” This country, with its institutions, belongs to the people who inhabit it. Whenever they shall grow weary of the existing government, they can exercise their constitutional rights of amending it, or their revolutionary right to dismember or overthrow it – Abraham Lincoln. ”
Indeed, it’s democracy day. Ordinarily, today should have been cemented in the chronological annals of Nigeria as an immemorial tradition upon which a plethora of rhapsodic reflections supposed to have been entrenched. Unfortunately, over 200 millions Nigerians are gnashing their teeth and couldn’t help but ask : ” is democracy a perfectly-choreographed curse packaged to them in 1999 as “freedom” or a form of boulevard to a better life as being experienced in saner climes? “. For as many Nigerians who were propitious to have witnessed the eras of the military juntas in the 80s and 90s, the reminiscences of those gratifying anamneses they witnessed even under the so-called military big boys wouldn’t help but facilitate a melancholic aura to descend on them, and distressingly.
Even though I’m a democrat and I strongly believe in the philosophical tenets of democracy and what it brings to a society, I can say unequivocally and unapologetically that, Nigerians made the greatest mistake of the century for choosing “democracy” on May 29, 1999. That singular action by Nigerians would inevitably ensure more lives, families and generations live impoverished lives no matter how hardworking and resilient they are or choose to be. Statistically, researchers have envisaged that over 70 percent Nigerians are destined to live miserably without being able to afford three square meals till 2050. And it’s all thanks to democracy. Comparatively, during the atrocious eras of the duo of Ibrahim Babangida (1985 – 1993) and Sanni Abacha ( 1993 – 1998), over 80 percent Nigerians had access to food and other essential infrastructures of life such as electricity, good road networks, pipe-borne water, et al. The difference is highly decipherable ; even the military big boys were considerate and caring for the masses and also had a low corruption ratio compared to the present crops of piranhas and vultures masquerading as politicians, all of whom continue to hide under the whims and caprices of democracy to inflict harrowing torture on the skin of the same people who voted for them.
President Tinubu
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While my assertions might look overly exaggerated, aren’t the parameters for assessment pristine enough for every Nigerian to see? In terms of poverty, employment, minimum wage, GDP, infrastructures, electricity, etc, haven’t the military juntas out-performed those reckless crop of political vampires Nigerians chose over Abacha in 1999, and till present? Or, would Nigeria have been worse if Abacha hadn’t died and still remain in Aso rock till date? 26 years after, Nigerians have nothing to show for adopting democracy. For 26 years, they’ve been cajoled and tricked into believing it takes time for any country to get it right under democracy. They’ve been hypnotized into worshipping politicians for the past 26 consecutive years before having food on their table. For 26 years, they’ve been indoctrinated and forced into accepting the fact that, even salaries worked for, are favors ; not a right. Access to good roads and electricity are privileges ; not fundamental rights.
Sadly, while Nigerians continue to groan excruciatingly, the political classes continue to devour the treasures meant to be shared by all. They are living an opulent life even their contemporaries in other spheres cannot afford. They siphon with unimaginable greed the resources meant for the entire populace. From the presidents, even to the governors and the senators, they all have billions of dollars secretly kept in Nigeria and in diaspora. They have their kids schooling in the most expensive schools in the world. They have houses and investments their 10th generations cannot even afford to exhaust. They continue to gallivant around and living a celestial paradise on earth while over 90 percent Nigerians live on less than a dollar daily.
While the political classes continue to hold the throats of Nigerians with an ultimate intention of suffocating them, just like what was obtainable in the military eras, they want to gag the voices of Nigerians, and to the zenith. They are enjoying the camaraderie and enjoying the paraphernalia of offices and wouldn’t want to relinquish their respective offices. They distaste to hear revolution or protest. Particularly, since Tinubu came on board, it seems protests have been criminalized. The same man who forced Goodluck Jonathan out of office in 2015 through the use of protests cannot seem to tolerate same.
