Still On Democracy and Citizen’s Tormentation Against The System
By Abbati Bako,psc,bsis,Alumni,University of Kent,UK’s European University——-
THE NIGERIA’s DEMOCRACY AND THE MEANING OF DEMOCRACY—–
This writing said it several times that Democratic Politics has competing values, interest and ambition. Also is a game of communications, dialogue, negotiation and mediation. Politics is never a game of fighting or violence as well as a game of influence, indoctrination, monopoly, peace, unity, stability, law and order, money, strategy and planning. Politics is between vision, mission and practicality all in one.
So, politics is a positive and fantastic game within the branches of social sciences. Although there has been an argument among scholars in the world; whether politics is a science or art? In my candid view politics is both science and art. But the game must be conducted in accordance with its rules and principles.
Politics is a means and ways of governing the human society or “management of people” (Malam Aminu Kano, 1981) based on laws formulated by the elected representatives of the people. The system has been in practice since 508 BC in Athens and only the countries or societies that follow the rules and principles of the game succeed. The most important things are among the rules are “Citizen, Election, Economy, Political parties, Constitution” of which without any one of the five the system will be futile in any country.
*The importance of elections in the system
The intrinsic relationship between the successful conduct of free, fair, credible and acceptable elections and the institutionalization and consolidation of Democracy in nations is widely acknowledged. This arises from the notion that in a democracy, “the role of the people is to produce a government and elections are the institutional arrangement for arriving at political decisions in which individuals acquire the power to decide by means of competitive struggle for the people’s votes”. Elections are thus perceived often as a procedure for regulatory competition of political power through competition for votes.
Within this conception, elections are fundamental building blocks of democracy. Failure to conduct free, fair, violence free, transparent, credible and internationally acceptable elections in a polity often generate outcomes that stunt the growth of democracy, as well as the proper development of the nation.
Paul Collier is an expert and Professor in Political Economy at University of Oxford, London says “Elections are the institutional technology of democracy” According to him, elections have the potential to make a government more accountable and more legitimate. Elections should sound the death knell to political violence. He argues that elections and peace settlement in the world’s most violent countries may lead eventually to a brave democratic world. In the meantime, though, brutal, protracted civil wars, military coups and failing economies will plague the bottom billion, unless national sovereignty is curtailed and economic discipline introduced”.
Professor Tatah Mentan for University of Massachusetts, USA opined that, “democracy is about political choice fostered by meaningful political competition. He observes that in a democracy, all partisan interests and ideological flavors have a chance to make their case to the electorate. A well functioning democracy does not guarantee success in the political (or economic) market place. Rather it does assure that everyone should potentially be capable of securing office” (Held Together By Pins: Liberal Democracy Under Siege In Africa, Eritrea 2007).
This scenario is a reflection of what currently appears in Nigeria. It is therefore important to assess what factors exacerbate the situation. And why does violence occur in Nigeria’s political democracy? What legacy President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will put in place in the coming elections of 2027? Because there is no relationship between Democracy and violence. Democracies never fight one another. Democracy was created to stabilize society, build economic interplay, social justice, societal development and good governance pure and simple.
For many observers, for example the electorate and civil society, genuine Democracy has not been established in Nigeria, and this is what causes/brings about tension and violence in the country. Looking at what Democracy is, one could argue that up till now (after 25 years of uninterrupted Democracy in Nigeria) we have not been practicing proper Democracy based on the 57 elements, rules and principles of the system in the country. Experts such as Paul Collier, Larry Diamond and Tatah Mentan argues that in most African nations (Nigeria inclusive) real Democracy has not being practiced in Africa rather practices “DEMOCRAZY”.
Hence, Mr. President Bola Tinubu must try to do something tangible and positive that will stabilize the practice of Democratic System in Nigeria, especially 57 key elements and Principles of the System for other African countries to emulate. This writing understands that Nigeria is still the giant of Africa, population wise, economy and largest Democracy. Although a Ghanian Professor claims that “Nigeria is the giant of Africa but with clay legs”.
To be continued InSha’Allah
Peoplesmind
