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Absolute Power, Absolute Corruption, and Absolute Danger ByVictor E. Dike
Why are the political leaders in Nigeria abusing their powers? Why are they lawless? Why has the society failed to checkmate their powers? Nigeria’s democracy project and its civic well being is in absolute danger if the society does not tame the absolute power wielded by those in position of authority.
Voluminous work has been done on the use and abuse of powers because power is a salient part of political life.1 David Kipnis, in particular, deals with motivations for political power, the power of corruption and psychological dynamics of power.2Nothing works in the society, as it should. This is because “Absolute Power” prevents those in position of authority from acting within the confine of the law.3 Lack of effective and enforceable laws in the society to regulate human behavior and political activities have given the political gods absolute power to be crude and lawless. This unregulated and unruly behavior has negatively impacted policymaking and governance, because political behavior, like all human behaviors, is “rule-directed.”4
There is no objectivity and rationality in decision-making process in Nigeria. Those in position of authority in both private and public sector could refuse to pay the employees for months, and any person critical of government policies could be branded a terrorist or accused of being corrupt, arrested and detained by the powerful paramilitary agencies. And rules and principles associated with democracy are not observed in the society. With all these anomalies, how would democracy survive in Nigeria?
Human beings tend to abuse powers (or anything) whenever they have excess of it. As mentioned earlier, the crude and anti-democratic behaviors of the leaders are influenced by their absolute power, which makes them absolutely corrupt. Karl Popper attempts to reformulate Lord Acton’s5 corruption dictum when he notes: “You cannot give a man [woman] power over other men [women] without tempting him [her] to misuse it.” And the temptation increases with the amount of power the person is wielding and the power and integrity of the opposition.6
One of the cornerstones of democracy is rule of law. But as noted earlier, absolute power and absolute corruption does not allow Chief Obasanjo, federal government agencies, and the politicians to respect democratic principles. Consequently, disobedience to court orders is rife in the society. The President disobeyed a Supreme Court judgement on the Lagos State funds;7 and recently, Ibrahim Mantu disregarded a court order restraining him from acting on the 1999 Constitution.8However, apparently under duress, the judge who gave the order later said it was wrongly reported, as the direction was merely an “advice” to those involved in the dispute.9
The Judiciary interprets the law and ensures amicable resolutions of grievances, and the court has the power to restrain a party in a dispute from taking action on a particular case. And such orders must be obeyed until the case is disposed of. But, many unthinkable things happen in Nigeria! Absolute power and absolute corruption has diluted and destroyed the powers of the court in Nigeria and any society in which this is rampant “risks edging near to dictatorship.”10And this prompted lawyers across the nation to stage a two-day protest against the government. In advanced and truly democratic societies any leader that abuses his or her political power is visited with serious consequences. For instance, Richard Nixon abused his political power with the Watergate break-in and he was forced to resign.11
However, in Nigeria the morally bankrupt sycophants would cheer and jeer such a corrupt leader if even that person has committed an impeachable offence. Presently, Nigeria is roasting in “A stewpot of corruption” because of the absolute power wielded by Chief Obasanjo and his corrupt political associates.12 This condition threatens the future economic health and security of the nation. Thus destroying the absolute powers of the leaders and the powerful agencies “is not just a moral imperative -it is also an economic imperative!”
It is not only the President that has absolute power. Many government agencies, including the INEC, EFCC, the SSS, and the Police have absolute power, because, as mentioned earlier, the society lacks enforceable laws to control their activities. As a result, any person who is in the “Black Book” of the PRINCE could be arrested and detained by the SSS.13But these agencies could not arrest the supporters of Chief Obasanjo that assassinated and intimidated political oppositions for the “victory” of the PDP during the 2003 elections. The INEC and the Police were complicit in the fraud. The INEC, as everyone knows, declared winner Chris Ngige14 and other PDP members’ that did not actually win the 2003 elections. And the Police are dangerously powerful and incompetent because they can rob and kill without leaving a trace. One of those who benefited from the absolute corruption is Jerry Ugokwe who is fraudulently representing Idemili North/South in the House of Representatives, Anambra State. He has (with the connivance of the INEC and the political gods at the National Assembly) refused to vacate the position for Christian Okeke who was declared winner by the Election Tribunal.15Is this exercise in fraud or democracy?
When shall Nigeria learn to do things the right way? Granted that in politics (partly defined as a struggle for power) vested interests revolve around status quo and attempts are often made by the benefactors to preserve it. This is usually taken to the extreme in societies, such as Nigeria, where the PRINCE has absolute power. Under this condition political rewards16 are used to lure supporters and silence the oppositions and policies often made to please the gods without minding the effects on the society. Thus Nigeria is now convulsed by a new epidemic of political witch-hunting, as political oppositions are being clobbered. And “the center cannot hold” any longer!
