average Nigeria more than is lipstick important to a man. Many factors can account for this; apathy, illiteracy, ignorance, naivety, tribalism (sectionalism), greed. A concatenation of the above points renders the average Nigerian electorate powerless otherwise, tell me the reason why some of our politicians will promise us “heaven” whereas “hell” is not even in their possession, after which they fail and still come back to convince us as to why they couldn’t bring heaven to earth, yet we will still vote them – giving them the latitude to aside looting the economy, commit more horrible fallacies.

For me, I am less perturbed about whether the president is a man from Isiukwuato LGA –Abia, a man from Oduduwa empire, an Ogbomosho man, a man from Gwoza(Borno), Anyigba(Kogi), or a man from Enugu-Ezike (Enugu) or better still a woman. Besides, there is a common denominator - government of the people, by the people and for the people. So, if we can have a visionary leader capable of rendering the dividends of democracy to the people in general, then why do we talk of zoning? Why do we still at this juncture emphasize the fons et origo (the origin) of a presidential aspirant? Why do we engage in the endless bargain of religious affiliation? All these are outside the purview of democratic requirements and should be cast into the dustbins of tribalism, sectionalism and religious cum doctrinal bias respectively. Some will stand and tell you - “the other is a Christian while the other is a Muslim”, but the question is ; what difference do that make? How does it affect the transmogrification of the battered economic/political status of the nation? After all it was not a gentile that betrayed Jesus Christ. The sum and substance of the above points to the conclusive conclusion that the electorates need to wake up to realities.

  In conclusion, No doubt, we are faced with a situation I can best describe as a dilemma for many have gone to town propagating that none of the two parties can serve our purpose at this crucial point. In so far as that fact is appreciated, then culpability cannot be on your side if you liken the situation to that of a double-edged sword. However, Nigerians are not bound to run head-straight into such dilemma, we can steer a delicate (middle) course thus; 1. We can decide to vote none of the two tough power centers, there are other contestants from other platforms and they can still make good bargain for this country. If this cannot rescue us then… 2. Must we practice a presidential system? The answer is unflinchingly in the negative, so, we can as well revert to parliamentary system in which case a COALITION GOVERNMENT will safely lead us home – GEJ becomes the “presidoo” while GMB becomes “vice” or vice versa, either way will exculpate us. 3. One of the two (APC or PDP) has to renegotiate their political imbroglio, accept the bitter outcome of tomorrow’s election and thereafter wait patiently for the year 2019. TO FELLOW NIGERIANS: Remember that in as much as that your single vote is concerned, you are to that extent a law unto yourself , therefore, vote wisely, vote prudently and remain a good citizen of the country.     As submitted by

                             IFEANYI E. UGWUANYI.