What is the essence of democracy where there’s no freedom of speech? While many Nigerians supporting Tinubu’s administration aren’t ashamed to identify with his maladministration, what’s their yardstick for supporting his criminalization of protests? Under Tinubu, journalists are being held in various prisons across the country. Activists are running helter-sketler for safety. Dissenting voices are being incarcerated without trials. Opposition parties have being infiltrated, unsettled and stiffled. EFCC and DSS have suddenly become vindictive agents against people who oppose Tinubu’s anti-people modi vivendi.
The first question here is : “how did we get here?”. The answer is simple : the legislatures and the judiciary. As it stands, politicians don’t have worrisome nights anymore. Even without the support of the masses, they are less concerned. The solution to winning any election in Nigeria is simple : steal enough money to bribe your way through and the judges will declare you winner. Even if a politician loses after an election, with so much money to throw around to the judges, his victory is all but guaranteed at the court. How can we call this democracy? No politician is answerable or accountable to his/her people again, and it’s all thanks to our judges. They continue to adopt “technicalities” in court while blatantly disregarding evidences of electioneering discrepancies, many of which could be proven beyond all reasonable doubt. From the appeal court judges to their supreme court counterparts, it’s now a business routine as virtually all of them have learned the nitty-gritty of such a gimmick worth billions of naira. By far, all of them are billionaires – and it’s all down to democracy. We all saw what happened at the tribunal in Edo state today. It’s just one out of many. I’m sure many Nigerians know that PDP would encounter the same fate should it pushes the case to the court of appeal and the supreme court.
How can Nigeria have a system whereby judges are the final determinant of every election?. What sort of democracy is that? Arent judges also human and don’t they have personal bias and affiliation?. Every politician knows that if INEC fails to do the job on the field, the judges are there to perfect the proceedings at the court. How wouldn’t Nigeria be the capital of poverty with such a ridiculous and horrendous system?.
While Nigerians are still gasping between the devil (INEC) and the deep blue sea (judiciary), another belial that is bent on ensuring the duo continue to pave ways for the executive is the country’s legislatures. Never in history had Nigeria witnessed the level of impunity as being witnessed in the red and green chambers. Together, the senators and the house of representative members have proven to be the sole reason Nigerians wouldn’t survive the present incursions they’re experiencing. Even without being asked by Tinubu, the duo of Akpabio and Tajudeen Abbas would gladly authorize Tinubu’s third term with ease. There’s no bill Tinubu wouldn’t get approval for – even if he wants to start taxing Nigerians for breathing fresh air. Akpabio is not even hiding underneath one finger to unleash a series of phantasmagoria of pain on the masses. We all saw the heinous role he played when he unilaterally endorsed and approved Tinubu’s declaration of state of emergency in Rivers state. Akpabio has no human feelings ; he mocks Nigerians, and derives joy throwing tantrums at them incessantly. He’s doing excellently well at what he was recruited to do. With him and Wike at the helm of affairs in Abuja, there’s no stopping Tinubu in 2027. Tinubu knows it. While opposition parties are planning to dethrone APC and Tinubu in 2027, Tinubu is already planning for 2031 because he knows only God can remove him in 2027 ; not any form of alliance by oppositions.
Tajudeen Abbas is another joker. He too must definitely play his role as demanded. Just few days ago, I read he was forced to retract a bill seeking to mandate Nigerians to vote after various outcries from Nigerians and the International Community. When I first read the news few weeks ago, I knew Tinubu allies, many of whom wouldn’t tell him the truth would end up leading Nigeria to armageddon. What do the legislatures take Nigerians for? As a politician, how can you disenfranchise me for 4 consecutive years and still expects me to gladly go to the poll to vote when you come around again?. An average Nigerian knows his/her vote doesn’t count any longer. How can you compel Nigerians to vote when they all know the final outcome rests solely on the judges and not their votes? What if some Nigerians don’t have a personal conviction about any of the candidates? Were the legislatures trying to compel Nigerians to vote under duress?.