Absolute power is responsible for the entrenched injustice in the society and the attendant social crises. As Daniel Webster notes “Justice is the ligament which holds civilized beings and civilized nations together.”17 Currently, Niger Delta is burning and Nigeria is choking on its process of democratization. The Nigerian Constitution is being amended to impose Chief Obasanjo on the people for a third term. Those who are campaigning feverishly to actualize the plot are shielded and motivated by the absolute power of the President. However, they should be made to understand that all things have an end and that they are in for a “Mission Impossible.”18
Sadly, many of those currently at the National Assembly do not seem to understand why they are there; and this is not the model of leadership the society wants to embrace. Ken Nnamani was recently reported to have said that the Senate is not obligated to listen to the public before reviewing the people’s Constitution. This shows the depth of his ignorance and lack of understanding of the business of crafting or amending a Constitution. Granted that the 1999 Constitution has many loose ends that should be ratified but the process should be devoid of any trace of deception and partisanship. Moreover, the process of writing a Constitution is “lexical”19 and Nigeria does not need “to reinvent the wheel.” The committee that is in a hurry to amend the Constitution to suit the selfish political interest of an individual should understand that the Constitution is an important document that belongs to the people.
As Senator Ted Kennedy rightly notes
Why have the leaders of Nigeria continued to operate blindly and in confusion? What are those hastening to thrash the Constitution trying to teach the youngsters? Is granting Chief Obasanjo a third term the answer to Nigeria’s economic problem? Is it going to ensure the success of the nation’s democracy project or improve its standard of education? If the vindictive and “lunatic homicidal” is the answer, what are the questions?
As any person who has been following the political mess in Nigeria knows, the present civilian administration is colored by crude political power struggles, intrigues, absolute corruption, and thwarted promises. And the nation cannot afford to continue to go down this path! Tackling the problem of absolute power and absolute corruption in Nigeria should begin with creating an effective system to control the activities of the leaders and give appropriate consequences for violating any rules and regulations. This will eliminate or reduce drastically their bad habits and unlawful behaviors. Therefore, to build a fair, just, and equitable society, nobody (agency) should be allowed absolute power.
The single most important factor to building a viable and successful Nigeria is good leadership. However, restructuring the nation into a true democratic society will transfer power back to the people. Sadly, Chief Obasanjo (and not the people) has absolute power to decide who is Governor or Member of Congress, and how long he should stay in office. But if all these fail to tame their powers, the people should adopt a revolutionary approach, and resent and rebel against the political gods who are destroying Nigeria. Henceforth, any person involved in abuse of political powers should be treated as an enemy of Nigeria! The people should not continue to allow visionless and antidemocratic elements to manage Nigeria’s democratic process, because the consequences could consume their entire nation! As experience has shown, absolute power tends to corrupt absolutely.21
Finally, Chief Obasanjo who has absolute power to cause harm and pains, and ruling a society “packed full of wretchedly poor families,”22is definitely the most dangerous President Nigeria has ever had. The society should not let him (and his associates) to get away with their absolute corruption. If he happens to die the way General Sani Abacha and Slobodan Milosevic did before the peoples’ stern verdict, a posthumous trial and consequences could get the message across! Notes
1. Vernon Van Dyke: Political Science: A Philosophical Analysis (Stanford, California: Stanford Press, 1960). Also see Victor E. Dike: Democracy and Political Life in Nigeria (Zaria, Nigeria: ABU Press, 2001) 2. David Kipnis: The Powerholders (Chicago University of Chicago Press, 1981, 2nd edition) 3. David Baldacci: Absolute Power -A Novel (Warner Books, 1996) 4. Vernon Van Dyke: Ibid. 5. Lord Acton: “Power corrupt and absolute power corrupt absolutely” (as cited in David Baldacci, Ibid.) 6. Karl Popper: The Poverty of Historicism (London: Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1957). Also see George E.G. Catlin: A Study of the Principles of Politics (London: Allen and Unwin, 1930) 7. ThisDay: “LG Funds: Implications of a Verdict” (December 14, 2004) 8. ThisDay: “Nigeria: Court Halts Mantu Committee” (March 6, 2006) 9. Daily Triumph: “Stopping constitution review: I was wrongly reported, judge says” (March 10 2006) 10. Nina Totenberg: “O'Connor Decries Republican Attacks on Courts” (NPR, March 10, 2006) 11. Stanley I. Kutler (edited): Abuse of Power (Simon and Schuster, 1997). 12. David A. Andelman: “A Stewpot Of Corruption” (See Forbes.com - Commentary -February 6, 2006) 13. Daily Trust: SSS apologises for detaining Atiku’s ex-ADC” (March 20, 2006). 14. Vanguard: “Obi sworn-in, promises new dawn in Anambra” March 18, 2006 15. ThisDay: “Ugokwe Sues FG over Rights Violation” February 4, 2006 16. The Sunday Herald: The Danger of Patronage and Absolute Power” February 25, 2001) 17. Daniel Webster: see Russell Kirk: “The Meaning of Justice” (The Heritage Foundation-Policy Research and Analysis, March 4, 1993 - on Daniel Webster at the funeral of Justice Joseph Story, in 1845). 18. Ken Blanchard and Terry Waghorn: Mission Impossible (McGraw-Hill, 1997) 19. Vernon Van Dyke: Ibid. 20. Ted Kennedy: “Senator Kennedy Addresses the role of Congress to Challenge Executive Power” (American Chronicle, March 18, 2006) 21. The Sunday Herald: The Danger of Patronage and Absolute Power” February 25, 2001) 22. Mark Twain: The Prince and the Pauper” (New York: Signet Classic – Penguin Books, 1964)
Victor E. Dike, CEO, Center for Social Justice and Human Development (CSJHD), in Sacramento, California, is the author of Democracy and Political Life in Nigeria (forthcoming, second edition).
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