Voting is an optional responsibility and you cannot enforce same in a democratic dispensation. It’s a personal conviction and it has to do with one’s belief. Compelling the electorates to vote can create an anarchic environment. Instead, I would have expected Abbas and his cohorts to go back to the drawing board and consult Nigerians to know why over 60 percent of the eligible voters don’t vote. If they can do so, they’ll know that no one would be enthusiastic to vote for poverty, unemployment, insecurity, bad infrastructures, poor electricity, etc. Unfortunately, Abbas and his cohorts alongside their families are living a life exclusively meant for the crème-de-la-crème of the society, and are busy enjoying the bounties of democracy meant for all. Of course, they would be glad to vote because they know that it’s going to be another four year of living a life over 99.99999 percent Nigerians would never live till thine kingdom come.
With Nigerians being totally asphyxiated by the political classes since 1999, and only they (political classes) are enjoying the dividends of democracy since then, is there a reason for Nigerians not to curse democracy day for bringing a harbinger of misfortune to them and their generations?. Again, with the legislatures and judiciary ensuring their votes don’t count and always ready to maneuver the will of the electorates, what’s the fate of Nigerians under democracy should it continues like this?. How can Nigerians rescue themselves from their immortal adversaries packaged in the form of INEC, legislatures and Judiciary?.
Just like a plant, the root system is the life wire of the shoot. The root system consists of different roots and tissues, each performing a distinct function in ensuring water is transported to the stem and the leaves (shoot system). While the shoot system is also important particularly when it comes to photosynthesis which is exclusively a function of the leaves because they contain chlorophyll, the root system remains the back bone of any plant. A plant can survive without leaves for years if it stays hibernated. Some even shed their leaves to reduce evapo-transpiration. Infact , some plants can survive in an extreme weather condition without sunlight for years. But, no plant can survive without water. Some trees like the fig tree, are known to have very deep and robust tap roots and can go up to 40 feets downwards in search for water.
The above analogy is what Nigerians are experiencing in today’s democracy. Tinubu is the plant everyone is seeing which exemplifies the shoot system. The legislatures and the judiciary the root system upon which he (Tinubu) solidly relies. Nigerians are the farmer who wouldn’t hesitate to cut the plant because of the pain it brings to the farm. But, even if over 20 million of them (farmers) amalgamate together in a form coalition to cut the plant, it would amount to nothing but effort in futility unless the legislatures and judiciary (roots) are uprooted. But, presently, it seems no matter how much Nigerians and opposition parties try to uproot Tinubu in 2027, it might never materialize. Tinubu knows. He has no worries at all. Just like a plant allows the sun to drain water from its leaves to pave way for evapo-transpiration, thereby facilitating a process called condensation which would later birth precipitation (rainfall) – a process which feeds the root system adequately and ensure they conserve enough water to be used by the plant during the dry season when it would need it most, Tinubu had also filled the pockets of the legislatures and the judiciary with enough money and resources. Come 2027 when he would need them the most, just like the root would rather sacrifice all the water it had absolved during the rainy season for the plant not to die during the dry season, the duo (legislatures and Judiciary) would rather give up all they’ve benefited to work for Tinubu’s emergence.
Legislatures and Judiciary know Tinubu must not lose the 2027 election. For them, it’s a symbiotic relationship ; they benefit immensely from Tinubu by feeding fat on the electorates, in return, they must ensure he returns unscratched.
Nigerians are the losers after all. The political classes know that. Gullibly, the same Nigerians are still killing and hating themselves because of those politicians.
Men who didn’t have 10 thousand naira in their bank account are now politicians worth over 500 billion naira – all thanks to democracy. The same men have been ruling Nigerians since 1999. They don’t want to retire. They hate revolution and protests. They (less than 5000 of them) are enjoying the dividends of democracy while over 150 million Nigerians of the total 200 million cannot afford to feed twice a day. Abeg, who democracy help in Nigeria?. It’s a government of the politicians, by the politicians and for the politicians.
(Akinropo Olufemi writes from Ibadan. He’s a writer and poet)♠